Chapter 34
Gene acts rather differently when Toshiko’s here versus when Toshiko’s not here, Ray has witnessed.
When she is here, Gene spends almost every waking minute with her, making it awkward for Ray to want to chat or hang out.
How can he? The man Ray cares for, has kissed, has fucked, is being intimate with someone else.
Of course Ray doesn’t want to be near when she’s around.
But despite Santiago already knowing their situation and Pat possibly understanding—Stefan and Nicky likely not caring—Ray can sense Gene’s hesitation to go any further.
The most romantic thing they’ve done since Toshiko left is briefly kiss when alone in Ray’s bedroom, but Gene stops before Ray has a chance to try anything else.
It’s so unlike how he was during their quick trip to LA, where he didn’t hesitate to rip Ray’s clothes off as soon as Toshiko was gone.
It could be because he doesn’t want anyone else in the house to hear them. But it could also be something else, something that Ray has been dreading: what if Gene has had a change of heart?
It’s certainly possible, given how much time he spent with Toshiko while she was here.
But that doesn’t seem right. I feel like something else is going on with him.
Either way, Ray can’t figure it out. Yet maybe this sort of distance could be fine for the moment. What if he himself is taking things too far? They’ve already been so brazen with things, risking Carol finding out. It probably is for the best if they cool it for a while.
But that doesn’t mean he wants to stray away from Gene. No, Ray wants to spend as much time as possible by his side.
And so, he does, as they get drinks together in the kitchen of their Lake Orion home.
They’re having a party tonight for New Year’s Eve and everyone they know is invited—Dennis, Mick, Maurice, Kenneth, their roadies from the tour, and even a couple of Santi’s brothers all pack in.
There are a few people Ray doesn’t recognize, friends of friends, he guesses.
At least their house is rather large, giving them plenty of space for everyone to congregate.
“Got any New Year’s resolutions?” Gene asks Ray, taking a sip of his drink.
Ray shrugs. “I guess just the same as it’s been, wanting the band to grow. But that’s more of a group effort than anything I want to work on personally.”
“True. I’m helping you out with that dream.” Gene gives him a sweet smile.
“That you are.” Ray smiles back. He takes a sip from his own glass. “I’m glad that, after everything that’s happened, we’re still doing alright. Bigger and better than ever, actually, with the Dusty Brooms.”
“For sure.”
“How about a resolution for yourself? Wanna cut back on the dope?” Ray nudges Gene with his elbow, making him giggle.
“I don’t think that’s a realistic resolution for me. Maybe I’ll just stick with yours, working toward making the band successful.”
“Fair, fair,” Ray chuckles.
They walk over to the living room, where most people are hanging out.
Santiago is spending time with the same pretty lady he was with at the Halloween party in LA; he must’ve invited her here, and she was able to make it.
That’s so nice. Mick is hanging out with Santi’s brothers; Ray wonders if they’re talking to each other about what it’s like to be related to a rockstar.
Nicky is still in the kitchen getting another drink for himself, same with Stefan.
Ray takes another sip as he looks for a spot to sit with Gene.
I think this is the most people we’ve ever had all at once at our house. Even more than on our birthdays.
It’s only about nine p.m., so there’s still plenty of time before midnight.
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve doesn’t start broadcasting until 11:30, but the Dusty Brooms’ number will air after the ball drops.
Some acts are set to ‘perform’ (prerecorded) before midnight and some afterwards to celebrate the new year.
As Ray scans the living room, still unable to find an open seat, his gaze passes by more people. There’s a couple near the stairwell to the upper floor he thinks he recognizes… He takes another sip from his cup.
No fucking way it’s them.
He lowers his glass from his face, and now, the pair are even closer to him. There’s no mistaking who they are now that he can see them clearer.
Oh my fucking god.
Carol Knight and Tim Price.
His heart rate quickens. His grip tightens around his drink. His hand begins to shake, threatening to spill the liquid if he’s not careful.
It doesn’t seem like either of them have spotted Ray yet, still mostly hidden by other partygoers standing in the way. Ray taps Gene’s shoulder with his free hand.
“Hmm? What’s—”
“Shh. Look over there,” Ray says, pointing in the general direction of his ex-girlfriend.
“Huh?” Gene looks, and spots them. “Oh, shit.”
“What are they doing here? Do you know?” Ray asks in a whisper, but still loud enough for Gene to hear him.
“No idea. Someone must’ve invited them, I suppose,” Gene whispers back.
“Hmm…” Ray looks around the room, spotting the loveseat next to the record player. Pat is in it, sitting beside Dennis. Their manager stands and walks away, off toward the kitchen, leaving Pat sitting by herself.
Wordlessly, Ray tugs on Gene’s shoulder and guides him over toward the loveseat. They stop in front of Pat, who looks up.
“Oh, hey Ray. Hey Gene,” she says cheerfully.
Ray sits down in the open spot on the loveseat, Gene also coming down to sit on the armrest next to Ray. “Did you invite Carol to the party, by any chance?” Ray asks Pat quietly.
“Huh? No, not at all.” Pat shakes her head. “Why? Is she here?”
“Shh.” Ray uses his free hand not holding his glass to put his pointer finger in front of his mouth. “Yes, she is. She’s over there with Tim Price.”
“Oh, wow.” Pat looks around, past the other people, her eyes widening as soon as she spots them. “I thought she grabbed all her stuff already. What’s she doing here?”
“Maybe she forgot something?” Ray wonders. “I can’t think of what, though. Why come now?”
“She might be here since it is a party, it wouldn’t matter if she were actually invited or not,” Gene offers. “There’s so many people, anyone is basically allowed.”
“That’s true.” Ray pouts. “Or maybe she’s here so she can humiliate me in front of everyone.”
“I think Gene’s more likely right,” Pat says. “She’s probably in the area because of the holidays. Maybe she wanted to visit me, too?”
“Oh, yeah, I guess you are still friends. Have you guys talked at all, since we broke up?” Ray asks.
“We’ve talked on the phone a couple times, with her letting me know what she’s up to in New York. She’s suggested meeting up with me, but we haven’t actually made plans,” Pat says.
“Huh. She just invited herself, then.” Ray shrugs.
“Shit, Ray, she’s coming over here.” Gene puts his free hand on Ray’s shoulder, alerting him.
“Fuck.” Is there anything he can do? Should he try to walk away, hide? But no, as soon he looks at her, she makes eye-contact.
Assaulting eye-contact.
She bee-lines for him, Tim on her trail with a duffle bag over his shoulder. Her brows are furrowed, hands in fists at her sides, the most devastating scowl on her face that he’s ever seen.
Oh my fucking god, no.
“Raymond Roderick! Just the person I wanted to see,” Carol says with mock enthusiasm as she reaches the loveseat.
“Uh… hey Carrie!” Ray gives an awkward, forced smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I was curious about this party you all were having,” she says, putting a hand on her hip.
Her outfit is stunning as always: slim corduroy pants with a matching turtleneck sweater, and a large, gaudy necklace overtop.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got somewhere else I’m planning to be later with Tim.
But I still just wanted to pop in, and make sure I wasn’t… forgetting something I left here.”
Ray can’t handle her standing over him. She’s so intimidating with that scowl, the anger in her eyes—it gives him chills.
She must know something. But what? He stands up from the loveseat, a more comfortable level if he’s going to deal with this.
“Th-that’s alright. Did you forget something?
I thought you’d already grabbed everything. ”
“I thought so too. But I wanted to be sure. Something just seemed… off. Lo and behold, I was right. I didn’t forget anything. You stole something from me.”
His breath hitches.
His heart thumps faster than ever.
He really fucking wishes he wasn’t holding his drink right now.
“I don’t even need to say what it was that you stole. You know perfectly well what it is.”
The lingerie.
He gulps, yet it does nothing to dissolve the lump in his throat.
“You lied to me. Yet again, you lied to me!” She points at his chest. “No, even worse, you were gaslighting me! You made me believe someone else stole it, when it was you all along!”
“Carrie, I—I’m sorry…” There’s nothing else he can say. She’s one-hundred-percent right. He thought he could get away with it too, hiding it with his clothes. He didn’t expect her to go through his own stuff.
“‘Sorry’ doesn’t even matter to me anymore.
It’s not like I want you, anyways.” She scoffs, throwing her hand out to the side.
“Tim’s got the thing in question in his bag.
And when I get home, I’m going to burn it.
I can’t stand thinking of what you might’ve done with it!
You lying, horrible, piece of shit jerk! ”
She raises her fist, as if she’s about to throw a punch—
But before it can reach Ray—
Gene stands in front of him, taking the blow to his cheek instead.
The sudden motion knocks them both back. Ray falls into the open spot on the loveseat next to Pat with Gene’s weight on top of him. Ray lets go of his glass, the liquid spilling all over the carpet, the soft flooring cushioning its landing.
“Ow! Fuck,” Carol says, shaking out her hand, Ray barely able to see past Gene’s head. “Really, Gene? Really?”
“Ugh…” is all Gene says, bringing his free hand up to his cheek.