What Happens on the Cruise

18. Don't Stop the Music

Element: We wanna party with Nick Lachey!

Tim: He's beautiful.

Rob: He is a beautiful man.

***

Adam awoke to soft sounds from the room next door. He looked over to see that Chris was still asleep.

It had been three grueling days of rehearsals, taping, practicing and tightening their party anthem, but still every night he awoke to the soft sounds of pleasure from Austin and Tim. And every night he lay there, not wanting to get up and risk disturbing Chris.

He wasn't sure why the two hadn't come out to Chris and Rob about their relationship. Maybe they were just scratching an itch. Or maybe there was some special frisson in carrying on in secret. Whatever it was, they were driving him crazy. And he was really missing Ericha.

"Ohhhh... Baby..." Austin moaned, and Adam pulled his pillow over his head.

"Hmm?" Chris yawned. "D'you say something?"

Adam sat up. "Oh, hey, Chris," he said, louder than necessary. "Just having trouble sleeping."

There was a sudden burst of giggles from next door.

Chris shook his head. "Those two chuckleheads keeping you awake?"

"They certainly haven't helped."

***

"I just wish they'd come up with a better schtick than 'Home Free can't dance,'" Chris complained over breakfast.

"I'm sorry. I'm sure that's my fault," Rob said.

"You dance just fine," Adam said, then gave a huge yawn. "Sorry."

"Having trouble sleeping?" Rob asked.

Adam nodded.

"Is it Ericha? Is she okay?" Rob looked concerned.

"She's fine," Adam assured him. "Doesn't stop me from worrying though."

Austin stood up and headed for the coffee pot, putting a hand on Adam's shoulder as he walked past. "Sorry," he whispered, then said out loud, "Who else needs more coffee?"

***

"I think I'm going to run down to the drug store over lunch," Adam announced. "Anybody want anything?"

"Do you think they'd have Twinkies?" Rob asked. "I don't know why, but I've been really craving Twinkies."

"I'll look," Adam said, pulling out his phone and talking as he typed, "Twinkies."

"Beer," Tim said.

"Just 'beer'?" Adam asked.

Tim shrugged. "Not sure what they have."

"Okay. 'Beer' it is. Anything else?"

"Could you pick up some ibuprofen?" Chris asked. "We're almost out."

"Got it," Adam said, typing, then looked up at Austin.

"Um," Austin said. "I think I might tag along if you don't mind?"

"Sure," Adam said.

***

"I wanted to apologize for waking you up last night," Austin said as they walked the few blocks to the drug store.

"Not just last night," Adam said.

"Oh? How many times have you woken up because of, uh, Tim and me?"