Epilogue
Found
Bunny
Dexter sat closest to Stevie and picked up his mic. “We’re just four guys who grew up together and love music. One day we thought that maybe we could do it too and started practicing like crazy when we realized we loved it.”
“Well, I know we are all dying to hear you all play at Thrash this weekend. Tickets are still available at approved sellers. You can call the station or visit the website for the locations.” He plugged the ticket sales so smoothly, it almost went unnoticed.
“But everyone here at Captain’s is ready to hear you tonight!
” There was a loud roar in the bar again. “Give it up for Solace!”
Stevie gave the signal that we were off air and walked back over to us, giving a thumbs up. As we walked off stage to start setting up the rest of our equipment, Stevie announced to the crowd that we would be on in about 10 minutes.
As soon as I reached backstage, I was hit with a tight hug from Marlowe.
She squeezed my waist tight and lifted me off the ground slightly.
“Whoa, groupie!” I heard Dexter laugh from where his bass sat on its stand.
“What was that for?” She shrugged and pushed up on her tiptoes to place a chaste kiss on my lips.
Before she could release me, I pulled her in close to me and kissed her properly.
She sagged in my arms as I dipped the tip of my tongue in her mouth.
“Okay, okay.” Dexter wrapped his wide arms around us and ushered us over to a corner. “Save it for later. You’re killing me.”
Marlowe bit my bottom lip as she backed out from the kiss.
Looking over at Dexter, she reached her hand up behind his neck and whispered, “I’ll kill you both later.
” She planted a perfect kiss on Dexter’s lip and walked between the two of us, winking over her shoulder as she walked away with her hands in her pockets.
Her baggy low-rise camo pants showed just a hint of neon purple lacy underwear at the top.
“Sometimes I think she might actually kill us.” My voice was restrained as I tried not to completely lose my shit over how perfect she was.
“Yeah, me too.” Dexter kissed my cheek and walked over to grab his bass.
Marlowe adjusted the mic on my stand. She and I were the only ones who knew exactly how I preferred it.
Myself and the guys stood just off stage as the lights went down and the crowd cheered.
Marlowe jumped down the two steps off the stage and walked by us.
As she walked by, she squeezed mine and Dexter’s arms. A love pinch, as she called them, for good luck.
As soon as I stepped on the stage and the lights came up, everything fell into place.
The music came naturally. Lyrics flowed without having to think about them.
The crowded bar loved every second of it.
They sang along to the covers. Some even sang along to our original songs, which was a huge ego boost.
I caught Dexter staring at me multiple times and threw him a middle finger. He looked away, laughing every time.
Toward the end of the show, bright orange hair caught my attention in the crowd, and I sang to Marlowe. Only Marlowe.
When the show ended and the bar cleared out, we stayed to help Marlowe and Naomi with their closing duties behind the bar. The other staff that Dave had now handled the bar floor and the other side of the space.
Dave walked up behind Dexter and me, throwing his arms around our necks. “Proud of you, kids.” He was pretending to cry as he patted our shoulders.
“Bro, you act like you’re some old man. You’re 10 years older than us.” I shoved his arm off me while everyone else laughed.
“I just feel like you guys started here and now look at you.” He walked behind the bar, pouring shots of something into plastic cups. “On the house.” He said, gesturing for everyone to pick up a cup.
Reaching out, everyone grabbed one and downed the liquor. We all made disgusted faces.
Naomi gagged. “Fuck Dave, did you just give us Everclear?”
“Yeah…” he sighed and walked away.
“Oh, my god.” She said, immediately filling her cup with something from the soda gun. Marlowe held hers out too while we all just started laughing.
Once Marlowe finished her drink, she looked around the group. “You all still coming over?”
“Of course,” Naomi said, collecting our cups and tossing them in the trash. Rich stood and grabbed the bag, taking it out toward the back door.
“I just have to run home first, then I’ll be there,” Chris said, pulling his keys from his pocket.
Standing, Dexter placed his hand on the small of my back, and we walked to where Marlowe stood on the side of the bar. “Ready?” Looking down at her, I smiled.
She nodded and led the way out to the back door. “See you guys there,” Marlowe said to Naomi as we left.
On the drive home, I lay in the back seat while Dexter drove and Marlowe rode shotgun. I could smell the cigarette smoke and craved my own but was too lazy to sit up and light one. I decided to wait until we reached our destination.
Pulling into the driveway, Marlowe got out and pushed the seat forward so I could crawl out on her side.
When I stood in front of her, I wrapped my hand around the back of her head.
Her blue eyes swirled when she looked up at me, smiling.
I kissed her softly and pulled back, licking my lips.
“You taste like cigarettes,” I said softly.
She jerked back, putting her hands over her mouth. “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry, that’s disgusting.”
Reaching out, I pulled her back to me and her hands fell from her mouth. “I think I’m into it.” Smiling, I kissed her again, and she kissed me back, sucking my bottom lip into her mouth and releasing it with a light pop.
We put a movie on when we got inside. Naomi and Rich arrived soon after we got home, and Chris wasn’t far behind.
We sat around and drank while watching the movie for a while.
Marlowe sat between Dexter and me on the couch.
She would move around now and then, lying on one of us or sitting in our laps.
Just depending on how she felt or if we pulled her to us.
Turning to face Dexter, I pulled Marlowe to sit between my legs and hugged her to my chest. When I kissed the top of her head, she looked up at me and narrowed her eyes at me. Dexter dropped his arm on our legs. He liked when he could be touching both of us, and it always made warmth fill my chest.
“Oh, Marlowe!” Naomi shouted, making the three of us jump.
“Hmm?” Marlowe looked to her best friend, who sat on the floor in front of the recliner between Rich’s legs.
Naomi clapped her hands together and leaned forward. “I forgot to tell you that we are gonna have a baby.” Rich and Naomi were smiling, and Rich leaned down, wrapping his arms around Naomi’s neck.
Marlowe jumped up, nearly hitting me in the chin with her head. “Excuse the fuck out of me. What? Are you kidding me?!” Marlowe screamed and scrambled to get off the couch, but I held her back from falling over.
Naomi threw her hands up. “No! No! Jesus. Shit, sorry. We’re getting a cat. An orange one.”
Marlowe let out a deep sigh. “Oh my god, Naomi.” She fell back onto me, gripping her chest. “Don’t fucking do that, you bitch.”
Everyone started laughing except Chris. “Imagine how I felt when they told me. I just got used to living with her, then they said baby. I was already packing my bags. But a cat, I can deal with that.” He tossed back the rest of his drink.
I glanced around the room and looked at the people I had surrounded myself with. My thoughts only drifted to the baggie of pills in my nightstand drawer for a split second. Then I remembered the shit I had been through and all we accomplished and realized that I had found it.
Solace.