Page 288 of Hot Mess
I was actually kinda confused on that whole subject. It was a whole giant mess ofyesandnoin my guts.
No, I told myself.Definitely fucking not.
“He said he’s looking forward to working with you,” she told me, playing with my hair. “And Summer and Xander, of course. You must be so excited, babe.”
“Yeah. Fuck, it’s still sinking in. Like, yesterday it was just me and Summer. Our band’s doubled in twenty-four hours.”
“It’s so cool. I’m so happy for you.”
“I know, babe.” I ran my hand over the small of her back, up and down. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, though, if we’re gonna be the next greatest thing to happen to music. I still want another guitarist, and who knows if we can write a hit song together. But this band is gonna happen. And with Brody in our corner…”
Damn. It was almost too much to hope for.
And it was all happening.
“It’ll all come together,” Danica said.
I looked into her soft blue eyes as she gazed up at me.
“And we’re happening, too. You and me.” I squeezed her. “If the band takes off like I hope it does, life is gonna get crazy, and I’m not losing you by the wayside.”
“What?” She smiled at me. “You’re not. Of course you’re not.”
“You’re in this with me now, one-hundred-percent. That’s the way I see it. If that’s not the way you see it, you need to tell me now.” I gave her a slight smile. “Or actually, a long fucking time ago… You know, before I started to get attached to the idea of you sticking around.”
Danica shook her head, still smiling at me. “I’m in. Of course I’m in. You know that by now.”
“Great. Then I want you to get rid of your apartment.”
“You do?”
“It’s a waste of money and you’re always at my place anyway. You rent, I own. It’s a no-brainer. Besides that, my condo’s bigger, newer, has a better view and it’s in a better neighborhood. There’s room for all your stuff, there’s a walk-in closet for all your chick clothes, and tons of light for you to work. We can set up your desk by the windows next to my music nook.”
Yeah. I’d prepared this sales pitch.
“Ashley, I—”
“The kitchen’s way newer, I do most of the cooking, and your ancient stove isn’t gonna cut it.”
“Okay, and—”
“And don’t even get me started on your bathroom. Mine’s better, plus I’ve got two. Taylor only owns one song and the walls are too thin. Your sister’s always breaking in and eating your food—”
“I mean, she doesn’t break anything. She has a key.”
“I’ve got a doorman and a better security system with cameras,” I said. “Security on your place is dodgy at best.”
She gave up and let me talk.
Good, because I had more.
“My ceilings are higher,” I went on, “my floors are heated, and besides, this fantastic decorator just redecorated it for me. And if you want to change anything so it feels more like home for you, go nuts. I’m not gonna stop you.”
“Really?” she asked, tentatively. “You’d let me put up my flowers?”
I sighed. “Yeah, you can put up your flowers. Just go easy on that shit. I don’t want my balls shriveling up.”
“I’d like to keep my calla lilies,” she said, thoughtfully. “I could put them up in the dining room near my desk. And maybe one small one in the bathroom for some color? The rest… I can let go of.”
