“That was a very long time ago.It’s not something you need to be concerned about, Alle.I confess, I’m surprised he even mentioned it.”
“You were his last.”
That revelation seemed to startle him.Leastways, he swayed a little, before seeming to catch his balance.“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
There was still a flare of something in those expressive silver-grey eyes.
“Then I guess it must be true.”
There he went seeding doubt again.
“There’ve been hundreds since on my part.I can barely remember…” He shook his head, making his long hair swish.“Let me know your answer as soon as you’ve reached a decision about tonight.”He walked away, leaving Alle with the distinct impression that there was something, a nuance within his words that ought to clue her into something.What that might be, she had no idea.
“Hey, you okay?”Ronnie asked, sliding into the space that Xane had just vacated.They’d barely had a chance to speak to one another since the gig.“It’s all going better than expected, yeah?”
Alle gave his spindly wet form an up and down glance, then nodded.“I guess so.”
She about turned and focussed on Rock Giant stretched out so that his impressive six foot six frame overhung the end of the lounger.He could have been a merman with his muscles and his decorative ink, and his multi-coloured hair in shades of purple and green.Wet and hence un-spiked, it flopped over to one side in a long asymmetrical wave.
“Paul?”she said hesitantly, trying out his name.It felt way too weird.Nevertheless, he cocked a brow.
“Me?”
“Yes.I just wondered.”She pushed away from the railings.“How many festivals are you playing this summer?”
He shrugged, lifting his thickly muscled shoulders.Beside him, Ronnie looked like a string bean.“Five or six, I think, kicking off with our very own cruise.”
“A cruise?”Ronnie’s eyes were alight like someone had just proposed moving Christmas to July.
“Yeah, first time we’ve done one.Southampton to Sweden, a festival there, and then the return journey.”
“That’s awesome.”
Alle poked Ronnie in the back.Honestly, he sounded like a kid in a sweet shop.Unsurprisingly, there were sweets in his hands right now.More strawberry laces that he loved to twine around his fingers and then suck up like spaghetti.
“What?”he glared at her, before returning his attention to Rock Giant.“I’ve heard of bands doing metal cruises, but how cool is it that you’re doing a purely Black Halo cruise.That’s mint, that is.When is it?”
“You angling for an invite, kiddo?”
“Damn right.”
It was right after their break ended.How was it that she hadn’t even been aware of it?She followed the Black Halo news sites.Actually, she hadn’t checked in on those in some time.It hadn’t felt necessary when she had a hotline right to the source.Depressingly, it dawned on her how little of his plans Spook actually shared.Chances were, he hadn’t mentioned the cruise for the same reason he hadn’t mentioned that he had a two-week gap in his calendar until yesterday, because she might propose spending time together.
“What’s up?Are you feeling sea sick?”Ronnie asked her.Clearly, her emotions were showing all too clearly on her face.
“No.I’m fine.Isn’t that the week your first single off the new album is set to release?”
“Hmm,” he agreed.“That sounds like a great reason to be anywhere but home.Don’t want to be one of those sad dudes sat refreshing the various download sites every thirty seconds praying for sales.It’s probably going to sink into oblivion.”
He was never normally this pessimistic.She wasn’t sure she believed him now.
“You’re releasing that week?Congrats, man.”Rock Giant raised a hand for Ronnie to slap.A moment later his hazel eyes crinkled as he squinted upwards into the sun in order to peer at Ronnie.“What’s your actual genre?I swear if you say girly pop, I’m gonna hurt you, and our friendship ends.”
“Indie,” Ronnie tentatively proposed.
Rock Giant made a rumbling noise, like the growl of an engine, or a bank of thunder.He sat up.“Like bloody Willows, you mean.Urhhh.”
“Except, he’s good,” Alle leapt to Ronnie’s defence.He was.She knew talent when she saw it.Ronnie was perfectly capable of taking the world by storm.All he needed was a bit of luck.“Don’t believe this crash and burn shit he’s spouting.The buying public are gonna lap him up.”
He was beaming at her.When he saw she was looking at him, she blew him a kiss.Rock Giant regarded her rather more sceptically, but at least his grouching had ceased.
“I’ve a couple of tracks on my phone if you don’t think they’ll make your ears bleed,” Ronnie admitted.
The big guy nodded.“Go on, then.I’ll risk my sanity.Dish it up.”
