Blue-Eyed Soul (7 page)

So the kids weren't the only ones impatient for practice to end, and he had to admit he felt a little relieved when Aleks called it quits for the night.

"Alright, everybody, get one last cup of hot chocolate and thank the Landons. I'll see most of you in classes tomorrow."

Aleks hopped off the riser and glanced up at the stands. Remey's heart raced. Now came the question of the night. What happened next? Because Remey had come wanting more than a sneak peek at the marching band's titillating performance. There was way more simmering under the surface of their meetings over the past week, and Remey knew exactly what he wanted to do about it. Unfortunately, he was pretty sure offering to let Aleks do any damn thing he pleased to him would run the poor guy off.

Thank God, the paparazzi hadn't shown up. They must have the night off or something, or maybe they didn't care he was sitting around watching the marching band perform at the high school. Not entrancing press.

Aleks approached the stands, glancing up to meet Remey's gaze. Slowly, Remey stood and came down the rows to the railing of the stands, peering down at Aleks.

"Hey."

Aleks glanced around, then back up at him. "Hey. So... I'm done here."

Remey smiled.
Obvious hint is obvious, Aleks.
Remey took the hint, though, because the fact Aleks was making such an obvious unspoken invitation was huge. "I see that. I'm cold. Want to go get some coffee and maybe a piece of pie at the café?"

Thank God, Aleks grinned. "Now you've done it. You said pie. I'll officially be unable to sleep tonight without a slice."

Remey laughed, fingering his keys in the pocket of his coat. "Mental note--you have a weakness for pie." It'd been years since his mama had taught him how to bake a pie, but Remey thought he could manage it, if it'd mean getting Aleks to warm up to him a little. "I'll meet you there?"

Aleks nodded, and Remey stepped off the bleachers.

"I'm kind of surprised your admirers aren't here."

Remey shook his head, wrapping his scarf more tightly around his neck. "I'm glad. I'm hoping maybe they're getting bored and will leave me--and everyone else--alone soon. I meant to warn you the other night they'd probably make some fuss about me being at your house." His publicist had e-mailed him the link to an article on TMZ, speculating about who Aleks was and what was between them. Rory had asked if there was anything he needed to know. Oh, how Remey wished there was.

Aleks shrugged. "I kind of figured they would. My sister-in-law made a big deal about it. In a good way, though. She likes you and your music, I guess."

Remey smiled. "That's always fun to hear. I never get used to it, you know? Every time someone tells me they like my music, I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning." They reached his car and he pulled his keys out of his pocket, grinning at Aleks. "I'll see you in about ten minutes, right? No standing me up?"

"Not when there's pie involved." Aleks shot back, and Remey laughed as he climbed into his car, turning up the heat, even though it was only a quick drive.

* * * *

Ten minutes later, Aleks was pulling up behind Remey. He climbed out and gestured to the car, one of those part-SUV, part-car hybrids. "You want to get some snow tires soon. Hybrids don't do so well when it gets snowy and icy."

Remey glanced at his car, then at Aleks and smiled. "Really? Thanks. I figured the all-wheel drive would be enough."

Aleks snorted. "We get upward of sixty inches of snow every winter. Your low-riding hybrid is going to end up stuck in every bank if you're not careful."

Remey laughed. "See, this is why I need a guide, sort of. There should be some sort of small-town mentor program or something."

Aleks held the café door open for Remey and then followed him in. "With your luck, you'd end up paired with Mayor Lackey, who, while a very nice man, tends to spend most of his time talking your ear off about his prostate problems."

Remey wrinkled his nose and laughed. "Um, ew?"

"I know." Aleks chuckled and nodded to Mikey behind the counter. "Hey, Mikey, Mona and Joe ought to be back any minute. They were loading up the truck when I left."

Mikey came over, gesturing to a free table near the back. "Here, sit. Kinda out of sight of the windows, you know?"

Remey smiled, shrugging out of his coat. "Thank you, Mikey. That's very thoughtful."

Aleks sat down across from Remey, tucking his own coat in the corner of the booth. "Can I get some coffee and a few minutes to decide what kind of pie?"

Mikey grinned. "Sure thing. I'm telling you right now, though, the caramel pumpkin is the best on offer today. Hands down."

Remey groaned. "Sold. I'll have a slice and a cup of the cinnamon-spiced hot chocolate, with plenty of whipped cream on both."

Mikey grinned. "You got it. Plain coffee for you, right, Aleks?"

Aleks nodded, and Mikey hustled back behind the counter to start making their drinks. Remey smiled across the table at Aleks, ignoring the curious glances directed their way. "Maybe you should be my small-town mentor. At least I know you won't be talking about anything I'd rather not hear about."

Aleks chuckled and shook his head. "It's mostly just being prepared for the winter, which anyone could tell you. Snow tires for your car, plenty of oil and firewood and food stocked up come winter, and plenty of rock salt for your sidewalk. And a teenager who'll take twenty bucks per snowstorm to shovel if you're not into the idea of breaking your back over it."

Remey laughed. "I'll take my chances. I'm kind of looking forward to the first big snowstorm. I'll probably be out the next day, making snow angels like a little kid."

"You and Willow both. She loves the snow," Aleks commented as Mikey brought over their mugs. "Hey, Mikey, bring me a slice of the key lime pie, okay?"

"You got it. I'll bring both of those right over for you."

Remey laughed as he met Aleks's eyes. "Key lime pie? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love it, but it's more of a summer thing."

Aleks shook his head. "I know, I know, but it's always been my favorite. I can't come here without ordering a slice, even if other pies sound good."

Remey shot Aleks a grin, propping his elbows on the table. "You can have a bite of my caramel pumpkin if you want."

"Am I required to share a bite of mine, too? Because that may be problematic. I'm pretty possessive about the pie."

Remey laughed again. He was easy to laugh, Aleks noticed, and it was charming. Especially the way he did it, kind of scrunching his whole face up, leaning to the side or tipping his head back. Like laughing was a whole-body event. It reminded him of Willow, actually, with the unfettered joy.

"Willow laughs the way you do," he said suddenly, then wished he hadn't, because Remey's expression went all soft and warm, and it definitely did
not
make Aleks think of his daughter.

"How so?" Remey asked, still smiling.

Aleks shrugged. "Like she's unaware anyone's watching and, if she were, wouldn't care."

Remey glanced up as Mikey came back with their order. "Well, I think that's how it should be, don't you? Thank you, Mikey."

Aleks smiled his thanks, then turned his attention back on Remey. "Oh, I do think so, but most adults tend to forget. I know I did, before Willow."

Remey gave him a teasing look and swiped a finger across his whipped cream to lick off. "Maybe you need another reminder wandering around, hmm?"

Aleks followed the movement of Remey's tongue on his cream-coated finger, forcing himself to look away after a second. "Maybe. Although I think you've got some kind of sour impression of me because I don't like the changes your presence has made in my town. I assure you, I do plenty of laughing."

Remey smiled, shaking his head. "I'm sure you do. I would, too, with Willow around. She's the sweetest kid. But something about me makes you all serious and... well, grumpy."

"It's not you," Aleks began, and Remey shook his head.

"I know it's not me. I mean, you keep saying it's not, and I have no reason not to believe you. I know you wouldn't even be here right now if you disliked me. But seeing me seems to be a reminder to you of all the reasons you hate that I'm here." Remey sighed and cut off the end of his pie with the side of his fork, scooping up the bit and offering it to Aleks. "Here. You don't even need to share yours."

Aleks took the fork and ate the bite of pie, his eyes closing halfway in pleasure. "Amazing. Mona makes the best pies ever, I swear. I've tried to talk her into making some for me for Thanksgiving every year, and she always says no. I can cook well enough, but baking is beyond me."

Remey laughed as Aleks gave him back his fork, taking a bite of the pie for himself. "I'd make you pies, if you wanted. My mama taught me how ages ago, and she's an amazing baker. I haven't made any in years, but it's one of those things you don't forget how to do. I have copies of all her recipes somewhere."

Aleks shook his head. "No, that's okay. I was kidding. We'll make do with store-bought, or I'll bug Jess to bring dessert. She's my sister-in-law. We always do Thanksgiving at my house, and Christmas at her and Stevan's."

Remey smiled. "I saw the pictures of you and your brother the other day. You look amazingly alike. Do they live close by?"

"Yeah, Stevan and Jess live a block over. It's nice having him so close. We have dinner together, all of us, once a week, and we spend holidays together."

"That's sweet. What about your mom and dad?"

Aleks shook his head, taking a bite of his own pie. "Mom lives in Florida now. She's got herself a live-in boyfriend," he said with a smile. "Daddy died when I was thirteen." He held up his hand immediately. "Stop... don't say you're sorry, or you didn't know. Of course you didn't. And there's no need to be sorry. It was a long time ago and we try to remember the good stuff, not the bad."

Remey gave him a sympathetic smile, then nodded. "Okay. So your mom doesn't come for holidays?"

"No. She's afraid to fly, ever since the Towers, you know. So when she comes, it's a long trip, usually by train, and it's not something she can do often. So we visit her more than she comes up here. Not every year, but we went down last year for Thanksgiving and this year we'll be doing New Year's, and I make sure we're down there for her birthday every year."

Remey smiled. "You have this whole... I don't know, family routine. I miss that kind of thing--the constant of knowing you'll be having Christmas at Grandma's and thanksgiving at your uncle's or whatever. Traditions, I guess is the word I mean."

"It's part of what I wanted for Willow when we moved back. I didn't want to spend Christmas in some cramped Brooklyn apartment with a tiny tree and nowhere to build snowmen and trying to explain how Santa is going to get in if there's no chimney. I mean, I didn't move us back here solely because of Christmas, but it's all of it, all those little things kids ought to have when they're growing up."

"Like riding their bike outside in the summer. And jumping into leaf piles in the fall." Remey nodded with a smile. "I get it. If I ever have kids, I want the same kind of stuff."

"You think it's possible, being who you are? I mean, not having kids--obviously that's possible--but them growing up like you did, like I did?"

"You mean normal?" Remey nodded. "Sure, it is. It'll take a little more work, but I don't think it's completely out of reach or anything. Kids shouldn't be in the spotlight because of their parents, no matter who their parents are. I hate how magazines and tabloids are always publishing pictures of celebrities with their kids. It's not right, the kids didn't choose it, and what kind of childhood could that be?"

"Not a good one," Aleks agreed, sipping his coffee. "I guess I don't see how you could manage it. I mean, look at how you've been mobbed ever since you moved here."

"True, but it's bound to die down sooner or later," Remey pointed out. "No photographer or reporter is going to hang around here long when they realize I'm not doing anything newsworthy at all. There're plenty of more interesting people back in L.A. they could be stalking instead.

"I give it another week or so before they're gone... unless they think I'm doing something scandalous," Remey added, shooting Aleks a grin. As if he wouldn't mind doing scandalous things with Aleks, a thought that had Aleks's mind making up a list of all the possibilities.

"I personally think you should be as boring as you can be. Maybe don't even leave your house for a week. They'd be gone before you knew it," Aleks suggested, his eyes amused.

"Unfortunately, I'm not a complete hermit. Believe me, I did consider holing up when I got here. It wouldn't have lasted too long. I like people too much to barricade myself in my house or something. And if I did, all my neighbors would think I was crazy."

Aleks laughed. "Don't worry. We're a small New England town. Eccentric residents are kind of our specialty."

What Remey said made sense, though. Haven was a nowhere little town and, while he loved it, there was little to keep a horde of media present for any length of time. In Los Angeles or another major city, they had other prey to justify the time and expense. But how long could they realistically focus all their efforts on only Remey if he wasn't doing anything noteworthy? They'd have to move on soon.

"I like it, though. It's charming, everyone's a character and everyone has this story, you know? Makes me want to talk to everyone and find out what their story is." Remey smiled and took a sip of his hot chocolate.

Just then, Mona and Joe came in through the kitchen door, and Aleks smiled, waving. "Thanks for coming by again tonight, you guys."

Remey smiled. "Do they do the refreshments for every practice?"

Aleks nodded. "At the beginning of the school year, they bring lemonade for the kids, then once it gets colder, they switch to hot chocolate and hot cider. Their son Coby is one of the clarinet players, but I'm pretty sure they'd do it even if he wasn't. It's the same thing for the sports teams practices, and Coby's an only child."

Remey let out a soft sigh, shaking his head. "See, this is what I love, what I miss about living in a small town." He took another bite of his pie. "I knew this was going to be the right move, I really did."