Page 131 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“Ma’am,” said Harry the doorman.He held two more vases of flowers, one in each arm.Roses and wildflowers.One bouquet was in a crystal vase, the other was in a rustic wooden box.“More arrived when I went back down.Shall I carry them in for you?They’re a little heavy.”
“Thank you.That would be great.”I got out of the man’s way as he placed them alongside the first bouquet.This was…unexpected.And I couldn’t help the little light in my heart that hoped they were from David this time.
Harry left, and I opened up the next card.
No really.It was my bad.Don’t blame yourself.Love, Mal.
I set the card aside and looked to heaven.Malcolm was apparently on a roll.An apologetic one, but still.“Give me strength.I wasn’t blaming myself, you fool.”
Then I picked up the third, and hopefully last, card.Though getting flowers was kind of great.
Oh, fine.I forgive you.Let’s forget it ever happened.Love, Mal.
I laughed and shook my head.Tiredness makes you receptive to the silliest of humor.It’s the truth.And this was exactly how the drummer got away with being crazy all the damn time.He was charming despite everything.
Still no sign of or word from David.Which sucked.But I hadn’t been in the wrong, and he needed to get with the program.And, oh man.I just wanted everything to be okay.To get everything back under control.Life without a plan was not smooth sailing.
However, one thing motherhood had taught me was to rest when you could.That, and never wake a sleeping baby.Since my hair was already reasonably clean and my black sweats were sort of fresh, I grabbed a pillow and a blanket and made myself comfortable on the couch with the baby monitor.Self-care these days was a whole lot about sleep.Screw the skincare routine.I drank a bottle of water earlier.Good enough.Having a child was basically crossing out the top ten things that were important to you and replacing them with your infant.The one who still needed a name.Eh.One of these days.It wasn’t bothering him—yet.And David didn’t seem overly interested in the process these days.Our first big decision together about the baby, and he’d opted out.Ouch.
As I slipped off into sleep, I could still feel the uneasy feeling inside me.Hopefully David was taking time to think, and we could talk things through and clear the air when he returned.Hopefully.
Muffled yelling woke me.The soundproofing in the condo was hardcore.For me to be able to hear anything from the hallway outside the apartment where the elevators were, someone had to pissed.Big time.
More shouting.And those voices were horribly familiar.I grabbed my cell and the baby monitor and ran for the door.Two men tussled.David grabbed fistfuls of his brother’s sweater while Jimmy seemed to be doing his best to hold him off.Not so successfully.
I hit the number for downstairs and said, “Send up security to the penthouse.Now.”
“It’s none of your fucking business,” snarled David.
“Of course it’s my fucking business.”Jimmy pushed back.“Keep things up like this and you’re going to ruin your life.”
They careened off a wall and staggered back.It was like rock ’n’ roll wrestling come to life, in a horrible manner.Two spots of red sat high on David’s cheekbones, rage lighting his eyes.He was full-on losing it.Of all the times to not have security hovering.Holy shit.
“Get your hands off me,” ordered Jimmy.“You’re behaving like a damn fool.”
“Oh, yeah.Jimmy’s got all the answers.He knows everything!”
“Davie, I’m warning you…”
“Got his life together and his marriage is perfect.Just ask him.”
Jimmy growled.His hands were clenched tight around his brother’s wrists.“You’re too fucking defensive to take advice.Fine.”
“Because I definitely need another person telling me what to do.”
“She’s right.You’re behaving like a child,” said Jimmy.“Davie, let me go.Now.I won’t ask again.”
They didn’t even seem to realize they had an audience as they pushed and shoved at each other.
Then Jimmy pulled back an arm, formed a fist, and let it fly.Straight at his brother’s face.David’s head snapped back from the impact, and his hold released.He stumbled back against the wall, hands covering his eye.
“Oh, no,” I said.
Jimmy turned to me and frowned.“Ev… shit.”
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened, Bon stepping out.He took in the scene with a practiced eye and managed to keep a neutral face.Which I appreciated.Then he knelt down in front of David and coaxed him into showing off his nice, fresh black eye.Jesus.I always hated violence.I focused on taking deep, even breaths because hyperventilating wouldn’t help.
David got into a fight shortly after we got together, but nothing since.He was a lover, not a fighter.He wasn’t angry like this.Not normally.We didn’t really live a rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.No drugs apart from the occasional joint.No craziness apart from Mal.And definitely no trashing places and shouting the house down.Sure, there was the occasional party or get-together or a drink after a show when the guys were on tour.But nothing like this.
