“Ain’t no time for that, we got a gig to get to,” Shirleen said, as if she’d been going to gigs with me for years rather than a few days. “And anyway, Vance and Matt are waitin’
outside and Vance ain’t gonna be happy if we hang out forever. He was doin’ Jules a favor, bringing us over here, he said he’s got shit to do.”
“No, Shirleen, real y, we should deal with –” Jet pushed but I interrupted her.
I did this by shouting, so loudly I didn’t hear the door opening and Mace coming in. “Oh shit! The gig! The opening and Mace coming in. “Oh shit! The gig! The equipment’s stil at the Pal adium, Mace has to set up the security detail, effing hel !”
“It’s covered,” Mace’s deep voice announced, I jumped in surprise and everyone turned their eyes to him.
He unhooked the leash from Juno’s col ar and Juno moved to me slowly, giving head butts and sniffs to Rock Chicks as she passed.
I looked at Mace and knew with a glance he was stil pissed.
“What’s covered?” I asked cautiously.
His eyes came to mine. “Everything. Shirleen’s got Roam and Sniff helpin’ the band move the equipment.
Luke’s in charge of the security detail and he’s already arranged it with The Little Bear. You’re good,” he told me, I took a moment to wonder who the ef Roam and Sniff were then he finished. “Now, I’m takin’ a shower.” Shirleen got a huge grin on her face at the idea of Mace taking a shower. The rest of The Rock Chicks shuffled uncomfortably because they knew they shouldn’t be there but in a one room apartment, there was nowhere else to be.
I moved toward Mace as he came at me to get to the bathroom.
I put out my hand, caught his forearm and said, “Mace, we need to talk.”
He stopped, looked at my hand then at me, face hard, voice low and vibrating with anger. “Done talkin’, babe.” Sharp, hard gut kick.
Effing hel .
My hand dropped, he kept moving, entered the My hand dropped, he kept moving, entered the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
I stared at the door.
The Rock Chicks stared at the door.
We heard the shower go on.
“Oowee,” Shirleen whispered reverently.
“Time to go,” Jules announced.
“Stel a –” Jet said.
“Time to go,” Indy was staring pointedly at Jet.
Jet stared back.
Indy jerked her head once toward the door.
Jet jerked hers back but this looked like it was to communicate a negative.
I got the feeling they were having a conversation without words but I didn’t want to know what they were saying.
What I wanted to know was what Mace was thinking.
Shitsofuckit!
He was screwing with my head without even trying to screw with my head.
Or maybe I was screwing with my own head.