Page 87 of Feuds and Interludes
“Coming right up.” I heard him asking Jaylene about doing my tattoo as I walked over to the bar, where Devon was talking to Sherry.
“Great set,” I said to him, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Thanks man. Felt good to be back out there.” He looked around at his bandmates, his gaze lingering on his cousin, and took a long drink of a smoothie. “Sure would be nice if we could keep it together long enough to go out on tour.”
“He’s doing great, Devon. He wants the same thing.” Sherry squeezed his arm. “He’s been sober this time for two years, he’s following doctor’s orders. There’s no reason he can’t work back up to touring again.”
Devon nodded. Then he turned on me with those all-knowing eyes of his. “Boone Collins, huh? Never thought I’d see the day.”
“What?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Relax, big guy,” he said. “Never thought I’d see the day you two would share a stage, much less get involved. He used to drive you crazy.” Devon’s lip quirked, and I rolled my eyes. Fine, I’d take it from him.
“A lot can change when you’re working in close quarters. You begin to appreciate things you never let yourself want before.” I tilted my head toward Jaylene. Devon had been very resistant togetting involved back in the day. All it took was a whip-smart, freakishly talented tattoo artist to change his mind. “Blame my pops. He started dating Vera Jean, and Boone and I were united in our determination to keep them apart, until we realized we were being assholes and they belonged together.”
“Yeah. Lotta history there. John Boone was one of my idols, man. California was my dad’s favorite band.” He crossed himself and kissed his fingers.
“They were pretty great.”
“So what are you doing next?” Sherry asked me. “I heard you’re working with Audra now. I don’t know her well, but she came up under Arthur Frye and he’s amazing.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what’s next. I’ve got an album’s worth of songs I was ready to record with Wicked Soul, and now I’ve got no band.”
Devon grunted and shook his head.
“Boone and I wrote some really great stuff while we were up at Bolder Breed, but Stellar also just recorded an album and will likely go out on tour. I don’t know. I’m a man without a country for now.”
Devon nodded. “You get yourself a band, I’d love for you guys to open for us.” He frowned in Marcus’s direction. “As long as certain people keep it together. That’s what we want to do.”
Sherry poked his shoulder, and he held up his hands.
“I’m just saying.”
“That would be awesome. Thanks man.” I had no idea if I wanted to continue as Wicked Soul, but it would be a dream going on tour with my favorite band. Maybe a fresh start was what I needed.
But then I thought about Boone. Was there a chance he’d want to tour as Butler Collins? I felt like I might have won over the twins tonight, but I still needed to have Audra draw up anagreement. The more I thought about my future, I wanted Boone to be front and center, professionally and personally.
“Let me think about it.”
Devon nodded at me and then he laughed. “Probably we should go remind Jaylene that she’s on vacation before she starts tattooing your guy.”
Sure enough, Jaylene had Boone’s shirt pulled up in back and was looking over his skin. Was he ready to let me design something for him? A shiver ran through me, but then I remembered his concern about his health.
Devon and I joined them as Jaylene was saying, “I’ve had plenty of diabetic clients. We just need to go in small chunks, make sure you’re handling it okay. Maybe even do a small one first and see how you do with it before we attack a big canvas.”
“Thanks,” Boone said, grinning at me. “She said it would be okay if my numbers are good.”
I sat next to him on the couch and Devon sat beside Jaylene.
“I was telling him that diabetes definitely doesn’t have to mean you can’t get tattooed. I have a client who beat breast cancer, but the chemo made her diabetic. We still have skin to work with.” She grinned at Devon.
“That woman is a goddamned warrior. I don’t know, dude. I think women can handle that shit a lot better than us men.”
“I think Boone can handle anything.” I smiled down at him and he winked at me.
“We should go to Jaylene’s shop in New Orleans. She said her friend Mackenzie could re-pierce my nipples.”
I laughed, and Devon groaned. “Just keep her away from your drummer. She did Star’s and he nearly ripped them out a time or two. We had to force him to wear a tank when he plays now.”
