16. Together
sixteen
together
Bunny
Acloud of smoke floated above me as I lay on the couch in the garage.
Chris was grabbing us drinks from the fridge, and we were all taking a moment to cool down.
The first Battle of the Bands was next weekend, so we were squeezing in any practice time we could.
Our set list was solid, and we felt ready.
We kept getting together to make sure everything was worked out perfectly, just in case.
As Chris handed me a water, Rich raised a drumstick in the air. “Who’s down for Captain’s tonight?”
“Yeah, I’m down.” Dexter chugged his water and threw it at the garbage can, missing, as usual.
“I’m only going if Bunny goes.” Chris pointed over at me.
“What, why me?” I asked, sitting up on the couch.
Chris just shrugged and sipped his drink.
The drag I took from my cigarette settled my racing heartbeat. My pulse shot as soon as Rich mentioned Captain’s and the possibility of seeing Marlowe crossed my mind. Trying to seem nonchalant, I flicked my cigarette in the ashtray and looked at Rich. “Yeah sure, why not?”
“Hell yeah!” Rich started drumming on his legs. We all knew his reasoning for wanting to go was Naomi. I wouldn’t tell them my reason was her best friend.
We moved through the rest of our practice with ease.
We came up with a couple of backup songs just in case we weren’t in the mood for something when the night came.
My mind kept wandering to practices when Marlowe would be here, and she would sit on the couch or on the rug, right in front of me.
Dojo always followed her around like he was lost.
The first time she came to one of our practices, she was so nervous to tell us what she thought, but we wanted her opinion. Everything she told us was exactly what we needed to hear.
We played at Captain’s one night, and Chris’s now ex ditched us and didn’t show up to be our stage hand. Marlowe jumped in and offered to help. She was an extra bartender the night we played, and Dave let her help out.
She was so incredible with the equipment we asked her to help at every show, and things just grew from there.
I don’t even remember when she started coming to practices, but she gave us feedback so many other people would have never told us.
It was the truth. She knew what we liked and what we needed to sound like before we even knew.
When we finished up and were getting things cleaned up, I asked Dexter, “When is Marlowe coming again?”
Dexter set the bass down on the stand. “Um, I’m not sure. We can ask her tonight though. I’m sure she’ll be working.”
Nodding, I finished wrapping up my cords.
“We’ll see you guys there at like 11:00?” Rich called out from the car as he began backing out of the driveway.
Dexter replied, “Yeah, sounds good.”
Pulling open the door to the house, I walked inside ready to relax until we went out that evening.
My sweat-covered shirt was sticking to my chest and driving me crazy.
Reaching behind my back, I started pulling the shirt over my head but felt Dexter’s hand stop me.
Letting go of my shirt, my arm fell back forward, and Dexter slowly lifted my shirt.
He ran his hands slowly around my waist before lifting the shirt over my head.
Tilting my head to the side, he began kissing the spot between my neck and shoulder.
“I need to shower.” My voice was breathy.
Dexter’s breath wisped by my ear. “Then let’s go shower.”