Page 11 of Jinxes and Drumsticks

Ah. Okay, well, sure. That’s a pretty solid approach to learning about a tour stop. Find a cute girl to spend the night with and get an insider’s opinion on the best places to eat and hang out. Have a good night, get a good lay in the process. I can certainly respect the hustle, and after a year-long dry spell, I’m certainly fine with being that cute girl he spends the night with.

“Yeah,” I finally say. “Sure, let’s go on a date.”

“Hell yeah,” he says, pressing one more lingering kiss to my lips that leaves me trying to go along with him when he pulls away. “Come with me to tell the guys we’re heading out, and I’ll call us a taxi or something.”

“A-alright. I mean, are you sure? I don’t want to intrude,” I say breathlessly.

This time, when he leads me through the hallways, he’s got his arm draped over my shoulders, tucking me in against his side. “You won’t be,” he says. “I mean, Satoshi may be a dick again, but that’s his like... default mode or something. He’s always a dick. To everyone.”

“I’m gathering that,” I say.

“So, don’t let him bother you. Also, Oren might try to flirt with you. Please don’t encourage him. We’ll never get out of here if you do,” he adds.

“Uhm. What? Are you serious? Right in front of you?”

“Unfortunately,” he says.

“Any warnings about Fletcher?” I ask.

“Fletch? Naw. Guy’s nice as fuck. I just have to hope you’re more into piercings and tattoos than you are Irish accents, you know?”

“I mean... an Irish accent is pretty charming,” I tease.

He stops and looks down at me.

Then he pouts. Actually pouts.

“Sweetheart, you’re crushing my soul,” he says. “Spend all night looking hot as hell just to tease me like that?”

Then, to my surprise, he slips effortlessly into an Irish accent that makes me want to evaporate into the aether. “I can probably do a shitty Irish accent for a little while. How’s that, lass?”

“Stop,” I demand.

“That bad?” he asks, grimacing.

“No. I mean, depending on how bad you think it is that I totally would go for that if it wasn’t cringey as hell to ask for that.”

He lets out a peal of bright laughter and my stomach flips with the knowledge that I’m the one who brought it out of him. I can’t help but smile up at him like an idiot. “Well, maybe if you’re a very good girl, I’ll use that little party trick during... Well, I could think of some uses for it.”

“You’re shameless,” I say through an incredulous laugh of my own.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed about when it comes to flirting with you, sweetheart,” he says as he continues leading me down the corridors and passages. We finally come to a door that barely muffles the noisy conversation happening on the other side.

“...just saying that you guys should really make a show of coming out to say ‘hi’ to the fans that are lingering. The whole appeal of these smaller, more intimate shows is to do some grassroots shit,” Roxie’s voice is saying.

“Roxie, we’re tired, love. We drove down here from Seattle and pretty much went straight into prepping for the show right after we dropped our things at the studio,” Fletcher says. “We’ll go out, I’m sure. But let it be when the crowd thins out a bit, yeah?”

“I’m with Fletch on this one. And are you going to give Dame the same lecture when he tries to bail on us for that chick?” Satoshi asks.

“Don’t be a bitter asshole, Tosh,” Roxie quips.

“No, actually, I’m inclined to agree with Satoshi here. He shouldn’t just take the girl and leave,” Oren says.

“You’re only saying that ‘cause you want to shoot your shot too,” Satoshi complains.

“Bro. I’m siding with you here. This is an act of self-sabotage on your part. You should talk to a therapist about that,” Oren says.

Damien finally pushes the door and brings me into the room. “Stop gossiping like little old women in here,” he says.