Page 14 of Reflex

“But—”

“Jesus, you’ve got it bad for him, haven’t you.I knew you were still in touch, but I didn’t think it was an active pursuit.Are you sure about this, sis?A metal head, really?Not just that.A pretty boy known for his chastity.He doesn’t sound like your type.”

“You don’t know him.You’re just going off the media portrayal, and we all know how fake those are.He’s sweet, and kind, and—”

“He’s sweet,” Ewan cackled, flopping against the sofa back with a spot of cream clinging to his moustache.“For fuck’s sake Alle, get real.Spook Mortensen, sweet?That’s like saying you’d take the guys from Dir en Grey home to meet your mum.”

“Well, I would, if that wouldn’t be weird since we buried her a decade ago.Ewan, I like him.He’s different.A little odd, sure, but a good sort of odd.Not calling after this—it feels wrong.Call it gut instinct.He’s not the sort of guy to just pass something on via a friend.I think he’s hurt, or he’s blaming me.The only reason it happened was because he was on the phone to me.Otherwise he’d have been tucked up safe in the dressing room.”

“Snorting cocaine off groupies’ naked tits.”

“No!”She smacked his leg.

“Oh, right.I forgot.He’s the pure one.The angel surrounded by darkness.”Ewan wiggled his fingers for emphasis, like that was supposed to signify black magical influence or something.

Alle put her cup aside and wrapped her arms around herself, which was surprisingly comforting in Ewan’s cable knit.She knew he was only teasing to try and lighten her mood, but her insides were in too many knots for that.If only they’d actually seen one another in recent history, and their relationship was more defined.Then she could have called as many times as she liked and not felt awkward about doing so.She had sent a text – one single lousy one – even though Xane had sort of implied not to.Unsurprisingly, there’d been no reply.

“Are you in the studio in the morning?”Ewan asked, irritably scratching at his beard and finding the cream decorating it.He wiped it off, which led to the cat trying to lick his fingers.

“Last day with Ronnie,” she confirmed.“Then nothing until the arse end of next week, and that’s some local band.”

“You know you don’t have to stay local for me anymore.I’m fine.Already plotting my next adventure, in fact.”

“And when you go, who’s watching Malice?”

Ewan’s lips pursed as he scratched his favourite moggy’s head.

“Besides, I like it at DeathScythe.It’s a good atmosphere.And set up.”

“But not yet attracting the calibre of groups you’re talented enough to be working with.”

They would be, given time.“I’m doing all right,” she protested.She was.Okay, she’d not worked with anyone on par with Black Halo, but not every group could be world class, and actually, she probably got more input into the arrangements working with the newcomers, middle-grounders, and those on the fringes.After all, the fringes of society were always where the new waves started.

“Go to bed, princess.I need to crash.Eight out of ten cats say Prince Almost Charming calls tomorrow.”

After bending to give her a kiss, and clear the cups into the dishwasher, Ewan turned off all the lights bar the lamp, and went upstairs.Alle lingered in the armchair.

It was twenty past four when she woke cold and stiff in the chair, Malice balanced on her shoulder, meowing pitifully into her ear.

After letting her out and standing around to see if she wanted letting in again, Alle finally climbed the stairs and set her alarm for two hours’ time.Naturally, she made the mistake of checking her phone.

Still nothing from Spook.

She didn’t sleep another wink.