Page 85 of Reverb
“So why are you risking life and limb and your husband’s ire to come talk to me?”
“I enjoy causing a little shock and awe once in a while,” Zavier murmured. “And Ray asked me to find you.”
David’s heart dropped to the ground. “Did something happen to Mish?”
Zavier held up both hands and his expression fell open. “No! Nothing!” He ran a hand through his hair. “I should’ve thought about how that might sound, rather than playing Mr. Obnoxiously Cool.”
David laughed, part in humor, mostly in relief. “Well, you play the part very well.” He dusted his hands on his thighs. “So what do you need from me?”
That earned him a rueful smile. “We—the band—were thinking about going out tonight. To a club. Blow off a little steam.”
God, a club could be a nightmare. “What kind of club are we talking? Logistics-wise...that could be an issue.”
“I’m not—we’re not asking for you to be security. It’s a well-known place.” He rattled off a name, and yeah, it was. “And they’re known for their security and we certainly wouldn’t be the first names to drop in.”
David rubbed his chin. “Or even the most famous.”
Zavier shrugged in acknowledgement. “Truth.”
“So if not security, what do you need from me?”
In a rare moment, Zavier looked sheepish. He even slipped off his sunglasses before answering. “To talk Mish into going.”
A thousand thoughts bumped off each other in David’s mind. He grasped at the most important one. “Zavier, if Mish doesn’t want to go, I’m not going to coerce her.”
Once more Zavier held up his hands. “It’s not like that. She’s...” He let out a frustrated sigh. “Mish is fine on stage. Playing. On the bus, because you’ve been there. But Ray and Dom are worried, and so am I.”
“So you want to make her go to a club.” David knew his voice was flat, and his temper was showing. These three should know better.
For his part, Zavier looked damn uncomfortable. “I’m not explaining this well.”
“Which is unusual for you.” Zavier knew what he wanted, and said what he meant. “So try again?”
He met David’s gaze, and his blue eyes had more than a hint of concern in them. “I’m worried about her. Deeply. That makes me less precise.” He seemed to chew on some words before continuing. “Mishwantsto go to the club. We decided as a band, like we do with everything. But she’s worried about the publicity, her mood, the next show, what to wear.Everything.” He spread out his hands. “The very idea is stressing her out, and the whole point of going is torelax. When Ray offered to nix the idea, she insisted we should all go. But...it’s also obvious she’s not happy about it.”
Okay, so he had an idea of what Zavier and Ray were asking of him. “You want me to help Mish unwind at the club. Give her a reason to go.”
Zavier considered this. “Yes, something like that.” He dropped his voice. “She’s scared, and I haven’t seen her this scared since—” His face tightened and flickered with anger and sorrow. “Since Ray nearly died. Ray never saw that fear, so he’s more worried than Dom and me. We want to help her, but leaning on us is uncomfortable for her sometimes.”
“Other times, it’s exactly what she needs.” Because David had seen that, too. When she wanted a hug or needed a laugh. Family.
Zavier glanced down, then nodded. Agreement without using words. A strange form of reluctance, and David wondered how many people ever saw this side of Zavier outside of the band.
“Not this time. Right now, she needsyou.” Zavier paused, and that sly smile came back. “Plus, there’s karaoke, and I hear you owe her a beer.”
David almost broke into laughter, but he kept it to a huff of breath. “Okay, payback might pique her interest. Especially if I promise to sing for her. I can do what you’re asking.” He gestured to the stage. “Shall we head back?”
Zavier looked around. “I wonder if they’d let us watch Two Times Strong from here. In the wings is fine, but it’s been a damn long time since I’ve been out in the crowd at a concert.”
Well, there was only one way to find out. David asked the sound guys and the guards and no one seemed to care, as long as the fans didn’t bother Zavier or cause a scene. Since they hadn’t yet, they likely wouldn’t. Zavier texted Ray, and stayed and watched. He didn’t sing along to the songs, but he nodded and bobbed with the beats. David sang, and that got him a smile from Zavier.
When Two Times Strong’s set was over, Zavier leaned over. “Mish does need to hear you sing.”
Heat to his cheeks, and a flip in his stomach. “I can’t sing like she or Ray does.”
Zavier’s smile was a flash of teeth. “I’ll let them judge that.” He nodded toward the stage. “Nowwe should get back.”
They did. Didn’t take long for Zavier to get cleaned up and changed before a limo arrived, this time an SUV for the six of them, since Marcella begged off. “I need to take a stab at some press releases I’ve been putting off.”
