Page 17 of All That Remains
"I'm not,I swear to God I’m not, Rome.I can’t stop seeing it. The two of you. This isreal." I distanced myself to remain firm, crossing the room. “It’s over…”
"Babe..."
"Don't call me that…” My eyes flashed. "All I want to know is: Are you getting married when you leave?"
He leaned back against the desk, hands grasping it on either side. “Fuck if I know.”
"That’s not an answer! Why won't you just fucking tell me if you are?!” I screamed. “Fuck’s sake,I swear to God I'm losing my fucking mind!"
I stormed out before he could spin the situation further. Halfway down the hall, I took off running and didn't look back.
***
I wanted to blackout. I wanted to get absolutely pissed and sleep for a week. At the very least, I didn't want to be sober again until we left Thailand. I linked up with my sister, Rose, and a few crew members and headed to a local bar. It was supposed to have karaoke and top shelf booze. I wasn't much in the mood for singing, so I was relieved to discover they didn't have a karaoke setup any longer.
At this hour the crowd was pretty thin, which was an added relief. Our team secured a few tables in the rear of the room, and I sat with Rose and the tour photographer, Sal, upfront. She took the seat across from us on her own, smiling through the long dark bangs and reminding me of home. We discussed the humidity and some of the upcoming gigs. We were able to request whatever tunes we wanted, as the bartender was keen on American music and offered vast catalogue. He keyed our selections up without delay—letting them blare from the overhead speakers as we imbibed. First up was "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne. I was in one hell of a mood.
"That one nearly hit me in the mouth, did you see it?" I asked drowsily, referring to the debris thrown onstage. "It was like a glow-stick or something."
"No, but I unfortunately did see the bra," Rose snickered, her blue manicure glinting in the lamplight. "That one took me for a loop. I didn't expect you to catch it!"
"They've caught enough bras to open aVictoria’s Secretby now," Sal muttered, swishing the amber drink around his glass.
"Any panties?"
"Well, shit,Rosa..." I gasped.
"Look, one, that’s not my name. Andtwo, what should I have called them?Knickers?"
"Mate, you're starting to sound like Mum."
"I honestly don't know whether that's a compliment or if I should resent it."
"Take it or leave it,Rosa," I grinned, nursing my drink.
“Still not my name—”
"And don't act like you're not always trying to put on a posh accent to make me look like an idiot when we have company—"
"I'm not company," Sal said.
"He's not," she chucked a thumb in his direction, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear with ahumph. "And I'm notposheither. You've just...I dunno...sort of picked up loads of different accents in your travels. Not my fault you sound like an identity crisis."
"Yeah…I'm starting to sound like some sad American jackoff—wait…why the hell were we talking about panties anyway? I don't wanna think about your panties, mate."
"Not mine, ya knob. I meant are there any thrownonstage?"
"God, I hope not!" Sal shuddered, crunching on a few pretzels. "I've a feeling those might be a little more soiled than the bras—"
"Full of sweat and other…secretions,"Rose grimaced with a laugh. "Y'know...from watching you guys all night…"
I pretended to gag.
"Anything you two wanna check out tomorrow?" Sal asked, his eyes already rimmed with red. The pink lids looked nervy and raw. "We’ve got a couple days before we head to Seoul, and I figured loads of sight-seeing to do." He was my adoptive dad on the road, seeing to it that I never strayed too far on my time off, and anticipating all my needs since I was seventeen.
"Everything," Rose nodded, bangs falling into her face. “I wanna see everything!” She tore into her appetizers—a heap of cauliflower buffalo wings. "I read somewhere about the sky-train, we could get across town in no time flat...make a day of it. And I was thinking about a little boat ride, if the weather permits."
"A boat ride soundsperfectright now," I muttered. "Good thinking."
