CHAPTER FIVE #2
“And it’s beautiful. But it doesn’t mean we can’t fine tune it,” said Martha.
“Still planning on a natural delivery?” asked Lizzy.
“Absolutely.” Mal nodded. “I’ve been reading about it. What’s best for the baby is best for the momma.”
Anne cleared her throat. “Hey. Excuse me. This momma will have whatever drugs she feels necessary to push a baby out of her vagina and she isn’t waiting for your permission.”
He hung his head. “Yes, pumpkin. Whatever you say.”
Face turned away, David quietly laughed.
“Oh yeah, you think it’s funny now,” hissed Mal. “But just wait until it’s your turn to deal with psycho pregnancy hormones, man. Then we’ll see who’s laughing.”
Jimmy nodded, all wise-like. “He’s actually speaking the truth for once.
This one time, Lena burst into tears and threw a spoon at me because I’d finished the last of the chocolate fudge ice cream.
Then she made me go out and get some more.
It was three in the morning. I had a red mark on my forehead for days. ”
“I apologized for that,” said Lena. “I can’t throw for the life of me. How was I to know I’d actually manage to hit you?”
“When you’re half asleep it’s hard to duck in time when shit comes flying at your head.”
“Poor baby.” Lena drew him in, kissing his furrowed brow.
“Lizzy cried every time she saw a show or a TV ad with an animal or family in it,” added Ben, the big, bearded dude. “Made watching anything impossible.”
The blonde in his lap scowled. “I had feelings. Deal with it. We can’t all be stalwart and repressed, Benjamin.”
Ben just raised his brows. Men. So stupid.
Over by the wall, Ziggy, Sam, and Bon were chatting. On the couch, Ben and David started talking about a new producer they wanted to work with. Which left Lena making weird noises in my direction for some reason.
“Pssst. Mae, I need to speak to you in the bathroom.”
“Um, okay.” I set aside my drink and followed her into the hallway. We didn’t even make it into the bathroom before she turned on me in the doorway. Heads together, she grabbed my shoulders to ensure I had no chance of escape. Nope. I was trapped. “What are we doing?”
“We’re talking.”
“About?”
Her glossy red lips curled into a grin. “What do you think of Adam?”
“Well, I’m sure he’s a very nice young man,” I said. “And he makes great music. I was jogging to his album just the other day.”
“Mae, get with the program. I mean as in you and him dating. Duh.” She flicked her hair.
“Don’t you flick your hair at me, young lady.”
“I will when you’re being deliberately obtuse.”
“Oh my God. You haven’t talked to him about me, have you?” I sighed. “Lena. Please. Tell me this isn’t a setup.”
“Of course it’s not a setup. Relax.”
“Phew.”
“So…” She waited not so patiently.
“Forget it. I’m done with fuck boys, no matter how seemingly nice, pretty, or talented they may be.”
“He’s not a fuck boy…exactly. He’s just young.”
“Yeah. That’s kind of my point.”
Now it was her turn to sigh. And she did so heavily. There was even some impressive heaving of breasts. “You know, you’re going to have to get over your idiot ex eventually.”
“I am over him. But there were lessons to be learned there.” I leaned forward and smacked a kiss upon her cheek. “Thank you, but I don’t want to date your younger, exciting rock’n’roll dude. My next boyfriend will be someone loyal and dependable, staid and ever so slightly safe and boring.”
She just wrinkled her nose.
“My dream man will be home every night in time for dinner. Isn’t even on any social media. He’ll enjoy such pursuits as stamp collecting, bird spotting, and macramé.”
“Woo. Party time,” she said flatly. “Sounds like we’ll be checking him for signs of life.”
“Right? It’ll be great.” I smiled. “Plus he will be totally a hundred-and-ten-percent into me. Think I’m a mighty and benevolent goddess, worship the ground I walk on. That sort of thing.”
“You do know it’s possible to find a decent man who thinks you’re a queen, but doesn’t bore you to sleep, right?”
“Eh. Why risk it? Besides, I could do with more beauty sleep. Sleep is under-rated.” I neglected to mention how a certain someone had managed to successfully get me off to sleep just yesterday. But Ziggy definitely wouldn’t fit my new monotonous requirement for all future boyfriends. Not a chance.
“When it all goes to hell and you eventually come to your senses, don’t say I didn’t try to rescue you from a life of tedium, crafts, outdoor activities, and bad sex,” said Lena with a pout. She had a great pout. Almost as good as mine.
“And quiet adoration. Don’t forget the quiet adoration.”
With a huff of disgust, she marched back into the main room. And in doing so, walked straight past Ziggy and Bon. Two bodyguards who were more than close enough to have heard every last word we’d just said. In fact, Ziggy was now staring straight at me. Shit.
“Hi.” I raised a hand. “Having a nice time?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Great.”
The big man standing next to him cleared his throat.
“Miss Cooper, let me to introduce my brother to you,” said Ziggy, pulling on the cuff of his shirt. A nervous habit, perhaps? I don’t know.
Bon stepped forward with his hand out, every bit as tall, dark, and handsome as his brother. But with a hint of the devil in his smile. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I’m a big fan of your work.”
“Thank you. Are you a bodyguard too?”
“I am,” he said and there was something in his tone. “I was hoping I’d get the chance to work with you, but Ziggy tells me he has it covered.”
“Ziggy has been great.”
Bon slapped his brother on the back so hard Ziggy winced.
What the hell was going on here? Sibling rivalry or something?
As an only child, families with more than one kid kind of fascinated me.
I looked like Mom so it wasn’t about having someone I resembled.
But I’d never had anyone around my own age to bicker about the silly everyday stuff or to lean on when times were tough.
Someone who grew up with me and came from the same background.
Not that I suffered. Mom and Gran are and were my bedrock.
But it would have been nice to have a brother or sister.
“I’m sure you both get asked this all the time, but I take it your parents were big music fans?” I asked.
Ziggy nodded. “Mom’s a rock chick from way back. Bowie and AC/DC are her favorites.”
“We were pretty much raised on that music,” said Bon. “And hey, at least there weren’t five other kids in the class with the same name.”
“True enough. And years later, here you both are, surrounded by rock’and’roll.”
Ziggy opened his mouth to speak, but Bon got in first: “Yeah, but not in the way Mom was hoping. She was trying to bring up a couple of boys who could wield axes in the musical sense.”
“I see. Not axes in the actual sense, like you two.”
“Exactly.”
“Except by axes he means guns,” said Ziggy.
I nodded. “Gotcha.”
Bon gave me another warm smile while Ziggy frowned at his brother.
Interesting. This conversation had the air of a territorial pissing competition.
Only it was hard to figure out if it was due to competitive business stuff, general sibling rivalry, or what.
His brother sure could make him react, however.
“Not to kill the mood,” said Bon, “but I’m sorry to hear about your situation. There are some assholes out there.”
“Language,” hissed his brother.
“It’s fine.” I looked away for a moment. “And yes, there are.”
“Glad my brother’s got your back through this trying time. You couldn’t ask for anyone more capable.” At this, he gave said brother another of those evil back slaps.
“Thanks,” said Ziggy, somewhat drily.
“Though if he ever needs a day off, I’d be happy to step in and watch you, Miss Cooper.”
Ziggy’s jaw firmed. “She doesn’t need you watching her.”
“Just offering.”
“You’re being unprofessional.”
“How am I being unprofessional, ensuring that our client’s needs are being met?”
“Thanks anyway, brother. You’ve got enough on your plate. Luke or Adelaide can cover if necessary.” If Ziggy’s eyes had shot out laser beams, I would not have been surprised. Well, I would have, but not by much. This interaction was nothing less than fascinating.
“There’s a female bodyguard on staff?” I asked.
“She’s busy.” And that was it. That was all Ziggy said. He and his big blank handsome face.
Shit. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean to imply…you’re doing a wonderful job. There’s no need to bring anyone else in.”
Bon smirked, but tried to hide it. That was about enough for me.
“Lovely to meet you,” I said.
Ziggy nodded. “Miss.”
“Miss Cooper,” his brother added.
I got my butt back to the couch and retrieved my drink. But I could feel his eyes on me. All damn night, Ziggy continued to watch.