Page 8 of Sangre
“Chains wants to know if you wanna go to Leroy’s and get some food.”
“Is Skull coming?”
“He’s meeting us there. He left to drop off his kid sister and her friend at his mom’s. Eagle’s gonna join us too. You in?” His dark eyes skimmed over her quickly then flitted back to Sangre’s. “Or do you have other plans?” Sangre laughed and glanced at her.
“In your fucking dreams,” she said.
“Excuse me. Miss Isla Rose?” a timid voice said to the right of her.
She looked over and saw a lanky guy in his early twenties standing by the platform, staring everywhere but at her as he kept clearing his throat. For a split second, she wondered if this guy was the one who’d been sending her the love-obsessed fan letters. Something about him gave her the creeps, but she smiled and nodded. “That’s me. Can I help you?”
“What the fuck, Jon?” Sangre said.
Turning slightly toward him, she relaxed a bit. “He’s with you?”
“He works for me.” Sangre went over to the edge of the stage, his muscular arm brushing against her as he walked past. “What gives?”
Jon grabbed the back of his neck with his hand and rubbed it over and over as he looked down on the ground. “I just wanted to see if I could get an autograph or something.”
Sangre laughed. “That’s right, you’re a fan.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “This dude loves your band, and he’s crazy about you. Why don’t you give him an autograph?”
“I didn’t realize you moonlight as a PR man.” She rolled her eyes then focused on the young man who acted like he was going to crumple down in a heap at any minute. “Did you bring a CD or something?” she said softly.
Bringing his hand to his pocket, he took out a cassette. “I brought this.” He chewed his bottom lip.
She laughed, and it resounded through the nearly empty bar. “Excellent. I think you’re one of the ten people who actually bought one of our cassettes. I was the one who wanted to make cassettes even though the other members tried to talk me out of it. You just made my night.” Jon’s face turned a deep red as she took it from his hand. “I wish the others were here so they could sign it too.”
Crossing and uncrossing his arms, he fidgeted in place. “I don’t care about the others. You’re the only one who matters in the band,” he said in a voice so low that she had to strain her ears to hear him.
“Don’t let the others hear you say that.” She whipped out a pen and signed her name. “But you’re too sweet.” Smiling, she handed the cassette back to him.
“Thank you. I’ll always cherish this.” He glanced briefly at her then averted his gaze elsewhere.
A single shiver rode up her spine.I shouldn’t be out here like this. How do I know if any one of these guys is the nut who’s making me a nervous wreck?She took a few steps backward and bumped into a wall of hardness. Looking behind her, she jumped away from Sangre’s muscled body. “Oh… sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I didn’t mind.” He winked at her and she groaned inwardly. Jon still stood there staring at the signed cassette in his hands.
“Did you find your mike?” Benz asked, staring at Sangre. He came over and slinked his arm around her waist, yanking her close to him.
“No. I guess the roadies did their job. I was just signing autographs.”
“I was getting worried about you. We’re all packed up. Let’s head out. The guys want some food. Is anything open at this hour in this godforsaken town?”
“Leroy’s,” Sangre said as she opened her mouth to reply. “It’s a diner off of Ashwood and Cedar.
“Which reminds me. You never said if you wanted to join Skull, Eagle, Chains, and me.” The tatted guy leaned against one of the freshly wiped tables.
“Yeah. I’m going.” Sangre jumped off the stage, threw a lazy smile at her, and swaggered away. “Jon, stop gawking and get your ass over here.” The young man shoved the cassette in his pocket and hurried to catch up with the two men as they walked out the door.
“He’s got some attitude,” Benz said, placing a kiss on the side of her mouth. “Did he come on to you?”
“We were just talking. I really don’t want to go to Leroy’s.”
Benz narrowed his eyes. “Why? Because he’s going to be there?”
She moved away from him. “No… because I’m tired, and I’m not hungry. You guys can drop me off at my place first.”
Benz clenched his jaw as his brown eyes glinted in anger while he stood watching Isla. Not letting him intimidate her, she headed down the stairs and saw her other bandmates smoking pot as they sat on folding chairs.
