Page 22 of Dirty Fantasy

He wouldn’t let her blow his mind yet either.

“We’re waiting until I get you home, girl. Told you, I got plans for you.”

When Mama called between her set and Mick’s in Columbus, Tana didn’t know what to say at first.

“Are you really dating that man, Tana? The supermarket is full of your pictures. I don’t know what to think.”

“Ronnie and I broke up, Mama. Mick … well, he helped me through it. And I … oh, Mama. He’s … just … incredible.”

“Be careful, sweetheart. He’s been around. He’s got miles under his belt that you can’t imagine.”

“I know, Mama, but he says I’m the marrying kind.”

“I’m sure he does, sweetheart. Because that’s exactly what you are. I just hope, for your sake, he means it. And if it is true, I hope he can be true too.”

“I know. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

“It’s all just happening so fast, Tana.”

“You said Daddy proposed on your third date. And you were married for thirty-nine years before …”

“God rest his soul, I know. Sometimes, it just happens like that.”

“That means it could happen like that for me, Mama.”

“I’ll tell you one thing, sweetheart. I ain’t sad you and Ronnie broke up. That boy wasn’t right for you. I never wanted to say it, but you should know that I felt it from the beginning.”

“Mama! Really?”

“Never trusted that boy to take care of you. And now he’s running around all over town with some floozy. Glad to hear it’s over once and for all.”

“Good for him. I hope he finds a girl he wants to settle down with one day.”

“And what about you? Is Mick Vines really someone you could settle down with?”

Tana paused. “I don’t know if you could really call it settling down with Mick. It feels like being with him is the beginning of the most fun I could ever have in my whole life.”

“Oh, honey. Isn’t that just the sweetest thing for a mama to hear?”

Someone knocked on her door. “Tana, Mick goes on in five. He’s asking for you.”

“I gotta go, Mama. I’ll call you later this week, okay?”

“Love you, baby.”

“Love you too.”

She hung up the phone and opened her door.

“Right this way, Tana,” the roadie said.

He led her down to Mick’s dressing room and knocked. “Got her, Mick.”

“Come on in,” he called.

She opened the door to find him alone. “Hey there, handsome.”

“Come here and give me some sugar. I want the taste of you on my lips before I hit the stage.”