Page 142 of Vespertine

“But they acted differently. It’s been a year and they stilltry to make you feel ashamed.”

Jasper gently worked his hands loose and threaded themthrough Nicky’s hair. “And that would’ve been the exact same for a straightpriest defrocking for a woman, Nicky. It’s okay. I’m okay. And I do love you. Iwouldn’t want it any other way.”

“It pisses me off,” Nicky murmured, but the fight had goneout of him.

Jasper kissed his temple. “I know.” He rubbed small circlesagainst Nicky’s neck with his thumb. “I do have some other news though.”

Nicky lifted his head. “Yeah?”

“Arlington thought it might be a good idea to open a similarshelter in L.A. He’s funding the whole thing, and he wants you and me out therelooking for a venue and doing the start-up work. We could go out there everyyear to help run the place and get away from these awful winters.”

“Oh my God,” Nicky whispered. “Oh my fucking God. And youcan always be there when I need to be in L.A. for the recordings and localgigs. Oh. My.Fucking. God.”

“Nick—” Jasper didn’t get the rest of the reprimand outbefore Nicky was in his lap again, kissing him breathless.

“You spend too much money on me,” Jasper said rightwhen the captain announced they were preparing for landing.

“Hmm?” Nicky’s knee bounced up and down and Jasper put hishand on it.

“Everything you poured intoBO—BlueOasis, damn it—that whole new wardrobe you got me.” He plucked at the finecashmere of his V-neck sweater. “And keep getting me. And all this.” Heindicated the first class cabin. “It’s too much.”

Nicky shrugged but didn’t say anything. His eyes were gluedon the LAX landing strip they kept circling.

Jasper leaned across and pressed a kiss to Nicky’s temple. “Itwill be okay, you know.”

“Okay? It’s going to be a shitshow. They know we’re coming.I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” He began to bite his fingernails. “Fuck.”

Jasper clasped Nicky’s hands between his. “You’ve beenwriting and rehearsing non-stop for months. I’ve heard you get up in the middleof the night to practice.” Jasper waved away Nicky’s contrite look. “Don’tworry about it. I will always wake up when you move away from me during thenight, and I’ll never be annoyed about that. My point is…” He squeezed Nicky’sfingers and the plane began its stomach-lurching descent. “You’ve got this. You’reamazing, and everyone will love you all over again.”

Nicky nodded, then shook his head. “But it’s the paps I’mworried about right now.”

“Ah, Nicky.” Jasper watched the ground soar toward them. “Ican deal with the paps.”

The plane hit the ground and the madness began.

“Nico Blue, over here! Over here!”

“Can you play the air guitar, Nico?”

“How’s your mother, Nico?”

“Did you have a good flight, Nico?”

“Hey Father Jazz, do you still get on your knees for God, orjust Nico Blue now?”

There was a lull in the yelling as everyoneohhh-edand Nicky’s head snapped up. Jasper tightened hisgrip on Nicky’s arm so hard he was afraid he might leave a bruise. The flashesof the camera intensified to the point he was grateful for the bodyguardscrowding them. Without them, he wouldn’t be able to see where they were going.

“Don’t react,” Jasper said in Nicky’s ear. “That’s all theywant. A shot of you losing your temper and it’ll be spread all over theinternet within seconds. Goodness knows with what kind of captions. We’realmost out of here.”

Nicky nodded once, tightly, but he looked like a large catready to pounce on its prey and for a brief second Jasper wondered if this wasn’ta mistake after all.

When they finally made it out, the path to the nondescriptblack car was pretty clear. A guy in a suit and a cap was holding the back dooropen, and Jasper steered Nicky toward it. Out of the corner of his eye movementflashed, and Nicky tensed, clearly about to snap, when a bodyguard intercepteda skinny girl, maybe fourteen years old.

“It’s okay,” Nicky said, relaxing, and the bodyguard let herpass. “Hey lady, what’s your name?”

“Emily,” she said, face turning as red as her shirt. “Wouldyou sign my phone? I have a sharpie.”

“Sure thing, Emily.” Nicky nudged Jasper a little so hecould use his shoulder as a writing support. The girl looked up at Jasper andbit her lip.