Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(63)

“You’re good for my ego.” Alec kept his smile plastered on his face not because he had to but because Key made him smile.

“What?” his brother asked, stealing some of his happy.

“Ignore him. Focus on me. Want me to sex-talk you right now?”

Alec laughed and shook his head no. To get a hard-on on stage would be horrible when his father’s team replayed this night, picking apart every detail for the future.

Key laughed about ten seconds later. “Okay, lift your hand and wave to me.”

He did, using the moment to look out over the crowd and wonder how the people gathered there would voluntarily choose to vote for his father.

“Okay, jump up and down.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Flip off your father and punch your shitty brother in his smug face—that’s what I’d do if I were there.” The sinister tone Key took felt protective even if the words were shouted at him. But the place was settling down to listen to his father’s over inflated ego go on and on about his win. Alec looked at the camera and lifted his finger to his lips, then gave a wink. Ten seconds later, Key chuckled into his ear. “Sorry.”

“No problem. You’re helping. I wished I could do exactly what you suggested,” he said a little louder than a whisper.

“I’ve never watched anything like this before. I think you’re tryin’ to make me civilized.”

Alec couldn’t help the sudden burst of laughter. Both his mother and brother gave him questioning glances, and his father stopped midsentence to look back at him, uncertain what prompted such a response. That just made his grin brighter and his giggle continue.

After the delay, Key started laughing in his ear. He must look more ridiculous than he realized. That was all right too. Music playing and he looked around, his family had started toward his dad, so he followed, again shaking his hand. To Alec’s surprise, his father clasped an arm around him, giving him a side hug, and he waved out to the audience. The campaign’s photographer was there, snapping their happy picture of family unity. Such a fucking lie.

Less than twenty seconds after they were backstage, hidden behind the curtain, his father started in on him. “I’m getting past tired of your antics. Do you know what they would have said about me tonight had you not shown up?”

“I didn’t know. It never even occurred to me that you’d want me anywhere near here tonight,” Alec stated, immediately on guard and defensive.

“I doubt that very seriously.”

Alec narrowed his eyes, wondering what he meant by that.

“Ryan, not here. He’s always been rebellious. We know what to expect with him,” his mother said, laying a guiding hand on his father’s arm.

“What a fuckin’ dick.” Key’s voice filled his ear. “Fuck that fucked-up shit. Now I seriously wanna lay that motherfucker out.”

Alec watched his father roll his shoulders and shake his head at Alec in disgust before turning away. He wrapped an arm around his mother’s waist and one around his sister’s shoulders. His family was so in sync they just knew to move together, taking many steps away from him. Alec stood there, staring after them, and released a pent-up breath. Only then did he notice the staffers standing around, staring at him as if his very presence dampened the enthusiasm of the win. He tucked his chin to his chest and took off in the other direction, the way he’d come in.

“Why’re you quiet? You’re never quiet.”

Because he had nothing to say. He had dropped everything he had planned, canceling an evening meeting with Reed and ditching his time with Key, all to come when his family called. It had taken him hours to get from Dallas to Austin during that time of day, and he was left with the same deep down hurt feelings he always had after being around his family. When would he ever learn? It seemed he wouldn’t. He’d always be just like this where they were concerned.

“Are we still on video? Pull the phone out. Let me see you.”

He pushed open the door to the convention center’s main hallway, seeing a sea of voters making their way out of the building. They were happy, excited their candidate had won, and he saw the recognition on many of their faces as he passed by. Alec pulled the phone from his pocket and pretty much ignored everything around him except for Key’s handsome face staring back at him with concerned eyes. That was the same expression he gave when Alec was upset over something and Key was lost as to how to help. He guessed that fit right now to a tee.

“I like when you wear that ball cap backward with your hair loose. You’re hot.”

Key nodded, a slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth, but he didn’t let the compliment sidetrack him. “You’re upset.”

“I’m tired,” Alec said and looked around for a side exit. He pushed open the first door he found, stepping out into the night, immediately searching his surroundings to try to get his bearings. “And I can’t believe I have to be on the road in less than six hours to drive back to Westlake to meet Reed. It was dumb to come. I should’ve just said no.”

“Hell yeah you should’ve said no to those fuckin’ jackasses, but you’re too good a man to leave ’em hangin’. It’s that damn sense of loyalty you’re cursed with.”

Alec grinned at Key’s astute assessment. He’d always thought he was fair. Times like these made him doubt himself though.