Page 55 of Red Hot Harmony

“Well, it’s been looking pretty darn shitty here these past few hours, but I don’t think I’m anywhere near wearing a gas mask,” I told Frank, scanning the view.

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“I haven’t turned on the TV in ages. Are we going full Chernobyl or what?”

He made a snorting noise, then said, “No, but it’s burning pretty fast and the wind’s picked up. You should be careful.”

“Frankie-boy is worried about my well-being. How romantic.”

“I’m serious.”

“Did Cassy put you up to this? On account of me living alone and being semi-handicapped and all that shit?”

“No, I’m just checking on you.”

“Okay.”

“All right.”

There was silence.

“I’m dating Camille,” I said out of the blue. I had no idea where it’d come from. Frank and I hadn’t been very close recently. Our friendship was still in that delicate phase of repair where sharing overly personal things seemed like too much.

“Well, you’re all over the tabloids. It’s kinda obvious.”

“Since when are you reading the tabloids?” He was pretty notorious for not reading his own press, like ever, because he thought it was beyond someone like him and because he didn’t want his genius swayed, but soon-to-be Mrs. Blade—or was it Mrs. Wallace?—was a journalist, after all.

“Cassy’s been reluctantly cyber stalking your girlfriend,” he explained.

“Wow. Is there such a thing as reluctant cyber stalking? Do they give you a lesser penalty if you’re not going all in if you’re caught?”

“I’m not sure.”

More silence. “Hey, Frank... I’m sorry for stealing your thunder at the party.” We never really talked about it. Never had the chance, and perhaps he’d chosen not to bring up the topic and I’d chosen to be a coward and stick with my typical behavior after a major fuck-up—deep denial.

“That’s fine.”

“Nah, it’s not. I mean...you invite me to your engagement party and it’s a big deal and I ruin it a little by kissing my woman in front of all your guests.”

“I’m fine with you kissing your woman as long as you mean it.”

“I do. I really do. She’s…” Words failed me as always, but in this instance, I wasn’t certain if it was because my brain had short-circuited again or because I’d never talked to my best friend about my relationships before in the way I was talking to him right now. Openly and without pretense.

“She’s nice.” Frank took over for me. “Cassy and I like her a lot. My offer doesn’t expire. Feel free to come by and jam with us and bring Ally around. Izzy was impressed. And you know Izzy is hard to impress these days.”

“Well, you fucking spoiled the kid.”

“I just helped her achieve her potential. She’ll be huge in a couple of years.”

“You think you two will tour?”

He had to think about it for a while. “I don’t know yet. I want to be done with the lawsuit first.”

“You know that could take years.”

“Yes. I do, but I have some other ideas about what I want to do in the meantime. It doesn’t have to be on stage.”

For Frank, performing live was everything. He was ready to kill himself to ensure the audience got what they paid for, but for whatever reason, he didn’t sound upset now. As if he’d finally come to terms with his own limitations and found another source of bliss.

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