Page 31 of Your Rhythm
I walk backwards to the door of my room and pull the sock I stretched over the handle off, tucking it into my back pocket.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“You put asockon the door?”
She looks like she’s about to explode.
I lift my hands up in surrender. “I didn’t want one of the guys barging in and waking you up. They’re not really good at privacy.”
Ace lets out a chuckle that sounds like a dying cat. “Knew you guys were banging.”
“We are not banging!” Kay and I shout at the exact same time.
Ace just keeps rubbing his head.
“Why didn’t you just go to JP and Cole’s room?” I demand.
“Didn’t know where it was,” he grumbles. “I was drunk, man. The floor seemed like a good place to be.”
Kay and I share a look.
“Do you still have your key?” I ask him. He pulls it out of his pocket in response. “Good. Go in the room and get cleaned up. Checkout is in half an hour. You can sleep in the van.”
I don’t wait for an answer as I step past him and walk over to the elevators. Kay follows, and we ride down to the main floor. I stay silent, fists balled at my sides, foot tapping rapidly against the carpeted floor.
“I’m surprised security didn’t wake him up,” Kay ventures.
“I’m surprised he’s not in fuckingjail,” I spit through clenched teeth.
I want to say more, but I stop myself. I’ll vent to Cole and JP later. I might feel like I can trust Kay, but Ace is family. I’m not about to spill all his faults to someone who’s still technically not much more than a stranger.
The doors open at the lobby and we get out, pausing in the middle of the room.
“When do I see you next?” I ask.
“They’re sending me to the Trois-Rivières show.”
“Oh, you’re in for a treat. It’s JP’s hometown. They go fucking nuts over us there.”
She hefts her purse onto her shoulder and I can’t stop myself from asking before she goes.
“We’ll be in Montreal for a week. Maybe you and I could hang out?”
She looks at her feet. “I don’t know if that would be—”
“That’s him! That’s the drummer!”
A group of five people with cameras around their necks are charging towards us. One of them has a microphone.
“Matt! Matt Pearson!”
“Shit!” Kay hisses. She pulls her scarf up and the hood of her coat down before I even have time to realize what’s going on.
“Matt, tell us about Ace Turner. He was seen being kicked out of the Heart and Crown last night before vomiting in the street.”
“This is the third incident of the kind this month, Matt.”
“Are you really ready for an international tour?”
