Page 74 of Dirty Like Zane
“What is this Sarah McLachlan-sounding shit?” I askedher.
“It’sFeist.”
“Sounds like SarahMcLachlan.”
“It sounds literally nothing like SarahMcLachlan.”
I listened for a bit. “Sounds the same tome.”
“Because you’ve probably never actually listened to Sarah McLachlan.” That was true enough. “Let me guess. You don’t likeit?”
“It’s alright. But where’s thesex?”
“There’s plenty of sex in it,” she said, and I could pretty much hear her eyes roll. “You just have tolisten.”
“I guess. Who really listens to this shit,though?”
“Uh, Joanie? Please tell me you weren’t rude toher.”
I left that alone. “Trust me, I’m not the only dude who’s been on this bus,Maggs.”
That was met withsilence.
Then she turned her head to look at me. “What?”
“Definitely seen other dudes slipping in and out of here.” I looked at her; her face was close to mine. We were sharing one of her furry pink pillows. “You telling me you haven’t caught themyet?”
“Who?” shedemanded.
“Hey, I’m not gonna cockblock a guy for no good reason. I’m just letting you know. I’m not the only one breaking the rules here. And we’ve already agreed Talia’s not getting fired,right?”
“Shit,” she muttered, putting the pieces together in herhead.
“Go easy on her. And what do you expect Pete and Sophie to do, fuck on a crowded crew bus? Come on, Maggs. You shouldn’t make rules no one can follow. Just setting yourself up fordisappointment.”
“Fuck.” She softened beside me, pushing a hand through her hair. “What do you want, Zane? And don’t say pussy, because I’m really not in themood.”
“I’m not gonna say that,” I told her, honestly, and she tossed me a skeptical look. “Seems to me like we’re not getting anywhere, fighting over the same shit again and again. Am Iright?”
She didn’t say anything. I was right, but she was hardly gonna admitit.
“So, why don’t we try getting along? Talk about something else. Like something we can agree on. We used to actually do that sometimes, youknow.”
“Yeah. Iremember.”
She didn’t go on, but she didn’t tell me to leave, so I wenton.
“You’re beautiful, Maggie,” I told her, my voice soft. “You work hard. You deserve to be kissed at the end of the day. Have someone tell you how amazing you are.” I was staring at her face, and I meant everyword.
“You deserve that, too,” she said quietly, but she was staring at the underside of the bunk above us when she said it. Her face looked soft and young, so pretty in the glow of the golden light, and all I wanted to do was kissher.
So fuckit.
I leaned over and kissedher.
Her lips were soft, and I just savored the feeling. Her warm breath against my face. The smell of her and her familiar taste. I kept my tongue in my mouth and just savored her lips againstmine.
Gradually, she started kissing meback.
