Lead (Stage Dive 3)

“Tell me you love me.” He leaned in and she met him half way, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

“I love you, Mal,” she said.

“No you don’t. You’re just saying that to make conversation. That’s a horrible thing to lie to me about, pumpkin. I don’t know how you can sleep at night.”

“I sleep very well, lying right next to you.” She smiled and threaded her arms around his neck. For a long time they held each other tight, teasing and mumbling endearments.

“Where’s Jimmy?” asked Ev, interrupting the show.

I guess we shouldn’t be perving on the loved-up couple. Even if they were whispering sweet nothings and making out right in front of us. They were cute. Yes, I could admit to missing having someone special sometimes. Though the men I’d dated were more inclined to cause trouble than comfort. Hence my vow to stay sexless and single. I had to protect myself from my own shitty taste in men, even if I did find my own hugs somewhat lacking.

“Lena?” Ev laughed. “Hello?”

“Sorry. Ah, Jimmy … he’s outside with Mr. Ericson. I think he was in need of some ‘Lena free’ time.”

“He did a beautiful job with the eulogy.”

“Yes, he did.”

“And you did a great job of getting him through it.”

“Thanks.” I studied my empty plate.

“He hasn’t had a lot of women around that he can depend upon,” she said, her voice dropping volume. “Like he said, their mom took off early. Though I think that was probably a blessing. From what little David’s told me, she wasn’t someone you’d want around.”

“Jimmy doesn’t tend to talk about her. He doesn’t tend to talk about anything much at all, usually.” I frowned off into space again. I’d learned more about him in the last couple of hours than I had in the last couple of months. It was a lot to take in. The way I saw him was altering today in all sorts of ways.

“Yeah, Jimmy’s not what you’d call chatty.”

I snorted. “That’s putting it mildly. If I can get two words out of him about his appointments I’m doing well.”

“And yet you’ve survived the longest of them all.” With a small sigh, Ev settled her hands over her tummy. She too had tried several of the desserts. “You’re obviously doing something right.”

“Huh. I wonder what?” I stared at the ceiling some more, thinking deep thoughts.

“I don’t know. Maybe he likes you. Maybe he’s lonely and just enjoys having you around.”

“Yeah, right. We are talking about the same Jimmy Ferris here? The rock star?”

“Shame on you, Lena,” she said, her smile belying her words. “You’ve been around long enough by now to know that being a rock star doesn’t always mean what you think it does.”

“Maybe …”

“If he’s guarded, it’s for a reason.”

“He’s talked to you about it?” I asked curiously.

She barked out a laugh. “Ha, I don’t think so. I’m pretty much kept at a polite distance like everybody else. But you never know, ask him nicely, he might just talk to you.”

I wrinkled my nose. Despite today’s unprecedented events, the thought of Jimmy talking to me on a more regular basis as opposed to just barking out orders now and then seemed highly unlikely. “He might also just fire me for sticking my nose in his business.”

“True. These are the risks we take when we care about people.”

Something in the way she said that set me on edge. “Oh, no. Jimmy and I are strictly a business relationship.”

“I know.” Her smile? I didn’t trust it.

With great thumping footsteps, David marched up to us. A small black-and-white pup squirmed in his hands, tail wagging madly. The man wasn’t wearing his happy face. “The dog pissed on my shoe.”

“Oops.” Ev gave him a wry grin.

“It’s not funny,” grumped David, sounding so much like his brother for a moment they could have been twins. It was cute.

“Well done, Killer.” Mal lifted the dog from David’s hands. “I’m proud of you, son.”

“He’s not going to change the name?” asked Ev.

Anne shrugged, reaching out to scratch the puppy’s head. “I’ve kind of gotten used to it now.”

The pup had been a gift for Anne’s birthday the week before, although Mal had already seen fit to bestow a name before gifting him. That Killer came with a luxury condo where pets were allowed probably took any possible sting out of the situation.

Sure as hell, I wouldn’t complain.

A loud screech sounded from outside. Another promptly following fast. Only this time, the racket went on and on. It might have been an animal, except there were words contained within the furious caterwauling.

“Is that a woman?” I asked, cringing.

“What the hell?” Mal rushed to his feet, passing the puppy off to Anne.

Mal and David ran for the door, Ev and I close behind them. Outside, cold air slapped me in the face after the warmth of the house. It was the strangest, most disturbing damn scene. Beneath the limbs of a maple tree, a lone woman was busy shrieking at Jimmy.

What the hell, indeed.

David ran toward them. “Mom. What are you doing here?”

“You ungrateful f**k,” the older woman cried, ignoring her youngest son completely. “You think I won’t tell them everything?”

Jimmy didn’t even blink. “Go for it. I’m not giving you any more money. Already told you that this morning. What the hell did you think you were going to achieve showing up here?”

She had long dark hair and cheekbones you could cut yourself on. The family resemblance was obvious, only her skin was sunken and her hair hung in knotted strands down her back.

“Your threats don’t scare me,” she sneered.

“Mom, this is a funeral. Get out of here,” said David, taking a stand beside his brother.

“Davie, you were always sweeter to me than he was. You’ll help your poor old mom out, won’t you?” Her voice was noxious, falsely sweet. “Just a loan, baby. I just need a little help getting back on my feet.”

The man’s shoulders straightened. “From what I hear Jim’s loaned you more than enough money and you’ve flushed it all down the toilet. Haven’t you?”

“I need my medicine.”