Page 47 of Speak of the Devil

“And then it’s not for the other three weeks.”

He stands and taps his fingers along the edge of my desk. “If you’re not interested, I know Ryan is.”

Fuck him and fuck Ryan.My insides seethe from the threat. “I’m more interested to know if you would have asked him to donate a month of his time.”

“I’m looking for team players, Ms. Farin.”

“You’ll never find someone more dedicated than I am, but I also deserve to be paid fairly.”

He heads for the door. “A discussion for another day. They’re expecting you at Dally Point on Monday. Bright and early.” Closing the door behind him, he saves me the trouble.

What a joke. I wish I could laugh about it.

I call Luna back, feeling a little sick to my stomach about the confrontation I just had with my boss. I vent to her, hoping to feel better.

She says, “Maybe it’s a good thing the house didn’t go through, or you’d be stuck with paying a mortgage.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I’m not losing my job, Luna.” At least I don’t think I am. I lift my chair and turn it so I can look out the window at the strip center parking lot.

“You’re probably right, so let’s get back to the important stuff. When are you going to have sex with Shane?” Never deterred from a mission, my friend is unwavering in her pursuits of gossip.

I reply, “Three nights. He doesn’t return until Monday.”

“Gives you time to plan. New lingerie.Oh!We should go shopping this weekend.”

That’s not a bad idea. I’m not plotting sex with Shane, but I’m also not opposed to it either.I meannnn, he’s already gone downtown with his mouth, so it wouldn’t hurt to look my absolute sexiest. “I’d be up for that. Now let’s talk about your love life.”

“God, I’ve been dying to.” She dives right into the deep end. “Remember Adam? He does this thing with his . . .”

As much as work calls my name, I sit back and enjoy talking to my best friend for a few minutes instead.

15

Shane

“Didyou add a show onto the schedule, Tommy?” I hold the phone with the new updated schedule in front of his face.

“It’s a small gig,” he replies, pushing my hand out of the way. “A pop-in at Continental Club. All the greats have played there when passing through Austin. Short set. Five songs. Laird and Nikki said they thought it was a fun idea. Though the pay reflects when you played gigs at the beach.”

Hotel staff load trays of food onto the large dining table. It’s noisy even in the vastness of the presidential suite. It smells good and causes my stomach to growl. “I was going to fly back to LA.”

“Save the trip and enjoy a night in Austin.” He stands when the hotel staff starts leaving. “What’s the rush to get back anyway? There are plenty of hot chicks here.”

“I didn’t say anything about other women.”

“Other women? What women are we talking about?”

The door to the far bedroom opens, and Laird emerges, stretching like he’s waking from hibernation. “Is the food here?”

Tommy walks to inspect the selection. “It’s here.”

Laird returns to the bedroom, peeking in and talking to Poppy. He flew his wife out for a few days since we’re in the same city for three nights. I should have flown my wife out as well. I grin, looking down at my phone and the last message she sent:Break a leg. Just not yours.Her nurse humor is top-notch.

I click the screen off and tuck the phone in my back pocket. “Why am I the last to know about gigs being added?” When Poppy walks out of the bedroom, that’s when it hits me. Laird has Poppy. Nikki has Tulsa and her daughter, Autumn. I look at Tommy and then at Laird. “Because I don’t have anyone who cares about me?”

“We care about you, man,” Laird says from the other side of the buffet. “What are you hungry for?” he whispers to Poppy.

“You know what I mean.”

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