Page 37 of Dangerous Encore
Petelaughs.
"He's banned me from the house until I promisetostop."
Pete laughsharder.
"He says no daughter of his is going to be an idiot who can only hit things withsticks."
That gets Petedoublingover.
"Why do you act like you haven't heard him say that a thousand times?"Tomasks.
"Still funny a thousandandone."
"Guitarists are fucking overrated. No offense, Ethan. Actually… you tired of these assholes yet?"Tomasks.
"Yeah, but I think I'm stuck with them,"Isay.
Joel flipsmeoff.
Pete teases his brother. "You think threatening to replace Drew isgonna—"
"I need some fucking leverage,"Tomsays.
"He's not gonna quit. Call him on hisbluff."
"With one kid, maybe.Withtwo?"
Pete pulls out his cell and offers it to Tom. "Call him. Tell him how you feel. How youneedhim."
"Fuckoff."
"You can admit you havefeelings."
"Fuck offtwice."
"You can call your wife and tell her you want to knock her up. You can still adoptlater."
Tom actually blushes. Fuck, I don't think I've ever seen the guyblush.
"This is Ethan's fucking party! Why are you talking about me?" Tom takes the cell. He looks to me. "You really want to sit here, hearing my brotherberateme?"
"Yeah." I laugh. This is one time where I'm sick of being the center ofattention.
"Fuck, why do I keep hanging out with musicians?" Tom shakes his head, but he'ssmiling.
They're still an old marriedcouple.
And we're still a dysfunctionalfamily.
Some things neverchange.
Buttomorrow…
Well, some things change for thebetter.
