Page 5 of Bony Bony
“Ah, well, no surprise with me being here.”Ishrugged. “Thisis my club.”
Hiseyes widened for a fraction before scanning the room. “Really?Iheard it was a cool club to check out.”Whenhe brought his gaze back to me, he added, “Ithas a great vibe.”
“Thankyou,”Ireplied without modesty.Afterall the hard work and risk,Iwas proud of whatI’daccomplished with this place. “WhatcanIget you to drink?”
“I’mall set.”Hemotioned to a table. “Wealready ordered some.”Hepointed to a table in the shadows at the back of the club. “I’mhere with my band.We’rein the area for a few weeks.”
Threemen and a woman sat around the table, all wearing dark clothing and enough eyeliner to make theCure’sRobertSmithhappy.Oneguy had spiky blond hair.Thewoman’s stood out in vivid purple.
“I’llstop by and say hello once it slows down.”
“Soundsgood.”Henodded and walked to his table.
Severalminutes later,Iheaded over to them.
Zaneintroduced me. “ThisisGianna.Wemet at theCurethe other night.Giannaowns this club.Isn’tthat a coincidence?”
“Truly,” a guy with long, dark hair said in a deep and somewhat skeptical tone.
“That’sMax,”Zanesaid. “Ourbroody bassist.”Hegestured to the guy with spiky blond hair next. “Gunther, our guitarist.AndViolet, our drummer.”Hegestured at the woman with hair that matched her name.
“Niceto meet you,”Isaid.Weexchanged brief hellos, andIlearned their band was calledTrubbleArizing.Iturned toZane. “Doesthat make you the singer?”
Hebeamed and leaned forward in a semi-bow. “Guilty.”
Whenhe stood again, he said, “Wehave a gig onWednesdayinHamptonBeach.Asmall kickoff before we go on tour in a few weeks.Youshould come.”
Violetadded, “Yeah, and bring some friends.”
IfIhad a dollar for every musician in the area who wanted me to come to their show. “I’llcheck my schedule.”
“Isincerely hope you can make it.”Zane’stone lowered and he fixed an intense gaze on me. “Itwould mean a lot to us to have a familiar face in the crowd.”
Hiseyes flickered with a glow.Didhe have supernatural blood?Iwasn’t as attuned to that asSebastianwas with his keen sense of smell.Infact, most of my friends would likely be better able to discern it.Shiftershad their acute sniffing ability, and my witchy friends had their weird connection to magical energy or whatever it was that they sensed.
Hisgaze raked down my body and back up.
Notgonna happen, buddy.
Ibroke eye contact and took a sip of my drink. “I’llsee if my husband is free.Wealways enjoy a night out together.”Wednesdayshouldn’t be a super busy night at the fine-dining restaurant,Louisa’s, where he was head chef.Notlike aSaturday, in which it would have to be something big—like a concert of a band we loved—to take the night off.
Zane’sjaw tightened, but he tipped his head forward.Hepulled out his phone and said, “Ican send you a couple of tickets just in case.Andif you don’t end up using them, feel free to give them to someone else.What’syour number?”
Yeah, that was not happening.Iwasn’t sharing my personal info with a stranger. “Canyou email them to me?”
“Sure.”
Igave him the club’s email to avoid sharing my personal info.Afterhe sent them,Isaid, “Ineed to get back to work.Niceto meet you all.”Iwaved. “Havea great night.”
“Iwill,” he promised.
AfterIreturned to my usual spot near the end of the bar whereIcould see much of the club,Kylieslid over to me.
“Who’sthat hottie you were talking to?” she asked.
Yes,Zanewas attractive and easy on the eyes with the way he worked the rock ‘n’ roll charisma.Itdidn’t go unnoticed by others.Infact, a cute blonde had sidled up to him and was pulling out all the flirty stops.Shelowered her eyes and then gazed up at him.Shesipped from her straw with a slow, languid motion.Hespoke to her, appearing polite but not interested.
Ishrugged. “Justsome guyIran into at the merch line at the concert the other night.”
