Page 144 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“Everything is sorted.I’ll set the food out in a little while and we can eat,” I said.“Jude worked her ass off yesterday getting it all ready.”
“She’s a nice kid.”
“A nice kid?”I raised my brows.“She’s a grown woman.”
“Yeah, I know.”He smiled.“We should find someone decent for her.”
I turned to stare at my love in wonder.“What is this?Are you turning into a matchmaker?”
“No.”
“But yeah?Just a little?”
He shrugged.“She blushes bright red any time Jimmy’s around.”
“Oh really?I didn’t know that.”I tapped a finger against my chin.“So you want to distract her from her somewhat awkward crush by parading a little fresh man meat in front of her.”
He frowned.“I wouldn’t put it that way exactly.”
“Of course not, you’re way too smooth.”
“I am.”He laughed.“Thank you for noticing.It was Mal’s idea, actually.”
“Why does this not surprise me?”
“But Ben thought it was a good suggestion.”
“You’re all involved?”I asked.“Seriously?”
“It’s not a big thing.It’s just ...a passing thought about helping out a valued friend and staff member.”
“That you’ve all discussed.Poor sweet innocent single Jude.She isn’t going to know what hit her.”
“I may even already have someone in mind for her,” he said.“A good guy.He’s done well for himself over the last five years.And he’s someone who’ll be working with us on the new album.”
“He’ll just happen to be around, huh?”
“Yeah.Even Lena approved of my choice of potential boyfriends.”He smiled.“Not that I’m going to make things weird or awkward.They’ll just both be around.You never know what might happen.”
“You really shouldn’t interfere.”I shook my head.“You know, of all the people I’d imagined might turn into hopeless romantics and try being Cupid, you were not on the list.Not even close.”
“I just don’t want her feeling uncomfortable and deciding to leave the position over my incredibly unattractive and very married brother.We like Jude, right?”
“We love her.”
“That’s what I thought.And Jameson adores her.”
“It’s all for the greater good, huh?”I smiled.“Oh, boy.Time for another Stage Dive adventure, I guess.”
A Stage Dive Novella
There are reasons why people with careers like mine don’t tend to date.Most notably, when the hell would we find the time and energy?
I regularly chase after a small child up to six days a week.It depends on what’s going on with the family.My day usually starts at eight despite Jameson waking at around six or so.And it finishes at different hours depending on what’s happening.Some celebrity parents want a nanny to be available twenty-four seven.Some would even basically like you to raise the child in question.
Once, for instance, I was offered a job living in an apartment with two children under the age of two while the parents occupied a mansion nearby.Their plan was to drop by once a day, time permitting, to visit with their kids.
I declined that one.
