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55
Kris
Memorial Day Weekend. This is when I would normally show up. Normally I would be throwing the first huge kegger of the season. Which I still am, but the menus and the guest list are a wee bit different this year. Since I’ve been going to the meetings over at St. Peter’s, I’ve made a new caliber of, I guess you can call them friends. While the twelve-step thing isn’t my way, my faith in God and my determination to stay sober match theirs.
So, I’ve told the booze hounds to find another party, and I’ve ordered a shit ton of that non-alcoholic beer and spirits that my Tink found. They got bourbons, whiskeys, gin, vodka, hell, even mocktails for those that like the sweeter drinks. I’ve invited the band, who has been awesome with helping us keep things pulled tight. Wildflowers is just about finished writing-wise, and we will start recording the single next week. The plan is for it to hit Fourth of July weekend, with the video being leaked a few days prior. Word of the book is going to go out then, too, so we’ve booked with The Today Day Show, Kimmel, and we’ll be playing with Corden. It’s going to be fucking epic.
“Dude, I don’t know how you managed all this shit in like just weeks.” Blue shakes his head, missing his cup in this round of pong.
“You forget how long I’ve been doing this job. Besides, you guys are doing all the heavy lifting.” I smile as Mariska leans into me.
“Where’s that wifey of yours? I wanna talk about my hair for the vids.”
“She’s not my wife yet.” I push her playfully away as she makes kissy noises at me.
“Hey, isn’t it like a wedding vibe for Wildflowers?” Gillian asks, and I can already see her wheels spinning.
“Um, sort of, she is leaning that way. Why?” I’m not sure I want to hear her answer.
“Dude, you should totally do it-like wife her up during filming!” Camden and Karn fist bump, making explosion noises.
“Think about the headlines for Kimmel,” Karn adds. “But like I’d make it a surprise.”
“You guys are nuts.” I shake my head, grabbing my mixer as they all start to pout.
“You’ll do it!” Gillian calls out to me. “Now that it’s in your head, you won’t be able to turn it off. It will be your song that doesn’t end!”
As I’m walking away, they start singing that blasted Sherri Lewis song! I’m going to be humming that shit all night now!
Outside, I hear Nicolette before I spy her in her favorite place. Colette’s rocking chair. Her legs are curled up under her, and Bowzer is at her feet, while even with all the people, Cat is sitting with Bobby. He’s in my chair going on at her about the Blue Flame Takis she’s devouring by the handful.
“Tink, I’m going to have to buy stock in these things, aren’t I?” She looks up at me, popping another handful into her mouth with total defiance. I put out my hand. “Hey, Bobby.”
“Would you tell her she’s going to rot her guts?” He laments.
I smile, wiggling my fingers at my girl. “C’mon, you, I hear that Trudy’s son Tyson just got back from Lynchburg and is roasting a butt with that Scorpion Ghost Pepper barbecue rub and sauce.”
“He likes this stuff as much as I do.” She says, taking my hand.
“The two of you are hiding something,” Bobby’s eyes dart between us.
“Yeah, bleeding butts if that sauce is half as good as they say.” Kissing Tink on the head as she stands, I wave at him. “You should meet Miss Clemmons, a right fine woman, do you some good.”
“Are you trying to set my dad up?”
“Why not? Miss Clemmons is a really great woman. Never married but doesn’t own like nine hundred pets or stuffed animals. She can cook, is a retired Army nurse, and loves her nephews like her own. She raised them up when their momma ran off, and her brother died. She’s faithful, loves God, old movies, and dubstep.” I laugh.
“That’s just not right.” She shakes her head. “I do not need that picture in my head. Just feed us, Pan.”
“That’s the plan, speaking of-” Am I really gonna put this to her? I look up, hearing that damn song being hummed, and see fucking Mariksa. “Shush!” I say louder than intended and get a few funny looks as that pink-haired demon comes running over.
“Hey, Nik, I wanted to ask you about your hair for the vid. I wanna go platinum, is that cool, or will it clash? We also think that your vibe is so cool that you should just run with the wedding ideas. Did Kris tell you he thinks so too?”
I’m going to kill her!
Nicolette looks at me, then back to the Mariksa. “Um, no, but I’m sure he was about to do just that. Let me get back to you on the hair, but I’m sure it should be okay. It’s more about the flowers than anything else.”
She looks at me with a honkin grin, then hugs Nicollette. “I’m so freaking excited. I swear that these non-alchy drinks have me tasting colors! Girl, I’ll get at you later.” Kissing my girl’s cheek, she skips off.
“She is a weird one.” I snicker, wrapping my arms around my girl.
“Might want to check her for a heart condition. If she doesn’t have one yet, she will with all that energy.”
“Nah, probably undiagnosed ADHD. Let's go eat, and hey, can you ride a horse?”
Her head snaps toward me, and she looks at me as if I asked her to drop to her knees and swallow my load for the world. You know, horrified and maybe a little okay with it.
