Page 58 of Dirty Like Zane
But I was distracted ashell.
Did he really mean what he’d said? That he’d rather have nothing, no part of me at all, if he could only have solittle?
Did he really want me out of hislife?
“Maggie?”
I startled, and refocused my attention on Matt.Jesus.How long had I been staring atZane?
“Yes. Sorry, what was that lastpart?”
A smile spread slowly across Matt’s handsome face. He ruffled his hand through his hair, his forehead crinkling as he raised his eyebrows at me. He had thick brown hair that stuck out in all directions and a crooked smile, and he was definitely too cute to be ignored. “You don’t have to sit here,” he said, “if there’s someone else you’d rather be talking to. I don’t want to boreyou.”
“No. You’re totallynot—”
“I mean, I’ll be wounded. But I won’t hold it against you.” His keen, kinda soulful hazel eyes danced a little in the candlelight. He was maybe half-serious.
He was maybe flirting, alittle.
He was definitely being nice, and I was being a distractedweirdo.
“It’s not that. You’re far from boring, Matt.” True story. The guy had rocked the stage with Wet Blanket tonight, could have any girl sitting here with him, and yet he was sitting with me. The least I could do was put in the effort to carry a decent conversation. “I just have a lot on mymind.”
“No doubt. You work too damn hard. Anyone ever tell youthat?”
“Kinda.”
More likedaily.
“Have another one.” He slid a fresh beer my way; there were several of them lined up on the table, left behind by Dylan, who’d ordered too many then wandered away. “You’ve earnedit.”
“Thank you.” I really didn’t need another beer, and yet I wanted ittonight.
“I hope they let you know what you’re worth to them,” he said. “I’ve been through several managers, Maggie, and what Dirty has with you… it’s special. You should knowthat.”
“Thank you. It’s really Brody who runs the show, though. I just help him out with whatever needsdoing.”
Matt laughed. “Sure. Brody’s great. He’s definitely one of the best managers I’ve ever had the chance to work with. Believe me, if there was any chance in hell I could join Dirty permanently, I’d be all over it. Not just because of the band and the music, but because of Brody and your team. I’d love to be on board, but I know that’s never gonnahappen.”
“Yeah. Sorry, Matt. It’s always so hard for us, too, having guys step in when it’s not permanent. Because we know we’ll have to let you go at somepoint.”
He just shrugged good-naturedly. “You guys have Elle, so I know there’s no room for me. I’ve got no illusions about that. And like I said, I’d love to keep working with Brody. But it’s not just him. If no one’s ever told you before, I’ll be happy to be the one to tell you, Maggie. What you do for Dirty, day in and day out, the kind of love you have for them, that kind of selfless devotion… the way you put their needs ahead of everything else and genuinely care aboutthem, not just making money through them… that’s rare and it’s fucking invaluable. If you need me to tell Brody you need a raise, just let meknow.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Matt. They treat me well, and they do tell me that kind of thing. But it’s always nice tohear.”
Matt raised his beer in toast. “Well, here’s to a killer band with a killer management team I’m totally honored to be a part of for awhile.”
“Cheers. And believe me, we’re honored to have you.” I sipped my beer. “You know, the guys are very picky about who they’ll bring onstage, especially Jesse and Zane. And I know they’re all thrilled to have you up there with them. Elle couldn’t have dreamed of a better bassist to fill her stylishboots.”
He chuckled. “Pretty sure she looked better doing it, but I’ll try to make her proud.” His gaze scanned my face as we drank our beer. “So. You’re in love with him,huh?”
I stared at him, freezing in place as the blood in my veins slowly turned to ice. “I’m not… No.” I frowned. “What do youmean?”
Matt grinned. “See. If you weren’t, you would’ve respond to that totally differently. You would’ve askedWho?But you didn’t do that. Which means you had someone in mind when I saidthat.”
“Uh, no. I’mjust—”
“Who is it?” He leaned in conspiratorially, and I realized he really didn’t know who. “You can tell me. I’m not agossip.”
