Dark Realms(206)
“Seriously?” squealed Susan.
He winked. “Seriously.”
“So, is this like a bribe?” I asked.
“Yeah, I guess it is. Plus,” he grinned wickedly. “Something tells me that Slade will thank me later.”
“Ethan,” said Susan, who I noticed was finished with her Cosmopolitan. “You know, I have to say… I was wrong about you. You’re a really, really nice guy.”
“Well, thank you Susan. Brian, why don’t you get them both another drink while they wait for the show to start. On me.”
“You bet. You sure you don’t want something stronger than that?” asked Brian, pointing towards my untouched soda.
“No, this is fine,” I answered, picking up the glass and drinking through the little straw.
“Come here you big lug,” said Susan, opening up her arms. She was obviously feeling no pain after that stiff drink. “Give me a hug.”
I knew it had to have been my imagination, but it almost looked like his eyes were glowing an eerie orange color when she threw her arms around his neck, and gave him a friendly hug.
Must be the lights in the club, I thought.
He stiffened up and stepped back. “Gotta go. Have fun, girls. Enjoy yourselves and Susan, party like a rock star tonight.” He nodded towards me. “Your friend…ah…”
“Chelsey,” I offered.
He grinned. “Chelsey, is obviously your sober-ride tonight. Take advantage of it.”
She put her arm around my shoulders. “I believe I will. Hey, say ‘hi’ to Nikki for me.”
“Will do. Have fun tonight, girls,” he replied, walking away.
Susan removed her arm from my shoulders as Brian set another cocktail onto the bar. “I don’t know about you, but Ethan could use a little more vitamin ‘E’ in his life.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Come on…. the guy is paler than my mom’s Pitbull,” she said, taking a sip of her second Cosmopolitan. “Pugsley.”
“At least he doesn’t smell like Pugsley,” I replied.
“Actually, he smells like candy,” she replied. “Always. It’s kind of a weird smell for a guy, but yummy all the same.”
I agreed.
Chapter Six
Slade
“Let’s move as soon as this song is over,” I said to my drummer, Liam, as we stepped out of the dressing room in the back of the club and headed towards the stage.
“I think we should stay one more night here,” he replied. “Relax and have a few beers. Head out in the morning and sleep the entire day while on the road.”
“You just want to snuggle up to the club owner,” said Jimmy, who played bass.
Liam smirked. “Can you blame me? The woman is sexier than hell. I wouldn’t mind getting a piece of that before the night’s over.”
Sean, our keyboardist, snorted. “God, you’re such a dog.”
Liam grinned. “I won’t deny that.”
“I’d stay away from Faye,” I said, smiling at two girls who were staring at us with open mouths.
“Oh my God, that’s Venom!” shrieked the shorter one, fanning herself quickly. “Oh my God… oh my God!”
“I love you, Slade!” yelled the other one, throwing me kisses.
I waved and kept walking.
“Why not?” asked Liam. “You want her for yourself, bro?”
“Not at all,” I said, grimacing at that notion. Even though I had to admit that she was a beautiful woman, Faye was also very dangerous. I could see it in her eyes. “She’s just not the kind of woman who has a one-night stand without expecting something more.”
“Hell, I’ll give her more the next time I’m in town,” he laughed.
I grinned. “Căcănar”.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I think he just called you an ‘ass’,” replied Bradan, our other guitarist.
“At least I get ass,” said Liam. “Slade is too good for most of our fans.”
“Sorry, but I’m not interested in using our fans for sex. It’s not my thing and you should really refrain from doing it, too,” I answered.
He snorted. “Hey, I’m doing both of us a favor. They get to go back and brag that they slept with a member of the band, and I get to relieve some of my pent up… anxieties, by putting a smile on their pretty little faces. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Nothing, if you’re human,” I replied quietly. “But every time you have sex with one of those girls, you risk losing control.”
“I have more control than all of you combined,” he said as we entered the main part of the club. “They’re much safer with me than with you. Remember, I’m not like you cretins.”