Page 107 of Marley

“Thank you.”

“I love you baby.”

“I love you too Rock Star.”

We both looked down at Joe, who was then wide eyed and staring up at us.

“We love you baby rock star.” We both tell him.

Did I mention that Marley and Ash love Joe?

She was one of the lucky ones. She’d got out and stayed first with Jim, then her brother.

We’d tried our best to help Ryan over the years. We’d payed for rehab and even had him living with us, but he still managed to get himself into trouble, despite us paying for the best lawyers to get him out of it.

Ryan died in prison on his thirty-second birthday. He committed suicide in the most horrific of ways, which I won’t go into.

“I’ll set up a rehearsal timetable for everyone else, but Cam’s people have said you can have access any time this week.” Len states, interrupting my thoughts.

“Yeah, I’ve spoken to Reed. He has shit to do tomorrow, but we’ll be there every day from Tuesday.” I tell him. “We just need all of the staff sworn to secrecy. I really don’t want this getting out. The event is already a sell-out, so we can’t increase sales and I think it’ll be a show stopper if we can just get up on stage unannounced and play songs from both bands.”

“It’s gonna be epic,” Georgia states.

“Epic? Fucking epic? You’ve been hanging with Paige and Harley too much, Porge. That’s their word of the moment.” Len said.

I can’t help but laugh as he takes the piss out of her.

“Fuck off, Len, there’s nothing wrong with epic,” she tells him.

“There is when you’re forty-six, dude.”

“I’m a dudette, and still eighteen in my head.”

“Ah, God no. Not eighteen-year-old George. I wouldn’t wish her on anyone. Even Paige and Harley are better behaved than she ever was.”

“I wasn’tthatbad. Big brother Marley, back me up here.” She demands.

“Drop me out of this one, Porge. Let’s just say dad’s right on this one and you got the daughter you deserved with Lula.”

“I was never as bad as Lu. I blame Ash. I swear her genes filtered through the placenta and corrupted my perfect child’s DNA.”

“Then how come Kiks is such a good girl?” Len asks.

“Coz she’s only got mine and Cams genes. Ashley’s crazy DNA was all absorbed by Lu, making her extra naughty.”

“I can hear you.” Ash sticks her head into my office door and shouts.

“Hey, Fag.” Jimmie calls out from Lens end. “I’m with you on this one, boys,” she adds.

“Tallulah is all George. You seem to have a very selective memory of what a diva you were.” Jimmie tells her.

“What d’ya meanwas? She’s still a fucking diva.” I add.

“Shut up, Butt. I thought I could at least rely on you for backup. T, my brothers are picking on me.” She calls out to Cam in her best whiny voice.

“Don’t call me Butt.” I tell her through gritted teeth.

George and Jimmie thought they were hilarious one drunken Christmas when they called Ash, Fag ... Fag Ash, geddit? Yeah, I didn’t laugh either, and because of my lack of humour, they christened me Butt ... Fag Butt. The three of them ended up on the floor laughing at their own very unfunny joke.