Page 47 of Down Beat
EIGHTEEN
Tabitha
“Stupid Girl” - Cold
His response: blunt and to the point. Still, I smile like a giddy schoolgirl at the knowledge that I, mere Tabitha Reeves from a small town in New Zealand, got her very own personal message from Rey Thomas, lead singer and guitarist for Dark Tide.
I set the phone on my nightstand and then roll out of bed to get dressed. The apartment rests in darkness, which indicates Kendall still sleeps. I pad over to my set of drawers and tug out a comfy tee and a pair of loose sweats.
By the time I wander into the living area to take a picture of the flowers for Rey, Kendall stands at the kitchen counter staring at her empty mug like a zombie.
“You in there, buddy?” I tease.
She lifts a limp hand, and then sets it back down on the counter with a thud. “I slept like utter shit.”
“Why?” I move the vase of flowers across the room to where the sunlight cuts through our windows.
“I should have got into bed and gone right to damn sleep,” she says as though scolding herself.
“But?” I position them just right so that the sun highlights the brilliance of the reds.
“But, I thought it would be a flash idea to stalk Toby on social media, didn’t I?”
“Oh, babe. No.” I snap a couple of shots from different angles. “You know that’s never a good idea when you’re into a guy.”
“Right?” She breaks out of her daze and fills the mug. “What are you taking pictures of them for?”
“Rey wants to see how they look.”
“He replied?”
I set my phone down and turn to face her, the tone of her voice concerning. She didn’t say it as though surprised, like I’d expect. Nope. She sounds annoyed.
“Yeah. He said they were from him, and he wants to see that he got what he paid for.” I chuckle awkwardly. “Typical ass, right?”
“Is that all he said? What time did he reply?”
“I dunno.” I shrug. “Early this morning?” Truth be told, I didn’t check. It was just there when I woke up. “Why?”
Kendall sighs, her face blank. “He made a right idiot of himself last night, going on a bender and smashing up some car. I sent a message to Toby, but he hasn’t even read it, let alone sent one back. I figured they must all be in damage control.”
“They were off to the next venue early this morning, remember?” I utter, choosing to look at the pictures I took rather than Kendall’s apologetic face. “Maybe that’s why he hasn’t replied.”
“You’re ignoring the important part of what I said.”
“So he went out and did stupid shit,” I say all high-pitched and pathetic. “That’s what rock stars do, right?” I get to my feet and whip out of the room before she can say any more.
Why I’m defending the honor of a man who’s been nothing but a jackass since I met him…. Except he hasn’t. Those stolen minutes alone before sound check, and the vase of roses, point toward another guy.
A private one. The kind I get the feeling not many people know.
“Tab,” Kendall says softly from my doorway. “I didn’t mean to be a bitch about it.”
“I know.” I cut my gaze to her. “Just… I don’t know. The flowers were a really nice thing to do, you know? It sucks that he’s more than likely another entitled idiot who thinks he can get around doing whatever he wants without any consequence.”
“I know.” She sips her fresh coffee. “You want me to make you breakfast?”
“No. You sort yourself out. I’m going to send him this picture and then have a long shower.”