Closer (Stage Dive 4.60)

“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.”