Oscar and Raf stayed in their seats and let the bulk of the concertgoers in their section leave first, before they filed out and into the atrium. It took another fifteen minutes to work their way through the mass of people to the Coca-Cola fan room. Raf led the way, having lived in Colorado for almost all of his adult life and having spent so much time at the stadium for both Bronco games and various concerts.
The first time Oscar attended Empower Field at Mile High was in 2008. It was the night of the now former, US President Barrack Obama's acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. A night that will forever be written in the history books. It was also the night that Raf confided in Oscar that he was planning on running for a senate seat for the state of Colorado. That he was planning to become the first openly gay Latino Senator in the US congress.
And he did. Right before Robert Meza in 2011. Rafael Luna's place in the senate, alongside Robert Meza for Arizona paved the way for the first openly gay Governor for the state of Colorado. The name Rafael Luna was written down in the history books for the world to see.
Oscar and Raf head up to the designated meet and greet place, where their passes allowed them into, to meet Bea. They stood off to the side and watched Bea, where she was with ten little pre-teen fans, who are all wanting selfies and autographs with her. It seems to be some kind of precession and it seems that Oscar and Raf have arrived, just as she was finishing up with her fans.
As soon as the last of the pre-teen fans have moved on Bea saw the two men and waved. Nodding at her security, she came over to greet them both. Oscar was surprised when Bea hugged them both. She gave Raf a quick hug first, before she hugged Oscar, letting her hug linger with him. When she did pull back, she stayed in his sphere, as her PA Miranda offered them something to drink. Bea requested her typical lime and soda, hold the vodka and Oscar requested the same. Raf took the offer of a Coca-Cola, opting not to drink. Despite Bea's reassurances that it was ok, Raf still opted not to.
As the three of them hung out, Raf's eyes noticed the way that Bea seemed to gravitate towards Oscar and more than once, he noticed Oscar purposely bringing his hands back to himself. She introduced them to the other members of her band, which included two of her fellow AA mentors and a best friend she'd had since kindergarten. Bea had told them about how Punk*dLoyals were founded. How the word Loyals, is supposed to be a play on Royal. How Henry was an original member of the founding band. But how the band never really took off until after Henry left to pursue other interests. How they strictly only perform covers because otherwise Mary thinks it's unbecoming and will prohibit Bea from the band.
Bea explains how she met her fellow bandmates Erica and Alicia in rehab, before giving Oscar a gentle nudge, letting him know she was referring to after the mess with Philip and her Gran. Specifically, the time that she went, after Henry's outburst. That they had all been in the same music therapy class and when they'd all left rehab, they started at the same AA and begun hanging out together. Sharing meals, having coffee, sharing stories and being there for one another. Which in turn, they shared their love of music and their passion for it. That they started out small, mostly just hanging out and playing, before booking high school dances and gigs, then small festivals and the larger music festivals. Then they got their recording deal ... and in Bea's words. "The rest is history."
"As great as this was, I need to head out." Raf said softly. He was reluctant for the night to end, but he knew that Ethan would be waiting at his place for him, no doubt waiting for another inevitable argument to unfold.
Raf didn't want to feel like a third wheel, but half an hour ago, Oscar's arm had found its way around the back of Bea's chair and Bea had scooched closer slightly to Oscar's body. Ten minutes ago, Oscar's other hand had brushed the side of Bea's thigh and she had taken it in her hands and was unconsciously playing with his fingers as they all spoke. Oscar hadn't even seemed to notice to Raf. Ironically, he thought that was why Alex too, was that obtuse. A genetic factor from his father.
"I should probably head out with him." Oscar whispered, lowering his voice to her. So that only she could hear. They had been sitting in an odd, shaped circle, the three of them, Bea's fellow band members and a few of their guests. It had somehow become a dry event and Oscar wondered if it was always dry, or if it had just happened by default.
Oscar's voice tickled her ear as he spoke low, and she shivered as his breath tickled the hair on the back of her ear too. "Do you have to?" She replied, looking up at him, through her hooded eyes. Her eyelashes were long and alluring to him.
"Unfortunately, I am sure." Oscar said, reluctantly. "He and Ethan broke up tonight. But I'll be going back to the hotel afterwards, as soon as I know Raf's ok, and settled in at home."
"I'll see you there." Bea cooed softly, keeping her coy voice low. She was trying to suppress how much his proximity was affecting her and how much she wanted him.
When Oscar stood too, so did Bea. "Nice to meet you all." Oscar and Raf both told the band and Bea's friends. Bea hugged Raf goodbye and Raf kissed her cheek in return, before telling him, she was sorry about Ethan, and he could message her if he needed to talk.
When it was Oscar's turn, instead of waiting for Bea, he was the one that made the first move. He pulled her close to him and held her to him, kissing her hair, as he spoke in a whisper, into her ear. "You were amazing tonight, Cariña." As he pulled back, he kissed the side of her mouth. "I'll see you back in our room."
As soon as Oscar and Raf hit the Denver streets, Raf turned to him with a large, cheeky grin. "None too subtle in there, Ose." He teased his friend. "You and the beautiful Beatrice could barely keep your hands off each other."
"Hmm." Was the only response, he could muster.
When Oscar got into the cab behind Raf, he gave Oscar a stern look. "You're not coming home with me just to see if Ethan is hanging around, waiting for me." Raf ordered, pushing his friend back out of the cab. "Fuck that. Get your ass back to that hotel of yours and wait for her. She wants you and now, I'm convinced you want her, too. It's ok to go for it, Man."
As Raf and Oscar left the room, Bea couldn't help the smile that graced her face. Her lips were tingling in the small corner, where Oscar's lips had touched hers. her stomach felt like molten lava, and her legs were jelly. It had been a long time, if ever, that she had truly felt this much chemistry with another person.
Bea only hung around with the rest of her band and their friends for another ten minutes, before nodding to Simon, her royal PPO, that they were off. Hugging her friends goodbye, Alicia held her close and told Bea to call her if she felt herself spiraling at the loss of Jason.
Bea stifled a laugh. Jason had not been a bad loss. More like a good loss. She couldn't believe she hadn't seen the red flags that man had been. It had taken a three-week road trip through the US, performing in some of the biggest venues the US has to offer, for her to see what a deadbeat he had been.
When she slid into the backseat of the town car, she smiled to herself. Alicia's comment made her realise that she had never told them who Raf and Oscar were. She never mentioned their last names, or that Oscar was Alex's father. She had just introduced them as Oscar and Raf.
All day today, she would have preferred to focus on the music and her rehearsals. Instead of how she would be able to seduce Oscar. She hadn't been able to think of much else all day.
She remembered and recollected the first time they had ever met and the electricity that had passed between them. She recalled how when Henry first told her about Alex, she'd googled him and had thought he was undeniably, a looker. But she had practically drooled at the photo of the older Diaz man. He had been dressed to the nines, in a nice fancy suit, arguing passionately in the Senate. How much he cared about whatever agenda he was trying to support and bring attention to. He was passionate and dedicated to whatever cause he was fighting. The apple didn't fall far from the tree, when it came to Alex and his passion and drive.
As she arrived at the hotel, she pulled herself back and waited. She found an overstuffed armchair and sank down into it. She was second guessing herself. She needed a moment to gather thoughts and think with a clear, level-headed mind.
Was she really attracted to Oscar, or was it a residual attraction to Alex?
No, it was definitely Oscar.
Was it the need to be loved and comforted?
Possibly. It had been a long time since she had felt that way.
Was it the need to feel like she was taken care of?
Possibly. It had been even longer since she had felt that way within an intimate relationship, or with a sexual partner. Probably since she was with her first boyfriend.
Was it some sibling jealousy? Because Alex treated Henry like he was everything and she wanted someone to think that way about her.
No, because as much as she loved Henry, she was happy for him. She didn't want Alex like that. She wasn't attracted to Alex. She was attracted to Oscar.
Was it wanting to feel like she was rebelling, whilst staying with someone safe?
No. As much as she had dreamt of rebelling, that part of her life was over. She had promised Henry and that was one promise she wouldn't ever dream of breaking.
Is it the Damsel in Distress from that fateful dinner?
No, they had met before that fateful night and there had always been an underlying attraction and desire. They both had acknowledged it between them. She had felt it the first time he had shook her hand, at their first meeting.
What was it about Oscar that she wanted above all else?
Yes, wanting someone to be with when she was sober didn't happen very often. it had only been a year ago when she had thinking she may be aromantic or asexual. But here she was in lust and want of a man. A man thirteen years her senior. A man who was the father of two of her closest friends. A man who would be her brother's father in-law one day.
But she liked him. He liked her. They were attracted to one another. Surprisingly, they had a lot in common with one another. He understood her in a way that very few people ever had. He was a kind, caring, gentle soul with a wonderful sense of humour and he made her laugh. Plus, he was hot as hell.
Would June and Alex ever forgive her? Would Ellen?
She had no idea. Ellen probably would. She was remarried and had been for a long while. June and Alex? She just wasn't sure on.
Was it worth the risk to her friendship with them? Would Henry forgive her?
She had no idea. Henry would be worried about her. Henry would be worried about Alex.
She still didn't know if she going to do it; whether she was going to go upstairs and make a move on Oscar, or not... Honestly, if it had been any other man but Oscar, she would have blown up Henry's phone, looking for her little brother's advice. She'd be making lists with Alex. She would have been journalling her feelings with June. She would have been creating Venn diagrams and running the odds with Nora. She would have gone shopping with Percy, insistent that he help her find the perfect outfit to blow Oscar's mind away.
But this was her reality, and she couldn't go to them, just yet. Could she? Looking at the time on her phone, she contemplated if it was too late to call Henry and Alex. She knew they were both insomniacs. But no, it was too late. They weren't even together right now. Henry was in Canada and Alex was in New York. If she knew either of them, she knew they wouldn't hesitate to take her call. But this wasn't really the conversation she should have in the foyer of the Four Seasons.
Upstairs in his suite, Oscar was pacing the floor. He couldn't believe he was actually contemplating making a move of Beatrice. But here he was. He had showered and changed, as soon as he had come in and the only detour, he had taken on his way back to the hotel was a stop at a drugstore for some condoms and lube. He was fairly certain the condoms he had in his toiletries bag was from when he and Ellen were still married.
His previous partner had been on birth control and had a thing about making sure he always pulled out. Even if he had a condom on. Despite being a very casual arrangement, they had been exclusive and gotten themselves tested prior to beginning their said arrangement. He had a check when that relationship (if you could call it that) had ended and had a clean bill of health. But he certainly wasn't planning on taking any chances with Beatrice.
When Bea let herself into the hotel suite they were sharing, she looked exhausted, and Oscar felt guilty. here he had been planning on making a move, completely forgetting that Bea was probably tired from her concert. "Bea? Are you ok?" He asked softly, seeing her let herself in.
"I need a shower." She said distractedly, purposely not looking at him. If she looked at him, she was going to jump on him. He was dressed in an old campaign tee and black cotton and plaid green shorts.
"Bea?" Oscar asked again, almost pleading. She wouldn't look at him and he could see something was bothering her.
"Please, let me go shower. I am fine." She begged, feeling her restrain slip. "If I look at you I am going to kiss you, lure you to my room and do unspeakable things to you. I haven't decided if that's worth the risk yet. I've got a lot to lose if I go through with it."
"Me too." Oscar whispered close to her. "Go have your shower. We can talk when you're done, if you want."