Page 15 of Full Tilt
I twisted a lock of hair around my finger. “That’s why he was pissed? Because he had to take a cab?”
“Kace, you think he was worried about you? Hon, he figured you were fucking the limo driver.” A pause. I could hear the unspoken words.We all did.
Another ugly flush of red colored my neck. I steadfastly refused to look at Jonah.
“Well, I didn’t. I was in a Jägermeister coma, remember? You can tell him that.”
“Whatever. Does it matter? Jimmy called the company and gave them an earful for not picking us up. That limo driver is going to be up to his ass in hot water. Hugo too.”
“No, no, he didn’t do anything wrong,” I shifted on the couch away from Jonah and lowered my voice. My headache ratcheted up ten notches. “Neither of them did. Tell Jimmy it wasn’t Hugo’s fault. I’m all right.”
I heard Lola light a cigarette. I found my fingers inching toward my own pack and had to sit on my hand.
“You realize you totally trashed the place, right?” Lola asked on an exhale of smoke. “According to Jimmy, the Pony Club is talking potential lawsuit to pay the damages.”
I nearly dropped Jonah’s phone. “Did anyone get hurt?” I asked in a small voice.
“No,” she said, the anger deflating from her voice. “But the green room is trashed. Beyond trashed. It looked like a war zone when we left.”
“So… What’s happening now? Is tonight’s show cancelled?”
Lola snorted. “Hell no. Not with sixty grand worth of ticket sales on the line.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll tell Jimmy you’re okay but maybe…I don’t know, Kace. You might want to lay low for a couple of hours. At least until Jimmy gets over his own hangover. I mean, to be fair, everyone was pretty wasted last night.” Now I could hear a small smile on my friend’s lips. “It was an epic show.Epic.”
“Was it?”
“Oh girl, you don’t even know. We’re on the verge of mega stardom and you’re missing it. No, you’re almostwreckingit.”
“But I didn’t, right?”
“Nope. The show must go on.” Lola sighed again. “Get some rest. Sober up for tonight’s show. You’re still good to go, right?” she asked, and I could hear the warning tone in her voice. This wasn’t just my big break, but hers too.
“Sure,” I said weakly. “Thanks, Lola. And tell Jimmy—”
“That you’re sorry? Yeah, yeah. Time for some new material, Kace. Talk to you later.”
I handed the phone back to Jonah. “Thanks.”
“Are the cops going to be busting in the door any minute now?” he asked darkly. “Or am I going to lose my job? Or both?”
“No. Well…maybe.”
Jonah’s eyes widened. “Maybewhich?”
Shame and humiliation flushed my skin red. “The second one. Listen, I’ll talk to your boss at the limo place…” I started as Jonah bolted out of his chair with a curse.
He ignored me and began jabbing at his phone.
“Harry? It’s me, Jonah. I—” He shot me a glare as he listened to whatever was being said on the other end.
I held my aching head in my hands as Jonah tried to explain the situation. Finally, a cell phone appeared in my line of sight.
“Would you mind telling my boss why I couldn’t finish the job last night?” Jonah asked tightly.
“Yeah, sure.” I took the phone. “Um…Hi. Harry, is it? I’m Kacey. From Rapid Confession. I had…a bad night and Jonah was nice enough to let me crash on his couch.Nothing happened,” I added, prompting a strange look from Jonah. “He wanted to go back to pick up the rest of my band, but I wasn’t doing so hot. He took careof me. Okay?”
