Page 52 of Fake Rocks
I stepped in between them, covering Saff with my body. “I think it’s time you disappeared.”
He eyed me with disdain. “Who the fuck are you? Her bodyguard?”
“Even worse for you,” said Saff, her head appearing from behind me. “He’s my boyfriend. And he doesn’t take kindly to pricks like you trying it on.”
The man laughed. “Seriously? This meathead’s your bloke?”
“He’s not a meathead.”
She was trying to defend me, when I already had it covered. I knew how to look after myself - to look after both of us.
“Time to move on, guys,” I said, crossing my arms. “Save it for someone who likes the thick, bulldog approach.”
“Oi!” He swung a fist at me, but I easily blocked his wrist. The extra beers he had on me were working in my favour.
“Everything okay here?” Jonas appeared next to us, all suited and booted in complete contrast to everyone around him.
“Some man with a tiny penis bothering me.” Saff glared at the men. “I think they’re going to try to chat up someone else now, as I’ve given them the brush-off.”
The two men muttered to each other, and I thought I heard one of them say something about seeing me outside later. I rolled my eyes and let it wash over me as they finally wandered off.
“Good. Because I’ve got Joel fromRocciawaiting to talk to you.”
“Now?” Saff frowned.
“Yes, now. Because afterwards you’ll be too drunk to string a decent sentence together and I want a coherent piece.” Jonas pulled her away. “He’s waiting in the back room.”
Saff grabbed my arm. “I want Tris to be there too.”
Jonas shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
The three of us headed out back to a tiny room, nothing more than a glorified stock cupboard, which appeared to double as a dressing room. I vaguely recognised Joel from the charity dinner and nodded in his direction as we entered.
“Thanks, Saff. I know how busy you are and how nervous you must be for this comeback gig.” Joel extended his hand and Saff shook it. There was no air kiss or over-the-top affection. It was all business.
“I am a bit nervous, yeah. It’s been a while since we performed in front of an audience as big as this.” Saff perched on the edge of the one table in the room, stacked high with boxes of cleaning products. She reached into her bag and pulled out a joint. Joel reached over to light it for her.
“Should you be doing that before you sing?” I asked.
“She shouldn’t, but Saff does what she wants,” Jonas answered for her.
Saff raised her eyebrows at her cousin’s comment as she took a drag of the cigarette, the sweet, musky aroma filling the small room.
“TheSB’s comeback was something of a surprise to us,” began Joel. “What made you start making music again?”
“The threat of losing our recording contract,” Saff drawled, her gaze fixed on Jonas. “Nothing like the thought of having something taken away from you to get your arse in gear.”
Jonas laughed anxiously. “She’s joking, obviously.”
Joel looked between the pair and I wondered if this was usual behaviour between them.
She sucked on the joint again. “We had the opportunity for Tommo to join the band and thought it would be stupid to pass him up, so we started working together again.”
The relief in Jonas’ body was palpable. This was obviously the line he wanted Saff to give, not the one about the recording contract.
“And how many new songs have you got for us tonight?”
“There are four. We’re hoping they’ll be the basis of the EP Numb will release. There may be a couple more, but that’s all we’ve got. Like I said, we’ve been working our arses off to get ready for tonight to make sure we had some new material for you.” She looked directly at me. “I think you’re gonna like what we have.”
