Her nose was already buried in the roses. “They smell great too. Flame send them?”
“Yes, well at least he’s the only one who knows I’m here, right?”
“Yeah.”
I wasn’t going there, I didn’t want to think about any more creepy stuff. Especially after I’d searched the school website earlier and sure enough there was a Bob Williams on staff and he was a first grade teacher. The thing was I didn’t remember seeing him in school. Could he really have blended in that much? I guess I’d ask a few of the other teachers on Monday and see if they knew anything about him. I didn’t want to think about it all weekend. I didn’t want anything to ruin the time with Flame.
I was about to suggest getting something to eat when her stomach growled and we laughed. “I guess that answers my question. Let’s get something to eat. I want to stop at an ATM too and get some cash. Every time someone knocks it costs money around here.”
“Do you want to eat in one of the restaurants here?”
“Nope not unless you do.”
“No way, I don’t really want to spend as much as it’s going to cost. I’d rather just grab something quick anyway.”
“I feel the same. Flame said to charge what I wanted to the room, but this place is crazy. Or maybe we’re just not used to it like they are?”
We ended up at a Chipotle—cheap and satisfying and perfect. Then we picked up a couple of bottles of water to bring back to the room too, no sense in paying six dollars for the convenience of one with a big Waldorf logo on it. The booze was going to be expensive enough. We also found an ATM and took out some cash, with the guys away on tour for so long they might not have any on them either.
As we were walking back to the Waldorf, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being followed. A prickling at the back of my neck, a shiver, goosebumps, all weird shit. I’m not a jumpy person. I grew up in the city and lived with my grandmother when my parents were killed in a car accident when I was young. I knew how to take care of myself and I didn’t scare easily. So why did I want to run the rest of the way to the hotel and lock myself in?
“Do you want to stop at the Starbucks and get coffee? The guys won’t be here for acouple hours still,” Teresa asked as the familiar green and white mermaid logo came into view.
“Good idea. I want to stay awake.” And I wanted to get off the street, the sooner the better. As we stepped inside the coffee shop I turned to see if there was anyone I recognized, but there wasn’t. It was probably my imagination messing with me.
Ten minutes later with our venti mochas, and a couple of cookies each, we stepped back on to Park Avenue and walked the half block to the hotel. It was dark and getting cooler, spring arrived a week ago but was still chilly. Our hands were full and I was glad for the doorman as we approached the glass doors of the Waldorf.
“Good evening, ladies.”
“Thank you,” we said in unison. Just getting inside the hotel made me feel better, more secure or something. The security had to be top of the line in this place, so maybe it was a good idea Flame booked the rooms here.
Teresa hung with me and we snacked on the cookies, drank our coffees, and waitedfor our men. Ironman 3 was on HBO and we were hooked.
Chapter Six
Flame…
The flight was quiet, at least I think so, since I didn’t wake up until Wrath punched me in the arm. We were about to land and I had to ‘return my seat to its upright position’. It’d been the best flight so far. We were home—in the fuckin’ US of A baby. No more accents, figuring out money or directions, and Michelle waiting for me in a room with a really big bed. What could be better? Don’t get me wrong, the tour was freakin’ cool, but for our first trip out of the country it was way too long. One month even two would have been cool but four fucking months on the road was over the top.
Terrance ran interference for us through the airport but it was rough. Eleven p.m. and we were still mobbed by fans. I didn’t think anyone knew we were coming in on this flight. Joe figured someone from the airline probably leaked it to the press. The limo was waiting and our luggage would be transported to the hotel later. The limo driver was from some Middle Easterncountry, which threw the whole part about no more accents right out the window.
“Fuckin A’ we made it,” Wrath said. He sounded as relieved as we all felt. Even Joe looked like he was over it.
“Do we have anything scheduled this weekend?” Chaos asked.
“No. I thought we could all use a couple of weeks off. I’ll be going to Sunshine’s tomorrow evening but you’ve all got the rooms for a week. Hopefully that’ll give you enough time to figure out what you want to do.”
“Thanks, Joe. I don’t know what we’d do without you,” Cyn said.
“You’d all be fine. I’m just doing my job, it’s no biggie.”
Cyn was right though, I don’t know what the hell we’d do without him. We were a bunch of foster kids from Marlville, New Jersey. What did we know about traveling the world, booking itineraries, and being rock stars? Or at least it used to be that way, we knew a hell of a lot more now.
It was almost midnight New York time and we were exhausted. Jet lag was going to suck since our bodies were five hours ahead on England time. Even sleeping on the plane didn’t do much to help but I hoped seeing Michelle would wake me up. When the limo stopped in front of the Waldorf the doorman opened the doors. Candy and Sweets almost fainted, and Rage let out a long whistle. I could already hear Michelle’s voice in my head asking me what the fuck I’d been thinking about when I booked a room here. I couldn’t blame her either.
Wrath and I hadn’t been to any ‘nice’ hotels in the city before, so we booked one we’d heard about. Fuck, everyone’s heard of the Waldorf Astoria, right? Well I’m telling you, hearing about it and seeing it up close and personal are two totally different things. We’d stayed in some nice places in Europe but this was fuckin’ wow.
The marble lobby was just about empty when we reached the top of the stairs. But there were still people milling about and giving us strange looks. Guess this place wasn’t used to seeing a group of wrinkled, multi-colored hair, inked, rock stars. We sure didn’t look like Waldorf material.
