Then it was almost time to go on.
“Finally!” Cornelius cried as the door opened. “Thank you so much for coming on such short notice. We really appreciate you opening for Kingsley.”
And I turned around and it was that fucking nuts bunny boiler I’d had sex with. Four? Six months ago? What was her name? Maud? Maeve? Mavis?
Her blonde hair was teased a foot high on either side of her face, the harsh makeup and heavy lipstick doing nothing to hide the deranged expression on her face.
“You probably know everyone! Of course, Kingsley, Rosalie, Matt, Mick, Rick, Constantine. And this is Kingsley’s girlfriend, Dolly,” my moron manager finished.
And because Dolly had no sense of self-preservation, she advanced on Maeve with a big smile on her face and her hand out.
“You bitch!” Maeve shrieked, grabbing a coffee cup from the service table and smashing it on the wall. “Kingsley is mine!”
Then she advanced on Dolly with the jagged handle and Dollyimmediatelyfroze in place, clasping her hand together like a stupid scared rabbit.
I jerked up from my chair but Rosalie was already moving, pulling off her leather jacket in a flash and throwing it over Maeve’s head.
“Hello again, psychopath,” she said in a weary voice.
Maeve made a noise like a fucking steam boiler, whistling and raging, but Rosalie had her wrapped up in a neat little package so she couldn’t escape.
Matt darted forward to tie the sleeves around her and Dolly began to scream.
“Shut up!” I snarled, pounding on the door for my security team, and then picking up Maeve by the coat and depositing her outside the door.
“Reconsider your life choices!” Rosalie called out helpfully as Roberto and Jacob hauled her off. “He’s not worth it, I promise you.”
I wanted to address this, but I was too fucking furious at the rest of them.
“You dumbasses!” I shouted at Cornelius and Matt, panic making my voice harsh. “Why would you ask that crazy bitch to open for me? Rosalie could have gotten hurt!”
Matt looked like he’d been punched in the face.
“Kings—damn, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Rosalie.”
“It’s not your fault,” Rosalie said, finally looking at me, but it was to glare reproachfully as she put her arm around Matt.
“It’s onhimto inform everyone on the team when he’s fucked too many of the local artists. Not your fault.”
“But—she had that broken glass—she could have?—”
I was almost inarticulate with fury at what crazy-ass Maeve could have done.
What if she’d turned that jagged weapon on Rosalie? What if she’d tried to stab her?
Rosalie snorted. “I’ve dealt with your fuck-ups plenty of times. Nothing scary about it.”
“You were so brave,” Dolly piped up, looking adoringly at Rosalie.
She was trembling all over and Rosalie patted her too.
“Come on, let’s get you a hot toddy for your nerves.”
“I don’t drink,” Dolly said in a small voice. “My parents always said it would affect my harp-players fingers.”
“All right, a hot chocolate then,” Rosalie laughed.
“How nice,” Eunice the reporter said dubiously. “Your girlfriend and your best friend get along. That’s really refreshing. A lot of times there’s jealousy in these situations.”
