Page 14 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“We don’t use him for his winning personality.”
“True enough.”I nodded.“You’re letting this guy move in with you?Isn’t that a bit risky?What do you actually know about him?”
“Sam’s checked him out.It’s fine.And it’s not like the place isn’t big enough.”
“True.”
Music filled the room once more, the strumming of guitar strings and distant thump of the guy’s foot hitting the floor.It was when Adam opened his mouth that the magic really happened, though.The boy could sing.
“Hey,” said another voice…one I knew far too damn well.David Ferris, lead guitarist, head song-writer, and my ex, slipped into the seat Lizzy had so recently vacated beside me.Like the one on stage, he was long and lean.Beautiful in his own way.We kind of froze at the same time, exchanging pained looks.So much messy ugly history between us.Young love gone wrong with cheating involved.My fault, not his.I liked to think that since then I’d lived, learned, and grown, etcetera, given it all happened a decade ago.But mostly, I’d just lived.In particular, I’d lived by never letting myself come even close to falling in love again.Love and I clearly didn’t mix if it made me lose my mind and do dumb things.Maybe that counts as learning.Two out of three ain’t bad.
“Martha,” he said.
“Hi, David.”My smile felt so brittle it almost hurt.“How are you?”
“Good.You?”
I just nodded.
Pleasantries exchanged, he shifted the chair back a bit from me and focused on my brother.“Benny, this the one you wanted me to hear?He’s good.”
“Yeah, was talking to him earlier.I’m going to produce his album, get him started.”
“Cool.”
“Got the equipment there, figure we might as well use it,” said my brother.“Keep busy while you take some down time and work on the next album.”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
Lizzy gave me something between a worried/sorry type look.God, I so didn’t need that.David and I had been finished a long, long time ago.While my heart no longer broke at the thought of him, the sight of him wasn’t exactly welcome.I mean, why would anyone want to revisit some of their worst moments?Sure there’d been some good ones in there too, but still.At least he hadn’t brought his wife.
And what I needed right now was some space.“The ice has melted in my drink.I’m getting another.”
“Do you want me to come too?”asked Lizzy.
“No, it’s fine.”
Movements stiff and awkward, I made my way through the crowd.Some interested gazes from strangers tracked over me, but I ignored them all.Flirting and what might follow wasn’t high on my list of interests right now.Luckily, the bar wasn’t far.The place might be packed, but the air-con was pumped up so my makeup hadn’t melted off.Thank goodness.I’d been waiting at the bar for all of about point five of a second when Sam appeared alongside me.First hint he didn’t need a drink, he was facing the wrong way, his gaze still on Ben, David, and the crowd.Second hint was when he opened his mouth and said, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He tipped his chin.
I scowled in return.“Do you need something?”
“Nope.”
“Shouldn’t you be working then?”
The sly sort of curve of his mouth happened again.“No need to switch on bitch mode just because someone expresses concern for you, Martha.”
“Who said I ever turned it off?”
His smile broadened almost imperceptibly.I watched it happen out of the corner of my eye.
“Good to see the years spent in New York haven’t changed you any,” he said.
Not too sure about that.
