Then the band went into the other room and Toby came to get us.
“You’re free to go,” Toby said. “I think that’ll be it for the recording sessions. We may need you to come to the practice area to run through the song for the live shows. Nothing is set yet. And before anyone asks, we will talk about money later.”
“I’m just happy to get the exposure,” Dawn announced.
Screw you, Dawn. I want money.
“Well, you’ll get plenty of that,” Toby said.
He walked us to the door like we didn’t know where to go.
I left the studio, got into my car, and drove away.
Without a word from Reed.
I hated myself that I felt disappointed.
Disappointed that Reed didn’t talk to me, look at me, nothing.
Like I was some dirty secret.
The rest of the day I had nothing but time.
Something I had been begging to get for a while.
Now that it was there, I felt uneasy.
I called Jess and asked if she wanted to meet up for an early dinner and a drink or two.
She was always down for that.
Unless the eggplant emoji was being shared.
I met her at a place with outdoor seating.
I just wanted to be outside for some reason.
The first thing Jess did was look around.
“It’s just us,” she said.
“Yeah. Why?”
“That’s never a good thing. Or a good sign. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“It’s never nothing when you do this,” she said. “Something happened.”
I panicked and told her the story about Don.
She made a fist and hit the table. “Fucking perv. Goddammit. Why didn’t you say something then? We could have beat the shit out of him?”
“It’s nothing. Just a horny, married man. I don’t know. I shouldn’t have told you. I shouldn’t have let it get to me.”
“No way,” she said. “Fuck that. That guy is a piece of shit.”
“I know. And he has a family. That part bothers me the most.”
Jess nodded. “I’m so sorry, Abby. I want to go slash his tires. Can we do that?”
“After a few more drinks, okay?” I asked.
“Deal. And don’t think I won’t.”
I laughed, but my heart raced.
Jess was serious.
And to me, it wasn’t the worst idea either.
“We may need to call for a ride home,” Jess said.
“Can we leave our cars here overnight?” I asked.
“No choice. I think we’re one too many into this night now.”
Jess’s phone vibrated on the table again.
She smiled.
“That’s been going off all night,” I said. “Who is it?”
“Just a friend.”
“Ah. A friend. That’s always nice to have.”
“Oh, this friend is really nice to have,” Jess said.
“So why are you here with me?”
“Because you called me.”
“Jess, if you have a chance to-”
“I’ll call him when I get home. He’ll come over. I’m good for it.”
“You should go now,” I said. “You don’t need me bringing you down.”
“You know, this is the drinks talking, but the story you told me… the ass grabber… I believe it and all… but that’s not the only thing on your mind.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I just know you.” Jess stood up. She wavered for a second. “I’m going to text my friend and see if he’ll come get me. As long as you’re okay with that.”
“Definitely okay with that,” I said.
“Good. And you… what’s going on?”
Jess kept standing.
“Just the studio stuff,” I said. “It’s bringing back memories. That’s all. And I’m pretty sure it’s already done and over with. I had a distraction for a little bit. It was nice.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, Abby. You deserve so much more than singing happy fucking birthday to spoiled kids.”
“Well, we all do,” I said. “But it’s a job.”
“Oh, he texted me again,” Jess said. “I’m going to go call him. How do I look?”
“For a call?” I asked.
“Shut up.”
Jess scampered away.
I sat alone.
It was slowly becoming night again.
I checked my phone.
I was one text away from a wild night myself.
What would a night with Ven from RAUNCHY RECKS be like?
My phone buzzed in my hand and I gasped.
I looked at the screen.
No strings attached bullshit, honey. I have something for you. I’ll pick you up in thirty-ish. Where are you?
I studied the text.
My eyes moved from the text to the name above the text.
Reed.
He had something for me, huh?
What were the odds it was going to be an apology?
I knew the answer to that one…
Slim to fucking none.
When I heard the distant rumble of a motorcycle, I shook my head.
No fucking way.
There was no way in hell Reed was going to show up on his motorcycle and ask me to climb on the back of that death machine.
Yeah, I wasn’t a fan of motorcycles.
I didn’t like the feeling of not being protected.
And I knew a few people throughout the years who took a tumble that cost them either a limb or their life.
With Reed… look at who he was.
He was fast, wild, thought death could never touch him, or that death could even catch him. He thought he would play a FILTHY LINE song, get drunk with death and keep things going.
It was sexy in a way.
But not Reed.
Just that mindset.
It was sexy from afar.
The motorcycle got closer and closer.
I stood on the sidewalk outside the restaurant and watched the two wheeled ride come down the street.
Jess was long gone, probably pulled over to the side of the road, humping her friend.
When the motorcycle stopped right in front of me, I turned around.
The engine became quiet.
“Abby!”
His voice sent chills through my body.
A mix of icy and nice, which I wasn’t sure of.
I turned back around. “I’m not getting on that thing.”
“Yes, you are,” Reed said with all the confidence in the world.
“No. I’m not.”
He stuck his hand out to give me his helmet. “Trust me, honey, you’re going to want to get on this ride with me.”
“I hate motorcycles,” I said.
“I know you do.”
“So you brought one here?”
“Face your fear.”
“I’m not afraid of them. I just hate them. There’s a difference.”
“You can’t trust me?”
“Why would I trust you?”
Reed held the helmet out. “I’ll wait.”
I laughed. “Oh, now you’re going to wait for me?”
That’s when Reed closed in on me.
Inches from me.
Staring down at me.
“Look, honey, you want to walk down memory lane? We can do that. We’re long overdue. But tonight, I have something for you. And I’m asking you to just trust me. I don’t want to be here as much as you don’t want me here.”