Page 22 of How to Catch a Rockstar

I rub a hand down my face at his insinuation. His correct insinuation. I haven’t been very nice to Gibson’s girlfriend. In my defense, I was reeling from the whole Aurora thing and keeping it to myself.

“I’ll apologize to her,” I mumble.

“Good.” Indigo grins. “She’ll be here soon with Old Man Mercury.”

Old Man Mercury is the reason she ended up in Winter Falls. The grumpy old man is her uncle. It’s hilarious watching her try to tame him.

Virginia shoos us to the living room. “Watch some basketball while we finish preparing the food.”

Dylan kisses her nose. “Thanksgiving is for football.”

“Shouldn’t we be helping?” I ask as we settle on the sofas around the television.

I’ve never attended a family Thanksgiving before. The band is usually on the road during the holidays. But I don’t think we should sit here and do nothing.

“You’re cleaning up,” Leia declares as she hands out beers.

“I don’t need no help!” a man shouts outside.

I stand. “Old Man Mercury is here.”

I open the door to Mercy trying to help her uncle up the stairs to our porch. I take over from her and she gives me a shy smile in thanks. Damn. I guess I’ve been an asshole to her.

“I don’t understand why I had to come to Thanksgiving dinner,” Old Man Mercury mutters as I help in the house.

Mercy sighs. “Because you can’t be left on your own, Uncle Mercury.”

“And we’re all at today’s celebration,” Sage says as she follows us inside.

I glance behind her. Sage is never alone. And she isn’t now either. The rest of the gossip gals – Feather, Petal, Cayenne, and Clove – are with her as are two elderly men who I’ve seen around town but have yet to meet.

The gossip gals isn’t a derogatory name I made up. The ladies are proud to be gossips. And they’re delighted with the nickname. They proudly wear t-shirts with the gossip gals written on them in sparkly gold paint.

“Did you invite the entire town to my house?” I ask Indigo as I help the gossip gals set their dishes on the kitchen counter.

“I didn’t invite the gossip gals.”

Sage snorts. “No one needs to invite us. This is Winter Falls.”

This is Winter Falls is what she says when she has no excuse for her actions. It kind of makes sense since Winter Falls is totally fucking crazy. There are pagan festivals, naked men walking squirrels, and hippie bars for a start.

What you won’t find here is many cars – or, at least, not cars with combustion engines. Winter Falls prides itself on being the first carbon neutral town in the world. Instead of cars, everyone gets around on bikes and golf carts.

Feather pats my shoulder. “We don’t usually celebrate Thanksgiving in Winter Falls.”

I know better than to ask why. Most questions are answered with PowerPoint presentations and end with a quiz. I wish I were joking.

“But for you we will.” Cayenne winks.

“For me?” I motion to the house. “I think you mean for the band.”

“Uh huh,” Clove agrees but I have a feeling she’s placating me. Placate away. I do not want to know why they claim to be here for me.

Petal shoves a man toward us. “This is my husband, Orion.” She indicates the other man. “And he’s Sirius.”

Fender hands each man a beer and they hurry to join us in front of the television.

I can’t help studying them. What would make a man stay with a woman for decades? What kind of love and devotion do you need to stay together for that long?

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