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Michael snorted. “Right. I’m a real threat to a guy like that. Old money, powerful, can have any woman he wants—”
“Except his fiancée, who is hung up on you.”
Michael put his phone on speaker, set it down on the counter and picked up his razor. “That’s over.”
“Uh-huh. Sure it is. Just like you’re going to quit partying. Isn’t that what you told Lila last week?”
“I didn’t say I was going to quit partying. I just said I could if I wanted to.”
Ryan chuckled. “Right. You’re going to give up gorgeous Tabitha who’ll spread them for you anytime anywhere, and you’re going to stop drinking and having fun when you’ve finally got something to celebrate. Absolutely. Gonna happen.”
Michael nearly told Ry that he hadn’t had sex with Tabitha, then decided there was no point. Whatever he said, people believed what they wanted. Lila sure was. And she was just going to love this latest piece of crap news.
News he had to deliver. Thanks, bro.
“Maybe I want something more. That ever occur to you? Partying gets old after a while.”
“It sure does, but you were definitely feeling no pain when you were up on that bar dirty dancing with Juliet the other night. You’re damn lucky Lila wasn’t there or else you’d have gotten the “no band fraternizing” lecture she likes to throw around, though she knows no one gives a shit. I think she was a principal in a former life or something.”
Michael had to laugh. “She’s managed a lot of groups. She knows what causes strife within a band. She should, since Oblivion nearly imploded because of that.”
“Yeah, and then she married one of the members of Oblivion, so pot, you’re turning black.”
“Truth. Just saying, she doesn’t want to see us do anything stupid. Jules and I were just messing around. Just dancing,” he amended, because Ry would take the “messing around” thing and run with it right into a bedroom. “She’s a fun girl. But not for me.”
“You have fun with a lot of girls, which, you know, good for you, dude. We’re all enjoying our trip on the banging bus. Just saying that you can’t really claim you could clean it up in a second and get on the straight and narrow because, sorry, I don’t believe you. Neither does anyone with eyes and ears who’s seen one of the rags or heard a story on one of those tabloid news shows.”
“Can we talk about something other than my dick for five seconds? Any more talk about it and I’ll think you want a ride yourself.”
“In your dreams, pal. So Lila? You gonna talk to her for me?”
Michael did a half-assed job finishing his shave before rinsing off and patting his face down with a towel. “How long did the doc say you were out?”
“Depends how it goes. At least through this leg, probably, as far as drumming goes. It’s just too much strain on my wrist. I can come back in a support role onstage though.”
Michael took the phone off speaker and held it to his ear. “A support role. You mean playing some of those crazy instruments you love? Fucking xylophone or some shit.”
“Can do a xylophone one-handed if need be. You’d be surprised at the richness it can add to a song. Imagine how it’d sound at the end of ‘Tenacity’?”
Michael snorted. “Right. Look, I’ll call Lila, but she’s going to want to talk to you. So you’re only putting off the inevitable.”
“Thanks, man. You’re the best. Good luck. Catch ya later.”
Michael stared at the dead phone and tossed it on the counter. It was just a symbolic gesture, because less than a minute later, he’d pressed his speed dial to call Lila.
No use putting off misery. Might as well start the recovery process as soon as possible.
“Michael. Are you hungover again? That’s not an acceptable way to show up at rehearsal, especially not today.”
“What? No.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. Jesus, was he really that bad or were the people in his life just excessively particular?
“Just checking.”
“I’ve only shown up to rehearsal hungover twice.” He pinched a little harder. “Okay, maybe three times, but opening for The Slayers? C’mon. That’s as good as it gets. Of course I was going to get loaded.”
“Right, and playing at the House of Blues tomorrow night is your biggest gig ever, even bigger than The Slayers. So, logic dictates you probably trashed a hotel room last night.”
“Why would I get a hotel room when my apartment is nearby?”
