Chapter 19 #2
“Oh, he said he knows some people here in New York and was gonna stay with them for the night,” Gene says after taking a hit, finishing off the joint.
“Really, now?” Ray raises his brows. “He seems to have a lot of connections. He’s coming back though, right?”
“Yeah, of course,” Gene chuckles. He puts the roach back into his Altoids tin. “He was, uh, gonna buy some stuff from them.”
“Stuff?”
“Yeah, you know. Stuff.”
Ray doesn’t need to ask more to know what that sort of stuff is.
Carol, however, speaks up. “I hope that means more Quaaludes.”
“Yeah, he always gets that any time he meets up with people,” Gene reassures. “Basically a given.”
“Alright.” She nods, then stands up from her seat. “Well, I’ve got a big day tomorrow with my gig. I haven’t really been doing much up here anyway, so I’m just gonna head back to the room and relax. Did you wanna come, Ray?”
“Oh, uh…” He looks around at the guys, catching Gene’s eyes—a longing in them, asking a question without any words. “No, I was having fun with everyone, so I think I wanna stay up here for a bit longer.”
Faintly, ever so faintly, he hears Gene huff a small chuckle.
“That’s alright.” Carol shrugs. “I guess I’ll just catch you later then, whenever you’re done. I’ll be in the room.”
“Alright. Yeah, I’ll see you there.”
And so, she walks off, toward the stairwell that leads her down to the rooms.
Gene reaches for his bottle of Jack sitting on the floor next to his chair and takes a swig.
Ray can’t help but watch—noticing how Gene’s lips wrap around the bottle, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows.
Something primal erupts inside Ray as Gene lets out a deep sigh when he finishes, popping the rim of the bottle off his lips.
Flutters dance around Ray’s insides, making his cock twitch.
He crosses his legs and puts his hands on his lap.
The last thing he wants is someone to notice that.
But now that Carol has left, Gene is pushing it further, being daring.
After he sets the bottle back down, he leans toward Ray, throwing an arm around his shoulders and pulling him close.
Heat bursts within Ray, his cheeks on fire.
Well, maybe it’s not only Carol’s absence but the presence of alcohol in Gene’s system that makes him like this, along with the weed.
That could do it. But Ray doesn’t mind—in fact, he adores Gene being so close.
As long as the others don’t see anything weird about it.
“It’s so nice hanging here with you guys,” Gene says, though more to Ray than anyone else. “As much as I love Michigan, it’s just so damn fun getting to explore new places.”
“Yeah, for sure.” Ray nods. He’s starting to feel a little hazy, the high kicking in.
“I think most of our stops are in places we’ve been before, though there’s a couple new ones,” Santiago says. “I can’t exactly remember. Dennis is the one who just tells the driver where we need to go and points us to which venue we play at, y’know.”
And speak of the devil—Dennis himself comes out of the stairwell, walking up to their group, careful to not bump into any plants. It’s surprising he can see his surroundings so well wearing those orange-tinted sunglasses, despite it being nighttime.
“Heyyy, my favorite band! How is everyone doing?” Dennis says, putting his hands on his hips.
“Doin’ great!” Gene cheers, hugging Ray’s shoulders even tighter, making him giggle.
“Good, good.” Dennis nods. At least he doesn’t appear to think anything’s strange. Just us being best friends. “I just got relayed some good news, if you guys want to hear it.”
“Well, why wouldn’t we want to hear good news?” Santiago chuckles, looking up at their manager from his seat.
“Very true. But anyway!” Dennis claps his hands. “RCA was able to make a deal with their UK division, and Dust Off will start being pressed there for sales in Europe.”
“Oh, really!” Ray gasps. “I remember we got interviewed by NME earlier in the year. We must’ve made an impact then. Wait, how were they getting our records before, if they weren’t being pressed there until now?”
“Simple: the records were imported.” Dennis raises his pointer finger. “But it costs more to import than it does to press locally, which is why RCA is handing it off to their UK division now that there’s a higher demand for your music. Basically what I’m sayin’ is—you guys are blowing up there.”
“Oh man, that’s bitchin’,” Gene says.
“And we haven’t even performed there,” Santi adds.
“Yet.” Dennis tilts his sunglasses down to reveal his eyes. “Because, that’s the other big news. While Dust Off and even Swept Away are getting pressed in the UK… instead of another tour of the US next year, we’re planning on a European tour.”
“Are you serious?” Ray grins a humongous grin, gasping along with Gene and Santiago. He looks around at them all, even noticing Stefan’s eyebrows raise.
“Very serious. Why else do you think I urged you all to get passports earlier in the year?”
“You said, ‘just in case’,” Santi says.
“And that case has come to fruition—the case of us all going to Europe. It’s happening, boys!”
Ray squeals—he actually squeals—full of joy as Gene hugs his shoulders tighter, shaking him lightly.
Ray can’t help himself; he hugs him back, throwing both arms around Gene’s middle, their cheeks touching briefly.
Santi throws his hands in the air with a humble cheer, clapping them above his head.
Stefan doesn’t move much, but he does ask:
“Would we have a stop in Poland?”
“Yes, we are arranging that,” Dennis says, adjusting his glasses back onto his face properly.
Stefan nods his head down, raising a fist in triumph.
“Have you ever been to Poland, Stefan?” Santi asks. “I know your parents are from there.”
“No, I’ve never been. But I can speak Polish.”
“Ah, neat. Care to say something in Polish for us?”
“No, I’m good.”
Ray cracks up at that. Gene does too, and soon enough, both Santi and Dennis laugh as well. Gene never lets go of Ray’s shoulders, holding him close through everything.
After their laughter has calmed, Dennis stands up straight and says, “I suppose the only Broom not here is Pat. I’ll have to let her know of the plans whenever I see her again, or perhaps one of you can.”
“Yeah, we can do that,” Gene says, his hand warm on Ray’s shoulder.
“I wonder how many others would be coming, too,” Ray ponders. “Like if Nicky or Maurice would still be with us.”
“I suppose that depends. I’ll simply have to ask them if it works with their schedules, along with the other roadies.” Dennis shrugs. “But anyway, I’m glad to know you’re all as excited about the news as I am! I hope Europe is ready for us!”