Page 89 of Everything After

“I ain’t going in no retirement home. I’ll go out in a blaze of glory… surprised I haven’t already, considering some of the shit I’ve done.”

“Yup you’re one of the world’s conundrums,” Jack agreed.

Rick lifted two fingers in a crude gesture toward Jack. “Mya, did I ever tell you about the stunt Jack pulled at the finger buffet that one time at Cobham Street’s after-party?” he called out, scanning the room for his niece, who was married to Jack.

“I don’t recall that story, Rick,” she mumbled to her uncle, suddenly joining our group.

“You mean Uncle Rick?” Jack goaded.

“Are you trying to break your niece’s heart?” I asked, disrupting the conversation to remind Rick he was pushing his boundaries now. The last thing Mya needed to hear was how her husband had been my guest at one of Cobham Street after-parties and had gotten carried away with two women in public. Let’s just say there were fingers involved at that buffet.

“Okay, if it’s all the same to y’all, I’ll give delightful Delilah her selfie and head back outside to Chloe. My poor wife will be thinking I’ve forgotten her.”

Gibson took Delilah’s cell phone, struck a few poses, then waved me over beside them and took one of the three of us. When he was done, he checked them out with her then handed her back her phone. “Can’t wait to hear what all the hype is about when you play. If you’re as good as he says you are, then I won’t be surprised if you go as far as Alfie says you will.”

Gibson led me away until we were alone. “We’ll catch up when everyone else is drunk,” he muttered at close quarters to me. “I want to run something by you… it might be a project you’d be interested in.”

As I watched Gibson disappear back out to the patio, I wondered what it could be, although the chance to work with Gibson again appealed to me.

CHAPTER 50

LILY

Although our party mostly went well, I was a little disappointed by the disharmony between Alfie, my bandmates and I for various reasons.

Even though everyone remained cordial after our initial discussions, I still felt an air of tension between us. However, there were a few highlights that everyone really enjoyed, one of which was Delilah’s performance of Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” and “Every Breath You Take” by The Police which, until I’d heard Delilah play her cover of it, I’d thought it a number that was hard to make your own. However, Delilah not only managed that, but owned her version of the song.

Alfie was right, the girl was mesmerizing, beautiful and insanely talented. There was no comparison to make between us as Alfie had suggested because at her age I had little confidence in my ability, unlike Delilah. Her self-assurance oozed from every pore, and I could envisage record companies fighting over her like hungry wolves to have her on their books.

“You were that good back in the day,” Alfie kindly remarked when Delilah was accepting praise from Gibson, Rick and Jude Collymore. Seeing how impressed they were with a novice performer, told me that Alfie was right—Delilah was a rare find.

“You know, I might just manage her myself,” Alfie mumbled, eyeing how the rock stars were lining up for their few moments with her.

“And the baby?” I asked, concerned that he was changing his tune about parenthood already.

“Nah, don’t sweat it. I’m joking. But I might talk to the guys at Sly Records and make sure they snap her up before some other label does.”

“That’s so kind of you,” I remarked as I sat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I’m a kind guy,” he shot back playfully. “So kind I promise to make you wet later,” he teased.

“Who says I’m not already,” I whispered back, chuckling.

Alfie held me tight, stood up with me in his arms, bride-style, and carried me out of the room. As we headed upstairs to cheers from our guests, Jack chuckled. “That guy should have been called ‘Anytime’ instead of Alfie.”

“Well, now, with the parents out of the way, that leaves the coast clear to take this party up a notch. Who wants to play naked charades?” I heard Rick ask, then our bedroom door closed, and I didn’t hear anything else.

When I hit the remote that lifted the sunscreens, the room was instantly bathed in bright sunshine.

“Fuck, me,” Alfie blurted, grunted and ducked his head under the comforter. “That’s just cruel,” he whined.

“No, what was cruel was leaving our guests to fend for themselves last night,” I muttered, knowing I already felt embarrassed about facing them again.

Shifting from his back to face me, he slid a hand over my breast and squeezed it. “Well, I wasn’t having fun down there since your asshole bandmates were pissing us off.”

My heart instantly sank at the mention of the issues with Lennie and Cody again. “You know you’re making things worse for me. I’ve spoken to Cody, you’ve spoken to Cody, hell, the rest of the band came down hard on him after you left that day,” I said, shifting onto my side to face him. “You need to let the subject go now. Once I’d spoken to Lennie last night, I drew a line under everything. I need you to do the same.”

Shoving me on my back, Alfie spread my legs with his knees and settled between them. “Got it,” he agreed. He dipped his head, licked my neck, then gave the wet patch he’d made a sharp suck.