“How ‘bout a night to sleep in the back bedroom?” Sager asked, rolling up the sleeves of his Black Flag concert tee. “No offense, Lace, but you and War have been hogging it.”
“Not happening,” War muttered. “I’m sleeping with Lace, and I’m not sleeping with her in a bunk.”
“Uh-oh, looks like someone drank all of the tequila recently.” A look I didn’t understand passed between Dizzy and Bryan. Bottles clinked as Sager continued to search for something suitable in the cabinet. “How about vodka?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ok. I guess.”
Dizzy removed his jacket and took a seat on the couch beside War and me. Sager, King, and Bryan sat on the couch opposite.
“Who’s going first?” Bryan asked.
“We’ll just do it in reverse alphabetical order,” War suggested.
“That’ll put me last,” Bryan cautioned.
“Great. That means the game’s already his.” Dizzy filled the glasses. “No one can hold their liquor the way Bryan can.”
“War you’re up,” King called, tapping a full shot glass. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare.”
King’s dark brow rose. “I dare you to share what you said about Avery Jones when she was here on the tour bus.”
“You’re such an asshole, King,” War growled. “I’m out.” He shot to his feet. I intercepted a heated nonverbal exchange that passed between War and Bryan. “I got better things to do than play this idiotic game with you pissants. I’m going to the back.” He leaned in and gave me a tight lipped kiss.
“I’ll come with you.” I started to rise.
“That’s alright, babe. Stay. Come when you’ve had enough. Knowing these mother fuckers, that won’t be long.”
I stuck my chin out. “I can hold my own.”
“You sure can.” Sager’s head bobbed in agreement. “I’ll never forget that time you stood up to those cops when they hassled King about his brother.” He glanced at his best friend. “You remember, King?”
“Oh yeah.” King nodded. “She told ‘em to piss off, we don’t get to pick our family.”
“Just our
“Ok.” Dizzy smiled. “You’re next, Sager,
“Alright, Diz.” Sager leaned back and stretched out his arms. “Give me a truth.”
Dizzy ran a finger over his eyebrow piercing. “You really do the nasty with Mrs. Neboski on that science field trip to Lake City?”
Sager gave a quick nod.
“Hot damn!” Dizzy exclaimed. “I thought that was just urban legend.”
Expressions ranging from disgust to admiration marked the individual band members’ faces as Sager pocketed his cash and knocked back a shot of vodka.
Bryan refilled the shot glass. “You’re next, Lace.”
I pulled the shot glass with the twenty underneath toward me.
“Truth or Dare?” Bryan asked.
“Hmm.” Bryan ran a finger slowly across his lips.
My stomach did a little flip. I licked my dry lips as he continued to stare at me and perseverate. He was obviously enjoying making me squirm.
“Kiss your brother…on the lips.” Bryan grinned.
“No way!” I snorted.
Dizzy shook his head. “That’s just sick, man.” He glared at Bryan. “I’m giving her my turn and she earns a modify since you went so far over the line.”
“Agree,” Sager said, rubbing his chin. “Now she has to kiss
“Promise?” Bryan gave me a slow once over.
My cheeks warmed. “I just might, you ass,” I warned as I crossed over to him, ignoring Dizzy who’d suddenly started shaking his head at me. I was surprised my brother didn’t have more faith in me. That forty dollars was already mine. I bent down to kiss Bryan. As soon as our lips touched, he took over and I forgot all about our audience.
“Lace.” War’s voice snapped my head up like a whip. “Come to bed.” His expression was furious.
Blood roaring in my ears, I swiped my winnings off the table before hurrying after him.
19
I shifted in my bunk, scrolling up the volume again, trying to drown out the sound of Lace and War yelling at each other in the back.
I knew that I shouldn’t have taken things so far with that kiss. But I wasn’t sure I gave a damn. I’d wanted to taste her again.
I had a sudden terrible thought. What if War got physical with Lace? Not that I’d ever seen War hit a woman, but drugs could make you do irrational things.
I pulled out my earbuds, listening intently.
Just more shouting.
But now that my imagination had gone there, I couldn’t rest until I saw for myself she was ok. I threw my legs over the side and started to climb down from my top roost.
“Stay put.” Dizzy grabbed a hold of my leg before my foot even hit the floor. “Get the fuck back in bed. Haven’t you caused enough trouble for one night?”
“I’m going to make sure he doesn’t hurt her,” I told him flatly.
“He wouldn’t dare. Not with you standing by, ready to take her off his hands.” A pause. “Besides you know Lace can take care of herself.”
I wasn’t so sure about that. I wasn’t sure about a lot of things anymore.
“Why can’t you let it go?” Dizzy asked in a low voice.
I didn’t answer. Dizzy would never understand. I’d never seen the dude have an emotional connection with any woman. He went through them at a faster clip than I ever had. Diz had the whole grab ‘em and bag ‘em thing down to an art form. It seemed like an obsession with him more than a game.
Things had finally settled down back there. My tensed muscles began to loosen. But then I smelled something acrid burning.
They were shooting up again. I put my buds back in and blasted up the volume. I could certainly relate to Axl’s sarcastic introduction to “Estranged” from the live version. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut as Slash’s guitar solo began to wail in my ears.
I tapped the tips of my stilettos. Nerves on a raw edge, I peeked out around the stage column. The Philips Arena was a complete sell out. An ocean of fans bounced in the pit as Bryan stood up front, playing the catchy guitar riff in “We’re Through.”
Shirtless, War was a sexy sight as well, upper torso gleaming with a fine sheen of perspiration under the intense heat of the spotlights. A pair of panties arced through the air and landed at his feet. With practiced ease, he bent down, picked up the scrap of pink material, and held it in the air before stuffing it in his jeans pocket.
