Page 97 of Rock Giant

She nodded.“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better for having had a nap?”she said changing the subject.

Nash pinned her with a sultry look.“I didn’t have a nap.I had a couple of Monsters.”

No wonder he looked bouncy.He turned to the mirror, pulling the remains of a packet of love heart sweets from his pocket.He smiled at whatever was written on it, then slid it along the countertop to her.

MAKE UP.

“Not sure how to interpret that.Are you asking me to apply your eyeliner or…”

He dragged his teeth over his lower lip, flooding it with colour.“I’m saying that I don’t like being at odds with you, and it feels like you’re not entirely onboard with us anymore.”

“That’s not fair, Nash.I am.”

“Are you?”He drew her closer to him, one hand hooked behind her neck.It didn’t take a genius to figure out what he had in mind.Except a quickie in a bathroom wasn’t going to smooth things over or fix things.It’d just mean he could convince himself he was the same sort of stud as his bandmates.

“Aren’t you due on stage in like ten minutes?”

He caught a lock of her hair and twirled it around his finger.“Ten minutes is oceans of time.The door’s bolted.Can’t get much more private than that.”

Someone banged on the door.“I’d like to use the facilities before we go on,” Lee called.

“Find another one.”

“There is only this one.Stop assaulting Jo, fuckwit, and open the door.”

Nash rolled his eyes but relented.“I’m getting really tired of you cock blocking me, Murphy.”

“Then stop trying to cop a feel in the bogs, then.”

“Fuck off.”

“Whatevs,” Lee offered him a two-fingered salute, and headed towards the stall.He bobbed his head back out before closing the door.“Are you okay to give these to Xane for me?”He unhooked a pair of shades from the neck of his shirt and passed them to Jodi.“Ta, doll.”

“I guess I’d better...”She offered Nash a shrug.

“Time, guys.”

Back in the dressing room, Brian had appeared and was trying to hustle the guys towards the stage.Three girls immediately got in the way of Nash’s exit.He signed posters and shirts and offered cheek kisses.Only at the last moment did he seem to recall her presence.“You and me, after the show.We’re gonna find ourselves somewhere quiet.Kiss for luck?”

She dutifully did as asked.

**

The Black Halo dressing room was considerably calmer than the Ghost Boys one.There weren’t any fewer people, possibly more, but the atmosphere wasn’t manic, more purposeful.One of their crew asked to see an ID.

“She’s Rock Giant’s missus,” Spook called, prompting an apology.He gave her a nod, barely pausing in the act of pulling a brush through his acres of white-blond hair to gesture in Paul’s direction.

“Actually, I’m looking for Xane.Returning these.”

He pointed with the brush in the other direction.

Xane and Luthor were by the big mirror, Xane applying kohl and a death mask.Luthor sat on the dresser next to him, chatting, and feeding him bites of banana.She gave Luthor Xane’s shades, after Xane waved her away when she offered them directly.

“Tack till dig.”

Two arms wound around her from behind and lifted her off the floor.She squeaked, “Paul?”

“Castle.”