He tugged her into his arms and gave her a hug, briefly kissing her on the top of her head.“Yeah.Hi, Pix.”
He released her and pulled another mug down from the cupboard to which he added a generous spoonful of sugar.“I could have done with a few more hours of sleep,” Cujo said with a yawn.“What time was it when we dropped you guys off last night?”
“Three-ish.Seven hours ago.I’m going to need a nap this afternoon.”God bless Trent for making the decision to open late.
Cujo filled their mugs and handed one to her.“Did you have a good night?”It was a loaded question and they both knew it.
The corner of her mouth twitched with a smile.Cujo had been her lifesaver, her benefactor, her pseudofather, and her friend.But her most favorite role he played was her big brother.They were much closer than the nearly ten-year age gap would suggest.She’d lived through more in twenty-three years than most people lived through in a lifetime.And Cujo, well, he wasn’t always known for acting his age.
“I had a great time.You looked like you were enjoying yourself when you joined Dred onstage for the final song.”While Cujo’s voice was fully up to the task of harmonizing the chorus, his moves belonged on a Seinfeld episode.
Cujo at least had the capacity to laugh at his drunken antics.“Yeah.Drea told me it’s already posted online.You can cross ‘become a meme on the internet’ off my bucket list.”
She chuckled and made a mental note to check it out.
“So, Pix.Erm, you ...and Dred.You okay with what happened last night?”
Pixie took a sip of the steaming coffee.She’d known the question would come, expected nothing less from Cujo.He’d want to know she was okay.
It was madness to have kissed Dred like that before the encore, but it was pure recklessness to let him kiss her again before she left.She’d wanted one more moment to savour the feeling of his strong lips against hers and feel the hard lines of his muscular body.
“It was a momentary lapse of judgment,” she replied.“Heat of the moment and all that.”
Cujo let out a laugh.“You always were a crap liar.The guy isn’t an asshole, from what I know of him.I warned him off a thousand times already because I see you as a sister, but he isn’t taking the hint.Short of punching his lights out when he comes in today, I don’t think he will.And I saw your face during that concert, Pixie.”
“You’re imagining things, Cujo.It was just a bit of fun.”
“It didn’t look like nothing when he was performing a tonsillectomy on you with his tongue.”
“Oh my God, you are gross, Cujo.”
“Trust me, not too long ago, I was him.”
“That’s not comforting.”
“Wasn’t meant to be.”
The studio phone rang and Pixie ran to grab it, grateful for the distraction.She was still too conflicted in her own mind.Maybe the distance that was sure to follow their kiss would be good for her.“Second Circle Tattoos.How can I help you today?”
“Pix?”The hoarse voice whispered her name.
“Hello?”
“It’s Dred.”The strangled words sounded painful.
“Did someone stay up past their bedtime last night?”
“Funny,” he coughed.“I left shortly after you ...stuck in bed ...feel awful.”He sounded like he’d swallowed a ball of cotton mixed with broken glass.
Compassion bubbled to the surface.“You sound terrible.Are you okay?”
“Will be ...won’t make it today ...sorry.”
“No, of course not.I’ll let Trent know.Stay in bed and get some rest.”
“Wanna ...join me?”Dred erupted into a coughing fit.
“As tempting as that sounds, no.Save your voice.Get some rest.”
