He put his head in his hands. “I don’t know what the fuck to believe, but I’m sure as hell not going to be the one to confront her with it.”
“It’s going to come out eventually. She knows you know something.”
He knew that only too well.
“Do you have a plan?”
“No.” A fact he was sure Luthor could read right off his face.
“Well you fucking need one. Xane, you either need to talk to her or to Spook. Get your facts straight so we can figure this out and put everyone out of their misery.”
“Yeah.”
“So which is it? Like I don’t already know the answer. Fine. We’re going to head back to the hotel. You’re gonna grab your shit and then get out of here and go get him.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Luthor confirmed. “Go figure out the truth. Plus, the band’s done without him. We’ve known that since Hellfest. We all of us felt it then, and tonight. We’re not us without him. And it’s time. You know it is. So go to him and tell him where to stuff his resignation note, and figure out whether this woman has any chance of a future with him.”
“It might not be that simple.”
“I never said it would be.”
Xane paced another couple of laps of the dressing room. “You’re serious?”
Luthor snagged his lower lip on his teeth and gave a nod.
“You know me up and disappearing is going to cause a fucking cataclysm?”
“You’re not disappearing. I’m going to know where you are, because you’re going to stay in touch. We’re just going to put off telling the rest of them for a little while to give you a head start.”
“How?”
Luthor tapped his nose. “Trust me, I’ve got this.” He clasped Xane’s hand and tugged him towards the door. “You up for a little OTT display of affection?”
“What the fuck are you planning?”
“Your exit route. Now shut the hell up and follow my lead. Let’s play to our strengths, eh?”
They walked back towards the wings where Ash and Ginny were hanging with some of the crew and Ronnie, who apparently hadn’t made it as far as the stage door yet. “Alle and Paul gone?”
They received various nods and affirmations in response. The pair of them slouched around a few minutes leaning against a stack of equipment boxes, then Luthor’s hand landed first on his hip before straying to his arse. Whatever Luthor was planning, it seemed more likely to piss people off than provide cover. “Luthor?”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
A few seconds later, they were necking.
“For fuck’s sake.” The shrillness of Ginny’s voice made him shrink inside his own skin. She scowled at them with her arms crossed. “Get a room if you’re going to maul one another. So not the time and place.”
Not so long ago, such a display wouldn’t have earned anything more than some light-hearted ribbing. In fact, Mr and Mrs Gore would have been giving them a run for their money.
“Gee, can we?” Luthor bounced back before Xane had a chance to say anything. “Is that allowed? Can we actually leave, or do we all have to have a constipated analysis session first about how shit we are without Spook around?”
“Oh, fuck off,” Ash replied.
“Babe,” Ginny said.
“What?” He raised his arms, while his mouth drew tight. “Maybe I don’t want to watch the pair of them pound one another.”
