Page 7 of The Fire Walker
Dee
Istoodnext to Zoe in the middle of a very busy LAX, terminal whatever, with my hands shoved in my pockets. Something about airports put me off. I mean, someone was always leaving or coming back, and I was the kind of guy who liked to stick around. Maybe that was my problem. Not being able to letgo.
Suddenly, Zoe ran forward, and I watched as she launched herself at a tired-looking Will as he dropped his suitcase to catch her. I fucking loved that she was so happy, and Will was a great guy. He had a strange way of going about shit, and it took me a while to like the guy, but he was all right. They were solid.I wanted to besolid.
I felt like suck a jerk for being jealous of what they had, but I still grinned watching their reunion. They hadn’t seen each other in a while, and knowing how mental they were about each other, this was pretty warranted. We’d been in the US for almost three months all told, and we all still had another three on our visas. I knew Zoe and Will were taking a trip together to see some of the country, and the others were going home for some R and R, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do yet. I had the cash if I wanted to travel, but I wouldn’t be going with the lovebirds. That would bedepressing.
For once, we didn’t have any commitments with the band other than what the label had scheduled over the next couple of days. We hadn’t stopped since we started two years ago, and everyone was gunning for a break. We were all still in love with the band, and that would probably never change, but sometimes, you just needed sometime.
“Hey, mate,” Will said, finally disengaging his lips from Zoe’s and coming over to where Iwaited.
“’Sup.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “Shittyflight?”
“Fourteen hours of purehell.”
“Yeah, but it’s worth it with her at the end, right?” I said slyly, giving Zoe awink.
“You know it.” He grinned, sweeping her into his armsagain.
I grabbed his suitcase and walked in front of them toward the taxi rank. I’d come with Zoe because I couldn’t think of anything worse than sitting in my hotel room alone with my own thoughts. Honestly, I was depressed. Without the distraction of touring and gigs to play, I would just spiral down and down. I mean, recording was great, but it wasn’t a stage. And I especially didn’t want to be alone with my own thoughts after lastnight.
That conversation withZoe.
Locking eyes with the most beautiful woman I’d everseen.
Knowing that they were taking us outtonight.
Fuck.The shit I’d said to Zoe about it. I hoped she would keep that toherself.
Outside, I turned around to make sure the dynamic duo were following and watched as they stopped beside me, Zoe’s hand rammed into the back pocket of Will’s jeans. I didn’t want to look at that, but my mind wandered to the place where all guys’ minds wandered. Jessie’shands.
“Are you coming to dinner with us tonight?” I asked Will to distractmyself.
“Just the dinner,” he replied as we joined the line at the taxi rank. “I want to catch up with everyone before you allsplit.”
“Fair enough.” I shrugged. “What’s the plan? Where are you guys goingfirst?”
“Las Vegas,” he replied. “Zoe wants to see the Grand Canyon, and then it’s down toward New Orleans, then Alabama, andFlorida.”
When he mentioned Las Vegas, it made me think about Route 66. That sounded like an idea. Maybe that was what I would do. Cruise the open road with just me, the sky, and thedesert.
“No tours or anything,” Zoe said to Will as if she was reminding him. “All DIY. I like the thrill ofdiscovery.”
When it was our turn in line, I thumped the boot of the waiting taxi, and the driver popped it open. I shoved the suitcase inside as Zoe jumped into the rear. Before I could slide in beside her, Will held meback.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You seem a littleoff.”
“Yeah,” I lied. “Recording is a bit, youknow.”
He frowned atme.
“You know me, mate. I like to be on astage.”
He smiled, but I knew I wasn’t fooling him. Thankfully, he didn’t push me for more and slid into the back of the taxi next to Zoe. I got in on the opposite side, sandwiching her in themiddle.
As we made our way back into the city, I watched the world go past while Will and Zoe talked about the flight, recording, and whatever else seemed to come into theirheads.
Everything was back to front here. They drove on the right. Their cars were ass-backward. When the speed limit was sixty, that was fast. And it was just as hot as an Australian summer, though I hadn’t got my head around the whole Fahrenheit-Celsius thing. All hail the metricsystem.
