It was calm and relaxed  backstage and that surprised Max. He was expecting chaos backstage. There were people moving equipment around and talking on hand held radios but it was pretty mild and calm as the concert ended. 

Max stared as Slade entered the large room, no shirt during the concert or after. Max couldn't complain.

Slade smiled. "Max!" He walked up and hugged Max. This was involuntary. He didn't mean to. His body was relieved to see Max and had to be near him. He never felt like this with anyone. He was so relieved to be near Max. He waited for a long time for this person.

"Slade. I like your shirt." Max smiled and released Slade. He liked the feel of Slade's body in his arms. He shook that thought off. This was his sister's boyfriend or whatever. They were just friends. He couldn't have anything intimate with Slade. They were just friends and that was the mantra he was repeating for the whole weekend or his whole life.

Slade laughed. "Thanks." He wasn't wearing a shirt and smiled at Max. Did Max just flirt with him? He kind of felt like he did. Interesting. Maybe he had a chance?

"Come on and meet my family. How did you like the concert?" Slade was actually worried about that. He knew that rock wasn't Max's kind of music. Or at least he figured that Max wouldn't... he didn't know what to think anymore. He was still floored that Max even came to the concert!

"Loved it. I had fun and I owe you now." Max smiled.

"Max, you really do!" Slade smiled and pulled Max to a group of men. The band. "This is Solis, lead singer and guitar. Hurley's our bass player, Graham's the lead guitar, and Terry's on the keyboards. Guys, Max. Brooke's brother." Slade smiled. "Be right back. Be nice." He walked off to talk to a couple of people. They were excited to meet him.

Solis smiled. "Really? Shit. She must be hot because you are sexy, Max. It's great to meet you. You guys aren't dating?" Max was shaking his head. "But you make an awesome couple." He pointed at Max. "Oh, Dr. brother?"

Max nodded.

"You look like a doctor." Solis smiled.

"Uh, thanks. You look like the lead singer of a rock band." Max glared playfully.

Solis looked like Slade. There were some small differences, but just in piercings and tattoos. Solis just had his ears pierced and his nose and his chin, between his lip and chin. They looked the same. Slade was taller and Solis wore his hair longer, shaggy. Slade's was shorter.

Solis laughed. He hugged Max. "Thanks, Max. I like you. Did you like the concert?"

"Surprisingly, yes." Max smiled as he returned the hug and released the near-stranger. "I like your music."

"We couldn't do it without my little brother, Slade. He writes most of the music." Solis smiled. Slade was signing something for a fan.

Max stared. "Oh! I didn't know. Cool. Shit! That is cool. Little brother?"

"Yes. We are actually related. We are five minutes apart."

Max chuckled. "No kidding?"

"Nope. I keep waiting for him to catch up with me. I'm married with our second child on the way but he told us he was dating." Solis watched Max.

"He was dating my sister. They have things to work on but that is for him to discuss. Sorry!" Max sighed.

"What's she like?" Solis watched Slade.

"Uh, you haven't met her?" Max was shocked.

"Nope. Strange, huh?" He looked at Max and winked with similar green eyes with more brown in them. Slade had a brighter green color that Max memorized.

"Uh, yes actually. Brooke is a huge fan." Max sighed.

"You're not?"

"Uh, I don't really listen to music." Max hated confessing that. "Nothing against you guys."

"That's funny. It's all Slade does. He listens to everything." Solis smiled.

"He thinks I'm boring. He's not wrong." Max looked at his hands.

Solis smiled. "Different. Opposites attract."
Max nodded. "Very opposite."

"Sure, but you make a very cute couple though." Solis winked again.

Max laughed. "Sure. Until he cheats on me with a woman!"

Solis shook his head. "Max, it was a pleasure to meet you." Slade walked up. "Slade, be sure to bring him to our house for dinner. Soon. I have fans to talk to. Max, it was nice to meet you and I hope to see you again." He winked and walked off.

"Why did he wink at you?" Slade glared at his brother.

"Uh, not sure. That was number three." Max laughed.

Slade put his hand on Max's back. "Just give me a minute." He motioned for a man to come over. "Hurley, keep Max company for just a minute. I need a word with Solis."

"Sure." Hurley smiled. He was good at conversation and kept Max talking while Slade talked to his brother.

Hurly was a nice looking man. He had blonde hair that was dyed with black ends. He wore makeup also and no shirt. This band didn't need shirts, Max was sure of that. Hurley had a very infectious smile that made his dark brown eyes light up. Max liked him immediately.

"What was that?" Slade pulled Solis to the side.

"What?"
"All the winking?" Slade glared.

"Oh, come on. That is a sexy man. Date him already. I know you like him or he wouldn't be here. It's about time that you picked a sex and stuck with it. You are so greedy. Men or women, not both, Slade." Solis smiled. "He is a sexy man. I mean it. Bring him and introduce him to Alayna. She will be thrilled."

"When we figure this out. Solis, he either doesn't know he's gay or he's deep in the closet. Concreted in. I'm not sure. There's some fear in there too." Slade sighed.

"Charm your way into that closet and pull him out. You're sexy. I think you can manage. I know you like him more than anyone you've dated. Get to know him. I think he's worth keeping and dump the sister." Solis hit his brother on the back and walked off.

Slade sighed. "Bastard." He glared in his brother's direction. Solis knew Slade better than anyone and he knew his brother was right. He wanted to date Dr. Vanilla. He walked back to Max, who was laughing at something that Hurley said.

"I'm serious. That is how I met Slade." Hurley laughed.

"No! You didn't tell him the cookie story!" Slade glared.

Max smiled. "He did. You actually thought cookies grew on trees and if you buried a bag of them in the yard, they would grow a cookie tree?"

Slade laughed. "Hey, I was six. Hurley, go."

Hurley laughed. "Bring him to dinner, Slade. Max, it was a real pleasure." He walked off smiling.

"Shut up." Slade glared but he smiled. "I dug them up later and ate them!" He laughed with Max.

Max smiled. "It's a good story." He looked at the floor. "I loved the concert and now I have to buy a CD."

Slade sighed. "You poor depraved man. Just download them to your phone."

"What?" Max stared. He was lost.

Slade smiled at Max's expression. "Just...when I get to your house next weekend, I'll help you." He watched Max for a reaction. Did Max want him at his house?

"Thanks. So, they will be on my phone?" Max really only heard that Slade was coming to his house next weekend. His heart was untamed again.

"You can make an account, sad doctor, it will play on any...phone, computer, laptop, tablet...TV. Do you have a smart TV?" Slade watched Max.

"Uh, I don't know!" Max glared.

Slade just laughed. Max chuckled. "You poor doctor."

"Hey, I work." Max was going to defend himself.

"When was your last day off?" Slade glared in challenge.

"Last Sunday. I don't work weekends." Max looked proud of himself. Slade chuckled.

"No. A call-in day. A sick day!" Slade smiled.

"Uh..." Max sighed.

"You don't, do you?" Slade was about to give up.

"No. I did leave three hours early today just for you." Max smiled.

"I'm honored. You're nothing like Brooke. Do you like museums?" Slade threw that in.

"Yes?"

Slade nodded. "Stay tonight and join me. I'm going to a museum art opening. They are getting some new art. Come."

"When?" Max stared at Slade's pretty green eyes.

"Uh, tomorrow at one. We can tour the town. Get out of the office. Hang out with me." Slade sighed. "Please."

He pulled out his phone to check his schedule and Slade took it. "No way. Just stay and enjoy life outside of your schedule."

Max moaned. He closed his eyes and opened them just to look into those green eyes. "I am not spontaneous, Slade." He stared into his eyes. "Okay. Why can't I say no to you?"

"Because I'm sexy! Look at me!" He gestured to himself with his hands.

Max just laughed. Slade laughed with him as he handed Max his phone and spotted his brother and Hurley watching them. They were both smiling. Slade glared but he smiled and turned back to Max. "My brother's a bastard."

"Why?" Max smiled.

"Just...he knows why." Slade glared in their direction. "Oh, Graham's coming too. It won't be just us and I said that because I could see you trying to think of an excuse not to go. It's not a date. Are you good?"

Max laughed. "Yes. I would have gone anyway. Sadly."

Slade laughed. "I hope so." It made him happy to hear that.

Graham walked up. He was tall and lanky. He wore a mesh shirt and leather pants. It wasn't enough of a shirt to say he wore a shirt though. He had brown hair that was longer than Solis's hair and pretty brown eyes. Max didn't see any tattoos but there were some piercings. "I got six phone numbers!" He smiled.

"I'm sure your wife will be proud!" Slade glared.

"Hey, she calls them and it's hilarious." Graham smiled. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. I have to call my wife." He walked off.

"You ready to go?" Slade had plans. He was ignoring Graham and his weird games with his wife.

"Sure. Can you leave yet?" Max looked around. It was just the band and the crew was packing up.

"Yes. Come on. Someplace where they aren't." Slade glared at the band that was now watching them and took Max's hand and walked out the back. Slade opened the door for Max and he got into a black sedan and started the car.

Thanks for reading. Vote and comment if you want.