Page 51 of Secondhand Smoke
Nell glanced at the clock and saw the time. It wasn’t too late, but given her behavior these past couple of weeks, it was best she didn’t push it. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Ask away.”
“Sell me some more drugs,” she said and handed Sandra to him. “I’ll pay the same as last time.”
Barrett’s bright expression dimmed before he caught himself and it came back. “Do you want to do it here again?”
She shook her head. “Maybe later, but our schedules aren’t always the same. It would be nice to have some when I need it.”
Barrett opened his mouth, and for a moment, Nell thought he was going to try to talk her out of it like the last time. Probably say something about how she should have a buddy. But instead, he just nodded. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”
While he was gone, Nell got herself ready to leave. This time, she didn’t forget to grab KC’s song and fold it up, making sure it was stored safely in her pocket.
“Be careful not to do too much at once. Sometimes a high can go sideways and mess with your head,” Barrett said, walking out with a small bag of the herb.
Nell held out her hand, and he put it in her palm. She pocketed it in the opposite pocket of KC’s song. “I’ll be careful.”
“Good.” Barrett stepped up to the front door and opened it. He swiped his hand in front of him, motioning for her to exit first. “Now, let’s walk you home.”
18 - Barrett
“I’m telling you, guys. This is one of the best turnouts we’ve had in a while.” Dennis’s uncle, Ricky, had a cigarette bit tight between his lips. Now that he thought about it, Barrett had never seen him without one in. “Keep this up and it could happen regularly.”
Barrett shook the sweat from his hair, drenched in it from the hour-long performance. He chugged at the water Ricky handed him and thanked him mentally for it as it soothed his fried vocal cords. His bandmates all nodded enthusiastically at the vague offer.
“You guys get the dressing room for the rest of the night. Let me know if you want me to bring anyone back. It looks like you’ve got quite the fan base growing already,” Ricky said and wiggled his eyebrows.
Barrett cringed a bit, considering the man was at least twice the age of any of the girls out there, but stayed quiet because they wouldn’t be here without him.
“Oh, and drinks are on the house tonight. As a thanks.”
Theywere being thanked? For just going on stage and rocking until their hearts felt like they were going to burst?
This must be what it felt like to win something.
With a final pat on all their shoulders, Ricky disappeared back into the bar, leaving them alone backstage.
“Holy shit.” Paulie’s hands flew to his head like he was holding it together. “That was amazing.”
“I swear we keep getting better,” Toni said, hitting the concrete walls with his sticks like he still couldn’t get the rhythm out of him.
Barrett had similar symptoms. His fingers strummed the side of his legs. It helped when his adrenaline rushed so quickly through him. He was still high on the night.
“Did you see that crowd?” Dennis was the first one to start moving back to the dressing room, and the others followed. “Did you see all thegirls?”
“Did you see that redhead in the front?” Toni whistled, slow and low. “I call dibs.”
“Gentlemen,” Barrett interrupted, shaking his head. “You can’t call dibs on a lady.”
“Easy for you to say.” Toni picked up the unfinished beer bottle he’d started before getting on stage. “You’ve already got one.”
“I do not.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t,” Paulie said.
“Thank you,Paulie.”Barrett motioned his thanks and gave Toni a look.
“Janelle is still way out of his league.”
