Page 27 of Replay
“You can try it again now.Yo, Spook.”Someone prodded him in the kidneys, making him squawk.“Try it now.”
Try what now?Eh?Oh, yeah.They were tuning up ready for tonight’s gig.He re-seated his guitar and strummed the bottom string.E was it?Hell, he didn’t know.At least there was no arc of blue lightning this time.That seemed to please everyone else too.His effort met with a spontaneous round of applause.Generally, he had to work a lot harder to get that sort of response.
“Glad that’s sorted.”Ash started picking his way through the chords of their most recent hit, and Spook joined in on autopilot.Too bad his fingers suddenly felt like lobster claws.“Now we just need Liam to get his butt in here.”
“Dude,” Rock Giant growled from behind him.“What key you playing in?”
The wrong one evidently.“Want me to tune her?”One of the roadies stepped forward, hand outstretched, to take his precious Washburn from him again.Spook clung on to his baby a moment before reluctantly handing her over.Now he didn’t know what to do with himself.Staring at the thrillingly familiar figure was going to get him a ribbing from the band and crew.Especially the crew.They were the world’s biggest gossips, at least, amongst themselves.They were loyal to the core when it came to defending their band from outsiders.None of them knew about Alle.Or rather they hadn’t.By the time of tonight’s gig, every bugger on the ship would have… Well, they’d have thoroughly shipped him and Allegra Hutton.
Hang on.Hutton?
He did a double take of the guy in the ship’s uniform.
Much as he hated to admit it, there was a definite family resemblance.Same coppery hair and freckles, same slant to the eyes, and tilt to the chin, but different mouths.Very different mouths.Alle’s was way more kissable.
Alle had tracked his line of sight.“Brother number three.”
“Right,” he said, not understanding at all.“Why’s he here?”
“It’s his job.He’s been working on cruise ships for the last three years.”
Of course he had.She’d even told him that much on one of their extensive late-night chats.Four brothers, two older, two younger: Ewan the wildlife photographer with only eight point five toes; Marshall the journa… the prick.The less said about him the better.Then, Flynn, and finally Theo, who was still a student.Four too many, but really, any number would have been too many.
“I suppose it’s pure coincidence that he happens to be working on the ship we’re cruising on?”Coincidences, in his experience, were rarely if ever that.“Is it usual for your brothers to crop up everywhere you go?”
“Well I do have four of them.”She scratched her head thoughtfully, making the coppery strands spring upwards like tiny coils.“This isn’t Flynn’s usual vessel.He did a swap to cover for someone when he heard I was going to be aboard.Sweet, don’t you think?We hardly ever get to see one another.”
Sweet wasn’t precisely the word he had in mind.More like suspicious.“Hm.Which little bird told him that?”
“Eh?”
“It wasn’t you, then?”
“Oh!”Her lips pursed, then elongated into a sheepish grin.“You think, Marshall… Spook, I don’t think my family are stalking you.I’ll talk to him.Promise.”
Her promises didn’t convince him.Something was definitely afoot.
“In any case, Flynn’s not like Marshall.He’s cool.And he loves you guys almost as much as I do.Hell, he’s the reason I first got into you.He probably did the switcheroo thing so he’d get to see you guys live as much as he did to catch up with me.”
“Hm.”Even if that was true, the wariness knotting up his guts wasn’t going to be so easily unwound.
They’re big cuddly oafs.Nothing to be concerned about.
“I’ll introduce you properly, if you like.”
You sick fucking bastard.
Don’t think you’re going to wriggle free this time.
“I know he’d be thrilled if we could all have a drink later.”
Let’s see how you like it?
“I doubt there’ll be time.”
Hold him down!You’re gonna pay.You’re gonna fucking pay.
Alle’s pretty mouth fell open, as if to protest, then shut again.“You’re working.Yes.I forgot.There’s a show to put on, and you’ve lots of paying fans to entertain.But if you happen to find a few minutes.”
