Page 22 of Harmony
“Cool it with that shit,” Rory says, raising her eyebrows.
“Come on, cuz,” Cage says. “We know what you’re about to say. And the fact of the matter is we agree with you.”
“Oh?”
“I’m not sure you know what she has to say,” I say.
“Nope, Jake and I have been talking,” Cage continues. “We’re going to stay the hell away from the groupies. We don’t need what happened to Dragon to happen to us.”
“So you all believe he was drugged?” Rory says.
“Absolutely,” Jake says, nodding. “He’s been clean for so long.”
“Except for the pot and the booze,” Rory reminds him.
“Nope,” Cage says. “Dragon could handle that. Right, Jess?”
“Yeah.” I resist the urge to bite my lower lip. “At least that’s what I thought. I want to suggest that you all stay away from all that at this point, though. At least during the rest of this tour.”
“Agreed,” Rory says. “All four of you need to keep your dicks inside your pants. Got it?”
“Okay, okay, Mom.”
Rory narrows her gaze at Jake’s words. “Call me whatever the hell you need to call me, Jake. Just keep the mouse in the house.”
“Mouse?” Jake waggles his eyebrows.
“Quit that,” I say. “You know she’s taken, and she’s my sister, for God’s sake.”
Jake raises his hands in mock surrender. “Simmer down, man. Fuck.”
“Look, guys,” I continue. “I know we all had this idea of groupies fawning all over us, of screwing our way around Europe. That plan is officially off-limits. This is serious. We all know what this means for the band and what this could mean for our careers. And even if it goes nowhere? We’re still going to make more money on this tour than we’ve ever made in our lives. I don’t know about you all, but Rory and I need that money.”
“Rory is engaged to a Steel,” Cage reminds us.
“Yeah? Well, she and I still need to give this money to our parents to help them rebuild their winery. So no more fucking around.”
Brock enters then. “Dinner come yet?” He closes the door.
“Not yet,” Rory says. “But the guys are all on board. Celibacy for the rest of the trip.”
“Excuse me?” Brock says.
“Not us,” Rory says. “But I don’t need to worry about you drugging me.”
Brock wraps his arm around Rory’s waist. “Nope. Besides, I’d never want anything to dull your senses when we’re together.”
I put my hands over my ears. “For God’s sake, you two. Get a damned room.”
“We have a room, Jesse,” Brock says. “You’re in it.”
“Then please don’t make us listen to any more of this. I promised we’d all eat a light dinner together and then relax until we have to leave for the venue.”
“And we will,” Rory says. “The food should be here soon.”
“Everything’s going to work out fine,” Brock says, grinning. “After all, I want you guys to be stars. You know… So I can get my two percent of your merch.”
I roll my eyes. Brock needs our two percent like he needs a hole in the head, but I’m the one who insisted he take a cut since he fronted us the money. Which apparently has pretty much all been paid back after one night. Amazing.