Page 45 of Up All Night
"No.She just said that she needed a personal day, and who are we to judge?She's never missed a beat since the day she started.She's our top agent and has been since the beginning.Charles and I are just worried about her.Can you get in touch with her family?"
"She has a twin sister, but I've never met her.I know that she owns a natural beauty products store downtown.I may be able to find her."
"Let me know if I can do anything to help."
"Will do, Lucy.And thanks."
Axl arrives moments after the maids finish in my room."You're looking good, Axl.I fucking hate that."I chuckle.
"I quit the hooch.All of it."He explains, like he's explaining how he made a fucking cake.It slays me how his quick decision lifestyle changes are so nonchalant to him.
"Yeah?For good?I know how much you love to party like a rock star."
He shakes his head."Nope.Not anymore.Rush told me that if I lay off the goods that he'll try to get me in good with both Jagger and with Wesley Hopkins."
"You think you can pull it off?"
"It's been a couple of weeks, and I'm not even itching to do it again.I haven't even called the paparazzi for a while, either.But I'm not here looking for praise, so don't take this trip wrong."
He looks around, nodding, frowning, impressed."Not bad, eh?"I say.
"Can't complain.Fuck, I bet you have to beat the chicks off with a stick staying at a pad like this."
"Not really.I hadn't noticed."
He gives me a look."You're telling me that you haven't brought a chick up here?"
"That's an entirely different question, my man."
With a smirk, he nods his assent."Way to go, dude.Fuck, that's the only thing that I miss right now."
"Getting laid?"
"Yeah.My fucking callouses are ridiculous.I haven't seen my hands this bad since before I had my own pit crew."He jokes.Then he changes the subject."So, who's this chick you're bringing up to this lair, man?Has she got a hot sister you can introduce me to?"
"She does, but I haven't met her yet, and I have no idea if she's single."
He lifts a brow."Yeah?What's she do?Her sister, I mean."
"As far as I understand, she owns a health and beauty business downtown, but like I said, I haven't met her."
"Did your girl show you any pictures of her at least?"
"No, but I do know that they're fraternal twins, so they look very similar."
Both brows lift."Yeah?Is this chick of yours hot?"
"She's fucking gorgeous.But it's kind of complicated.I don't even know if she's my girl or not, that sort of thing."
"So, it's not serious."
"No."
"Would you like it to be?"
I consider that for a moment."Yeah.But it's complicated."
"How do you mean?"He rests one leg over the opposite knee, as we sit on the couch by the fireplace.It's not lit, but it still gives off a certain ambience.Both Axl and I have a bottle of water from the bar fridge, and there's a fruit bowl, stocked to the top, with various fresh fruit.
