Double Down

by MB Austin

  Celeste laughed. “Are you sure we’re talking about the cat?”

  “Yes and no. I want to say I love you, but not just so you’ll say it back,” Erlea admitted. “I don’t want either of us to do something just because we think the other expects it. I really mean it, but I want it to stay special, not so casual it loses all its oomph.”

  Celeste chuckled. “I feel the seeds of a new song. Okay then, ciao for now. And also, I love you so much it scares me a little. I didn’t know I could feel so much joy and so much peace at the same time.”

  “I know just what you mean. All my new songs are terrible, sappy things that I have to totally rewrite.” Erlea smiled. “And none of them are about cats. Or shoes.”

  * * *

  Maji watched Celeste throughout the acoustic encore, the cat song. The tears on her face were happy ones. She and Erlea were clearly in love, their relationship so new yet on very solid footing. “That song’s not about Athena, is it?”

  Celeste wiped her cheeks and smiled. “Of course it is. And about wild things like you, too.”

  “Alejandro’s made a couple nice changes in the show,” Maji commented. “Course, I like it much better from up here than down on stage.”

  “I can’t wait to get down there, myself,” Celeste said, then blushed.

  Maji chuckled. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your Beatriz addiction.” At Celeste’s affronted look, she laughed outright. “Come on, let’s go use our backstage passes.”

  In the wings, Celeste seemed surprised when Maji headed for the back corridor. “You will meet up with us as planned, won’t you? One last visit for the four of us on the balcony.”

  “Half an hour, I promise. I won’t make Imane track me down—and I know she would.” She paused. “Besides, I need to make sure and thank each of you.”

  “For what?” Celeste asked.

  “For being there when I needed you. For getting me to the other side in one piece.”

  Maji waltzed into the do shop without knocking and started to back out when she found Roger and Alvaro making out.

  “Hold up,” Roger said, breaking away from the burly drummer.

  Maji gave him a hug and handed him the gift card.

  “What’s this, then?” Roger asked.

  “Dinner for two at Cuina Mallorquina,” Maji said. “You won the bet.”

  “And you saved herself’s life, and all our jobs to boot,” Roger said. “Why don’t you take that luscious dealer who has the hots for you?”

  “Reimi has somebody else now. A much better fit for her than I could ever be.”

  “Sorry, love,” Roger said. “But maybe it’s for the best.”

  “Definitely. I played her table tonight. Staked a hundred euros on one hand, got double aces, split, and doubled down.”

  “And you won, I hope?”

  “I always beat the house,” Maji said. “Thanks for everything, mate.”

  Roger looked so sad it was almost comical. “Don’t go without some token. What about all those outfits you wore as Erlea’s double? Now that Nico’s gone, nobody here would begrudge you.”

  “No. Not my style. No offense to Erlea, but I’d rather be me.”

  “Seriously? Money, fame, the lovely doctor on your arm. Most people would trade with her in a blink,” Roger said. “You must really like being you. Cheers.”

  “It’s the hardest role I’ve ever played,” Maji admitted. “But I’m starting to get the hang of it again.”

  About the Author

  MB Austin, a mild-mannered civil servant by day, loves to play with real people in the dojo and imaginary ones in her stories. She also enjoys cooking, eating, reading, dancing, and laughing as much as possible.

  Her Maji Rios novels are inspired by real people, in and out of uniform, who work to make their communities and the world safer for all. And by the people who feed them.

  MB lives with her fabulous wife in Seattle, an excellent town for coffee-fueled writers who don’t need too much sun.

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