Stage Dive 02 Play(25)

“That’s what I said. Keep up, Benny boy.” He curled his hands into fists. “Let’s go.”

“’Kay.” Ben’s sharp gaze turned to me like he expected me to have answers. I shrugged. As he’d pointed out, I’d only known Mal for forty-eight hours.

No, I didn’t know what was going on with him, but damned if I wasn’t going to find out.





CHAPTER SEVEN


Someone was yelling. A male someone. Then another voice joined in, the noise carrying through my bedroom wall. I bolted upright, bewildered but wide awake. Five-fifteen glowed green on the little alarm clock beside my bed.

Damn, it was early.

Due to Mal’s nocturnal habits, I hadn’t gotten the best night’s sleep. When he’d eventually returned just after eleven, he’d been dripping with sweat. I’d crashed earlier in the evening and had been half asleep, dragging my sorry ass out to check if he needed anything. He’d said he’d be crashing soon, so I’d gone back to bed. But for hours I’d lain there, listening to him moving around the apartment. He’d watched TV, talked on the phone, and hummed for hours. Actually, I didn’t mind the humming. It was kind of nice. Though humming death metal was more of an art form than you’d imagine. I’d finally fallen asleep to something by Metallica. Good lord, had my dreams been weird.

But why couldn’t Mal sleep?

The shouting escalated. I crawled off my bed and bolted for the door, flannel pajamas, bed hair, and all. Out in the living room, Mal’s back was to me, barring the front door. He wore only a pair of black boxer briefs. Not that I was complaining because good god, the man’s ass. I almost lost my tongue. To the floor or my throat, I’m not sure which. Both were strong contenders.

“Even if you are a friend of pumpkin’s this is not a suitable hour to visit,” Mal hissed.

“Who the fuck are you and why are you calling Anne pumpkin?” That was Reece and he sounded distinctly enraged. Like, rampaging enraged.

My boss and I weren’t an item, though. We were just friends. So a semi-naked man answering my door at odd hours of the morning was actually none of his damn business.

“Morning,” I said, standing tall.

Mal gave me a brief cranky look over his shoulder. As nice as the couch was, I’d probably be in a bad mood if I’d slept on it too. Maybe that was why he’d stayed up so late. He’d ordered another bed for the spare room, but for some reason it had yet to arrive. Tonight, I’d ask if he wanted to share with me. Just as friends.

His shoulders were distractingly large with his hands on his hips. I was no lightweight, but if he was willing to stand with his arms out, I’d give climbing him a try. Years back, before all the shit with mom, I’d been different, braver. Something about Mal reminded me of the adrenaline-junkie tomboy I’d been. I missed that girl. She’d been fun.

“You woke her, asswipe.” For once, Mal didn’t sound the least bit light and easy as he gave Reece hell. “Do you have any idea how stressful shit’s been for her lately? Plus she had to work late last night.”

And as relaxed as Reece was about work, that comment was not good. “Mal, it’s okay. This is my friend and my boss, Reece.”

“Reece?” He sneered. “This is who you were talking to on your phone at the party?”

“Yes.”

“Huh. Figured it was a chick.”

“Guess again.” Reece pushed his way past the mostly naked drummer to shove a box of donuts into my arms. Voodoo Donuts. My saliva glands kicked into overdrive despite the early hour and manly standoff.

To be fair, partly also because of it, yes.

“What the fuck is going on, A? Who is this asshole?”

“Reece, not cool.”

His bloodshot eyes blazed angrily, his dark hair sticking out. The scent of stale perfume lingered around him like a miasma. I’d also question his sobriety because his movements seemed a bit off. Here was a man who had not yet been to bed.

At least, not his own bed.

“A?” asked Mal, crossing his arms over his chest. He turned and winked at me. “You call her ‘A’? What, saying her whole name’s too much of a commitment for you?”

I barked out a laugh. Then attempted to turn it into a cough. Reece didn’t look convinced, but I didn’t care. Relief made me weak in the knees. My Mal was back, cracking jokes and smiling. A real smile this time, not the harsh manic parody from the night before.

It was amazing. I could actually see Reece’s hackles rising. Mal might have had a good half a head on him, but violence was not out of the question. Meanwhile, Mal just looked amused. The depth to which he didn’t give a fuck was actually a large part of his charm. I’d never met anyone like him.