Rock Chick Redemption

by Kristen Ashley

  Maybe she didn’t spread sweetened cream cheese on French toast but I was relatively certain that Shamus would like her. Then again, Shamus seemed to like everyone.

  I stepped away from Hank. “It’s been busy, so I can’t leave and anyway, Indy and Jet are bringing back food. You two go to lunch, catch up, you know… old friends and all that.”

  Hank was no longer staring at me like I’d lost my mind, he was staring at me like he wanted to strangle me.

  I took another step away from Hank.

  “I don’t think –” Beth said.

  “Can I talk to you a second?” Hank interrupted her and then didn’t wait for me to respond. He took my hand, nodded sharply to Beth and said, “Just a minute,” and then dragged me out from behind the counter and toward the bookshelves.

  While being dragged, I caught a look at Uncle Tex who was shaking his head at me like I’d let down the side.

  Hank dragged me passed fiction, biography, crime, romance and straight to the open area that separated the front room from the back room (travel, health, social studies) and had a huge table on it with cartons of upturned vinyl wedged in them.

  Then he stopped, turned and looked down at me.

  I opened my mouth to speak but he said, “Don’t say a fucking word.”

  I closed my mouth.

  Hmm, seemed Hank was angry.

  He took a deep breath through his nostrils, getting control.

  Then he said, in a soft, dangerous voice, “Please tell me you didn’t just try to fix me up with a woman I used to date.”

  “Hank –”

  He didn’t let me say anything.

  “I used to be patient. Now, I’m findin’ it hard stoppin’ myself from shakin’ some goddamned sense into you.”

  “Hank –”

  “Roxanne, I just experienced my girlfriend trying to fix me up with another woman.”

  “I’m not your girlfriend, I broke up with you.”

  He stepped closer. I stepped back. My bottom slammed into the table filled with vinyl. He filled the space I’d opened.

  “That wasn’t nice, doin’ that to Beth,” he said.

  “Yes it was. You two could have hit it off, you’d asked her out before. I was doing her a favor,” I defended myself.

  “She and I went out twice. She was the friend of the girlfriend of a buddy of mine in the Force. If I remember, she was painfully shy, but sweet, and on her way to some job in New Mexico.”

  Shit.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  “I thought she was an ex-girlfriend,” I told him.

  “She never made it that far and wouldn’t have. I was doin’ a friend a favor and even if it makes me sound like a bastard, I’ll tell you I only did it knowin’ she was soon gonna move to another state.”

  Oh shit. I thought.

  “Damn,” I muttered aloud, feeling like a total bitch. It must have taken all she had to walk into Fortnum’s. I looked at Hank. “I’ll go talk to her,” I told him.

  “No, you’ve done enough. I’ll take her out to lunch and I’ll pick you up from Tod’s when you’re done tonight. When we get home, we’re gonna have a conversation and put this shit to rest, once and for all.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that.

  “Hank –” I started.

  “I don’t want you goin’ to Tod’s with anyone but Tex, Duke, Lee or one of his boys. Got me?”

  His eyes were glittering angry and I had the feeling he was barely keeping his temper in check.

  I nodded.

  The sleeping tiger had awoken and I was not about to prod him with a stick.

  He stared at me angrily.

  I bit my lip.

  Then, I couldn’t help myself, I hated that he was angry with me. I put my hand on his chest and leaned into him.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said.

  “You can apologize later, after we’ve talked, when you’re naked and in my bed.”

  Holy cow.

  “Hank –”

  He put a hand to my neck and tipped his head down to get in my face. “Roxanne, now’s a good time to be quiet.”

  Shit.

  He was still angry.

  And I felt like a total bitch.

  I braced, getting ready for him to explode.

  Then, to my complete surprise, his anger cleared, he gave me a light kiss and squeezed my neck affectionately. “We’ll talk later,” he said quietly.

  Then he was gone.

  I stood there, it could have been minutes, it could have been hours. I just stood there, looking at the space where Hank had been, not quite able to process how easy it was to fight with him. Even when he was that angry, he could shift it and kiss me good-bye.

  My phone rang.

  I pulled it out of my back pocket, flipped it open and put it to my ear. “Hello?” I said, expecting just about anyone; Annette, Indy, Daisy, anyone.

  I should have looked before I answered because it wasn’t Annette, Indy, Daisy or anyone.

  It was Billy.

  “I saw you walkin’ his fuckin’ dog with him, sittin’ in his goddamned lap in the car, kissin’ him, you fucking bitch.”

  My breath left me and I stood stock-still.

  “You’re gonna learn, Roxie. You’re gonna fucking learn.”

  Then he disconnected.

  I kept the phone to my ear and stood frozen, continuing to stare into the space, unseeing, not breathing, scared stiff.

  Billy was watching me.

  “A little help!” Uncle Tex yelled from the front, jarring me out of my stupor.

  I flipped the phone shut, shoved it into my pocket and shouted. “Coming!”

  I’d think about it later. For now, I was protected, safe, the cameras were on me, even now. I was never alone. They’d find him before he could get to me. Vance was out there looking for Billy and I knew Hank would keep me safe.

  I realized what I’d just thought and closed my eyes.

  Hank. I should tell him. I should tell Lee. I should tell someone.

  I walked to the front and there were half a dozen customers at the coffee counter, two waiting to buy books.

  “Girl, get the fuckin’ lead out!” Uncle Tex boomed.

  I decided I’d tell Uncle Tex later. I’d think about Hank and my conversation later. I’d kick myself for what I did to poor Beth later.

  I walked to the book counter and rang up the books.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The Good Lord Overwhelms Her on Occasion

  “What do you think, Roxie?” Tod asked.

  I looked up and noticed everyone was watching me; Indy, Ally, Daisy, Annette, Tod, Stevie and Jet. My mind had been elsewhere, mainly because I’d just lived the weirdest fucking day of my life.

  Now, I was sitting, drinking a glass of sparkling wine in Tod and Stevie’s living room (black carpeting, dove gray walls, mauve furniture, glass tables, sleek, feminine, stark white, human-sized sculptures here and there, it was totally gay and cool as shit). The Emergency Wedding Summit was in full swing.

  Strewn everywhere were fabric swatches and ribbons of every color; wedding magazines from four different countries; examples of party favors; glossy brochures from wedding venues; information pamphlets for different bands and DJs; invitation samples; and lining the dining room table, were seven (seven!) wedding cake tops ranging from the traditional bride and groom to a teddy bear bride and groom. The Wedding Planner Scrapbook was open on the glass coffee table, bursting with even more stuff then it seemed to carry the day before.

  Discussion had been hot and heavy: starting with wedding colors and then veering crazily to wedding gowns, churches, bands, you name it. Indy had a definite idea of what she wanted and every idea she had clashed violently with the one Tod had.

  Throughout all of this Stevie calmly served hot and delicious hors d’oeuvres.

  Also throughout all of this, I alternately wound myself up about the coming “conversation” with Hank and thoughts about my weird day.
r />   * * * * *

  Earlier that afternoon, about half an hour after Hank left, Duke showed up and Indy and Jet arrived not much later with lunch. While we were eating, I told Uncle Tex about Billy’s phone call.

  “You’ve got to be fuckin’ shittin’ me!” he boomed, tuna sandwich residue flying from his mouth.

  I dodged the bits of food and shook my head.

  “Have you called Hank?” Jet asked, looking upset.

  “Things were kinda busy,” I answered.

  “I’m callin’ Hank, give me your phone, woman,” Uncle Tex said, holding out his big hand toward Indy.

  Indy knew the drill with Tex and cell phones (as in, he had no clue). She took out her phone, flipped it opened, scrolled to Hank’s number and pressed the button before handing it to Uncle Tex.

  I turned to Jet as Uncle Tex stormed away, taking his sandwich with him. “Hank and I had a talk last night.”

  Jet’s upset melted immediately and she smiled at me. “That’s good. Did you get everything straightened out?”

  “Not exactly,” I said. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I mentioned something about me being gray and Hank got a little… angry.”

  Jet blinked at me. “Pardon?” she asked.

  “He said something about you two having a conversation and how whatever you two talked about in no way, or, I should say his exact words were…” I did a fake, deep voice, “‘Roxie, hear this right fucking now, in no way does it transfer to you’.”

  Jet’s mouth spread in a huge smile. “See! I told you he wouldn’t think you were gray. Now you don’t have anything to worry about.”

  Right.

  I wished.

  “What’s this about gray?” Indy asked, looking between the two of us.

  Before anyone could answer, Uncle Tex was back. “He wants to talk to you.”

  I closed my eyes for a second, wondering what Hank’s mood would be after lunch with Beth. Then I took the phone.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “You okay?” he asked, no anger in his tone, only concern.

  I felt a little of my tension ebb away.

  “Freaked out a little bit, but okay,” I answered.

  “I know it doesn’t seem like it but this is good, Roxie. I’ll call Lee and he’ll tell Vance. We already know Flynn’s been followin’ you, but whatever he’s doin’, he’s been careful. He’s givin’ Vance some trouble and Vance is a top-notch tracker. Now Flynn is getting desperate, angry and stupid and that’s good. That means he’ll make a mistake.”

  I nodded. That made sense and even though Billy getting more desperate, angry and stupid was pretty fucking scary, getting him didn’t sound good, it sounded great.

  “Okay,” I said into the phone.

  “He has no idea the kind of protection you have. You’re gonna be fine,” Hank assured me.

  “Okay,” I repeated, believing him.

  “Make sure you have someone with you when you go to Tod’s,” he went on.

  “Whisky,” I said quietly. “You told me that already.”

  “I know. I wanna make certain you got it.”

  Hank was such a good guy.

  “I got it,” I told him.

  “I’ll be at Tod’s at nine to pick you up.”

  “Okay,” I said, again.

  “Later, Sunshine.”

  Then he disconnected.

  I flipped the phone shut and handed it to Indy just as the bell over the door rang. We all turned to see who it was and my eyes widened at what I saw.

  “Ohmigod!” Indy yelled. “Beth! I thought you were in New Mexico.”

  Shit.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  Indy hugged Beth and Beth said to her, “I moved back. I heard you finally hooked up with Lee.”

  “Yeah,” Indy showed Beth her left hand, wiggling her fingers. “We’re getting married.”

  “That’s great!” Beth replied, smiling happily at Indy. Then her eyes slid to me and her face got pink. “Um, Roxie. Can we talk?”

  Shit!

  Shit, shit, shit!

  Indy, Jet, Duke and Uncle Tex all stared at me. Only Uncle Tex knew about my earlier idiotic blunder.

  “Sure,” I said to Beth.

  We were all eating our sandwiches at the book counter. Beth and I walked over to a couch and sat down.

  I turned to her and said quickly, “I’m sorry. It was stu –”

  Her eyes were kind as she looked at me and she interrupted softly. “Don’t be sorry. Hank told me about your… ordeal.”

  I gaped at her. “He did?”

  “Yes. I’m so, so sorry you went through that. He told me, because of that, you’re behaving erratically and you have trust issues,” she patted my knee. “That’s understandable.”

  Behaving erratically?

  Trust issues?

  Good God.

  I was going to kill Hank.

  She went on. “Anyway, what I wanted to talk to you about was… um…” she stopped, looking uncomfortable.

  “Yeah?” I prompted, smiling at her even as I mentally planned Hank’s untimely demise.

  “You dress really cool,” she blurted. “And I thought… maybe, if you don’t mind, could you, maybe, um… take me shopping?”

  I gaped at her again.

  She went on in a rush. “I know, we barely know each other and it’s like, really weird that I’d ask but –”

  “I’d love that!” I cried excitedly, not thinking before the words flew out of my mouth.

  Then I thought.

  Oh shit.

  What was I saying?

  I was leaving as soon as I could get my car. I didn’t need to become Beth’s personal shopper.

  “That would be so cool!” she replied while I had a mini-flip out. She hesitated a second before she hugged me. When she pulled away she said, “I try, but I can’t really get it together. I’ll try something new and end up looking like a freak. I just need a little fashion direction.”

  Damn.

  I couldn’t back out now.

  And she was right, she definitely needed a little fashion direction.

  “I can do that,” I said on a smile.

  “Thank you,” she hugged me again. “Give me your phone, I’ll program my number in it, here’s mine.”

  We traded phones, we traded numbers, she hugged me again, she talked to Indy, met Duke, Jet and Tex and then left, happy as a clam.

  Well, at least I didn’t feel like a bitch anymore.

  That was good, right?

  “What was that all about?” Indy called to me after Beth left.

  “Roxie tried to set Hank up with that girl,” Uncle Tex told her.

  Indy, Jet and Duke stared at me like Uncle Tex told them I danced down the middle of Broadway wearing nothing but Mardi Gras beads and a smile.

  “I thought you were his girlfriend,” Duke said.

  “I am and I’m not, I broke up with him,” I said.

  Indy, Jet and Duke’s stares intensified.

  “Why would you do a fool thing like that?” Duke exploded, sounding a lot like Uncle Tex.

  “Don’t worry. He didn’t really accept my breaking up with him. He still thinks we’re together.”

  Indy and Jet smiled at each other knowingly.

  Good Grief.

  I closed my eyes and rested my head on the back of the couch.

  “Good fuckin’ God. These fuckin’ girls. I swear, they’re gonna kill us all,” Duke announced and I heard him stomp away, likely into the bookshelves.

  I felt the couch move on either side of me.

  I opened my eyes and turned my head one way, then the other. Indy and Jet were there.

  “You wanna talk?” Indy asked.

  I closed my eyes again. “No.”

  “We’re here,” I heard Jet say.

  They sat with me for a second in silent moral support, then they both drifted away.

  * * * * *

  After closing, both Tex and Duke walked us t
o Tod and Stevie’s house, leaving us when we were safe inside. Then they hightailed it home, making it clear that was as close as they wanted to get to The Emergency Wedding Summit.

  Daisy and Annette were already there. Ally arrived ten minutes after we did.

  Annette and Jason had spent part of the day getting over hangovers from the Lottie Strip Club Extravaganza and part of the day mountain biking again. Annette told me that Jason opted out of The Emergency Wedding Summit to watch a ballgame with Eddie at his house.

  At that moment, I wished I was with them.

  “Well?” Tod interrupted my thoughts. “You have style. You wear Jimmy Choo, Manolo and have a real pashmina. Your opinion counts. So, what do you think?” Tod asked, as if anyone who hadn’t gone the way of five hundred dollar shoes didn’t have the right to an opinion. He went on, giving an inch. “Okay, I’ll grant that maybe chocolate isn’t good for a wedding but we could pull off tangerine. I know we could.” His stare moved from me and turned into a glare when it settled on Indy.

  “Roxie? You okay?” Annette asked, her green eyes both sharp and kind as they looked at me.

  Slowly, I put my champagne glass on the coffee table and stood. “No,” I said to Annette. “No, I don’t think I’m okay.”

  Annette stood too, preparing. She’d known me a long time, she knew what was coming.

  “Honey –” she started.

  I turned from her to Tod.

  “Tod, you’re sweet but it’s Indy’s wedding. The colors are pink and ivory, she’s having a DJ, not a band, so they can play AC/DC or whatever the fuck she wants to hear. If she wants gerbera daisies, she’s going to fucking well have them. And there will be no teddy bears anywhere. You of all people know India Savage is not a teddy bear person.”

  Tod blinked at me then said, “Okay, girlie. Sit down, let me get you more champagne.”

  “No,” I continued. “I don’t think I can sit down and I don’t want any more champagne.” I started pacing. “Oh… my…. God! Billy’s out there, watching me. I was walking Shamus with Hank and he was watching. I was talking with Hank in his 4Runner and he was watching. Hank kissed me and he was fucking watching!”

  “Honey, come here,” Annette said softly.

  I ignored her.

  “I tried to fix Hank up with another woman today. What was I thinking? I cannot believe I did that! I humiliated Beth. It was bitchy, even though I didn’t mean to be bitchy, it was still bitchy. Hank was so angry with me, he was so angry it hurt. Then, he wasn’t angry anymore. Just like that, poof!” I flicked my hands out in front of me. “He had it under control and we were like, normal again. What in the hell is that all about? Fighting is supposed to be out of control, ugly and brutal, where you say shit you can’t take back and behave like idiots and someone, usually me, ends up in tears. I don’t know how to fight like that, where you just say what you have to say and get over it. I mean, what the hell is that?”