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"Funny you should mention it," Nate rumbled. "She married a man with a similar dainty physique to myself and now they renovate houses for some TV network. She's even more famous than you guys these days." He downed the last of his beer and stood to get another one.
"I dunno," Jude said doubtfully. "That's a pretty high bar."
"Trust me, she gets recognized everywhere she goes." Nate nodded. "She seems real happy though. Even though she missed out on the biggest catch in school." He wiggled his shaggy eyebrows.
"Yeah, what could be better than an unofficial Rock Dragon?" Jude said.
At the same time Jude, Jett and I all said, "An official Rock Dragon," and laughed.
"You guys are never gonna let up, are you?" Nate complained.
"Nope," Jude said. "Like it or not, sooner or later you'll be one of us. Unless you can get your Mamaw to join us. Then you're off the hook."
Nate scratched his large head. "Well if I knew that's all it woulda took, I would have done that years ago."
"Does that mean she's going to join us?" Jude asked. He didn't even bother to look hopeful because there was no way in the world Nate's Mamaw was joining a rock band. If we played the blues, she might consider it but even then, I was doubtful.
"Just think, she could be drinking in a bar in Stockholm that has ping-pong tables in it," Jude said wistfully.
"She doesn't need to join a band for her to do that," Nate said. "If Mamaw wants to drink in a bar with ping-pong tables, then that's what Mamaw is gonna do. Ain't no one gonna stop her."
"You're right, no one would stop her," I agreed. "In fact, they'd probably give her a ride there."
"Fact," Nate said. "Failing that, she'd hitchhike."
"She's such a badass," I said.
"You know who else is a badass?" Jude asked. "Hales. She's pretty much single-handedly got social media to stop talking about Mel."
"People had to start talking about something else sooner or later," I pointed out. "But you're right, Hales is amazing and I should talk to her."
"Before the tour is over?" Nate asked.
"I make no promises, but I'll try," I said. I had to try, because she deserved someone who would make the effort for her. I dunno, maybe that someone wasn't me.
But I wanted it to be.
16
Hayley
"The world looks wonky," Harper said. She ended that statement with a giggle.
No one questioned why I didn't drink on our girls night out. I wasn't known for drinking a whole lot and getting drunk like the other girls. If anything, I was usually the driver. That helped in this situation, for which I was grateful.
Although she didn't say anything, Ripley kept giving me looks like she was worried about me or curious if I'd told Axel. Apart from shaking my head at her questioning look, I didn't say anything about it. Instead, we talked about men and work and touring. And how nice it was to have a night off. Nothing deep and meaningful, and luckily nothing about children.
"It's not wonky, you're wonky," Ripley said. She also giggled.
"You're both wonky," Mel said. She put a hand on my arm and raised her feet one after the other to take off her heels. "Hayley isn't wonky, are you Hales?"
"Not with alcohol," I said. Honestly, if I could get roaring drunk tonight, I would have. Alcohol would be the perfect solution to all my problems. Until I woke up the next day with the same problems and a hangover. For a few hours I could forget everything. The girl's company had gone a long way to doing that, so I was grateful for that as well.
I waited until she was back on two feet and I went on walking slowly, keeping an eye out to make sure no one got hurt.
"I wonder where the boys ended up," Harper said. "Knowing them, they found a place to buy burgers."
"Or an all night ice cream place," Ripley said. She and Harper exchanged a look and a grin, like they shared a similar experience in the past. They probably had. They seemed to be pretty good friends, and being on tour tends to throw people together whether they like it or not.
