“I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking, if I don’t move, my head won’t hurt.”
“Believe me, it doesn’t work.” I move, only slightly and that bloody hamster on the wheel is off again. Will he just give it a rest! “Oh my God Ash, how much did we drink last night?”
“A fucking hell of a lot,” another voice from the other side of the room chimes in. Tommy’s head pops up from under a Domino’s pizza box. “What the fuck happened man?” he says.
“The signing happened, New York happened, Bernie happened. You name it, it happened last night,” Ash says, his voice unintentionally rough, raspy and oh so sexy.
All the memories come flooding back. The celebrations,doing the conga down Henley Street, then ending the night with dancing in the front room, which is where we are now; on the floor, dying.
I sit up straight, ignoring the shooting pain in my head. “Ash, is your mum okay?”
“Oh, fuck!” Ash gets up and inadvertently falls over Max on the way out. “Hey, watch it, big fella,” he shouts. “Where’s the fire?”
“I’ve got to find Mum.”
“Don’t fret about it, Ash,” a croaky voice says as Brett emerges from a huge duvet in the corner. “She saw us all off. How do you think we got all these pillows and stuff to sleep on? Your mum was the last one standing for fuck’s sake. She’s good.”
“Thank Christ,” Ash says, a look of pain on his face. His head-rush must kick-in when he flops down next to me because his head falls straight to my lap. I curl my hands around it, when he says, “Help me, baby, I can’t do today. Wake me up tomorrow.”
“Wish I could, but I’ve got to go to work, and you have to go practice being a rock star.”
Someone comes in, and the light goes on.
“Jesus Christ guys, what the hell? Whatisthat stench?” Dani’s arrived and I wonder how the hell she’s standing after packing away a ridiculous amount of Champagne last night. “What the hell is wrong with you lot.”
“Dani, we’re done today. It’s too hard,” Max murmurs from under his pillow.
“Sorry boys, no go. We have rehearsal time booked and a shed load of requests to fulfil. This thing of yours is going wild, so you better get your heads together. We have an interview with a local news station at noon, so get with it.”
“How come you’re so chirpy this morning,” Ash asks her.
“Years of practice. You’ll learn.” Dani smiles.
“Excuse me, Dani, I’ve got a lot to do today,” Ash’s mum comes barging past her and into the room. “Are you alright, Ashton?”
“No, Mum. Can you write me a note and tell them I can’t go in today?”
“For goodness’ sake. Pull yourself together, Son. You have a responsibility to Bernie and the record company. This is your day job now, so get to it. Oh, and while I think of it, have you contacted the university yet? You should let them know about your plans.”
“All done Mum. Sorted it a few days ago.”
“Well, that’s something I suppose.” Her voice takes on a completely different tone when she turns to me, “And how are you this morning, love?”
“I’m sure I’ll be at full throttle after one of your breakfasts, Liz.”
“That’s the spirit, Calla. I knew I could rely on you.”
“Teacher's pet,” Ash whispers, making me smile.
“Breakfast is ready in 5 minutes. Up you get kids.”
Ash finally pulls himself to standing, then offers out his hand. “Come on smarty pants, I want you upstairs a minute.”
“Jesus man, with your mum in the kitchen?” Tommy jokes and Ash shakes his head.
“We need a little privacy to talk for a minute, and I won’t get it down here with you lot, so yeah.”
“Don’t be too long,” Dani shouts. “I need you looking half decent within the hour.”
