by L. B. Dunbar
I turned to look at her, my eyes searching her face as she lowered it to hide from me.
“I’m curious, Layne. What did you hear?”
“I’ve heard that song can bring men to their knees.”
“How?” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“It’s the tempo. It sounds like…” Her voice trailed off, but I could see a quirk of a smile, despite her hidden face.
“It sounds like what?” I teased.
“You know…” she giggled.
“What?” I urged stronger.
“An orgasm,” she whispered.
“Hmmm…and is that what you wanted to give me? An orgasm.”
The shocked look on her face was indescribable when she peered up at me with those innocent brown eyes.
“Or…if this was meant to bring me to my knees, maybe you wanted the orgasm instead?” I implied, raising an eyebrow and looking blatantly between her legs, still spread wide behind my body. I turned completely to rest on my knees which forced Layne to lean back on her hands as I knelt between her open legs.
“Is that what you want, Layne? An orgasm from me?” I didn’t recognize my own voice. I sounded bitter, as if Layne was any other girl who wanted to get off on being with a guy in a band.
“No, I…I just…”
“Just what?” I snipped.
“I just wanted to please you,” she said softly to the space between her legs and my knees. Her voice was hurt, almost frightened, like she realized she had done the opposite. She had displeased me, but it was still evident in my jeans that displeasure was far from the truth.
I tenderly touched under her chin, forcing her eyes to look up at mine. Those brown eyes could melt a lesser man. Her light colored mouth opened on a sigh, just by staring at me. I was overwhelmed with a need to taste that sigh, and I allowed my lips to softly cover hers. She was sweet, like a ripe peach, but she was reserved after my angered words. I sensed her confusion that I was kissing her after accusing her of trying to get off by me.
“I’m sorry,” I said against her lips. “I’m not myself lately.”
She pulled back from me and stared into my eyes, as if looking for sincerity. She must have seen it and forgiven me, because she leaned forward and returned the attempted kiss with more eagerness. Her lips were delicate and unseasoned. She was experimenting with me, and I let her lead as she let her tongue slip out to trace my own. I opened in invitation, and I again felt her hesitation before she slid inside me. I surprised her when I grazed my teeth over her tongue; she giggled into me before pulling back with a start. We eyed each other for a moment before she laughed outright.
“Guess you can tell I don’t have much experience?”
“I find that hard to believe,” I lied.
“I think I’m just nervous.”
“Nervous. Don’t you trust me?” I teased with her words.
She laughed again.
“Actually, I think that’s just it, Lansing. I trust you to do anything with me.” Her voice held a hint of things I just couldn’t allow myself to imagine.
We kissed for several more minutes before an overhead house light went on and a strong voice boomed through the silence.
“What’s going on up there?”
I leaned back to shield my eyes as I looked for the person that held such a voice. Layne seemed to be hiding behind me. I was happy to protect her from our interruption. A large body was rapidly coming down the aisle. The heavy sound of his footsteps matched his stern voice. I began to slowly rise, shielding Layne, who pressed into my back.
“Who are you? How did you get in here?” he demanded.
“I’m Lansing Lotte, sir.”
He stopped before me as I looked down on him. He was a stout man with a moustache and slightly greasy looking hair. He had too much product in it in an attempt to look – good?
“We didn’t mean to intrude. We were let in and…”
“Layne? Layne Ascolat, is that you?” his voice thundered.
Her hands gripped the back of my shirt and her forehead rolled across my back before she replied meekly, “Yes, sir.”
“How many times have I told you, you cannot keep sneaking in here to practice? You need to get to work before tonight’s show. This is your last warning, girl. If I find out that Hank helped you again, he’s fired, too.”
“I think that’s a bit harsh,” I scolded.
“And who did you say you were again?”
“I’m Lansing Lotte.”
“Well, Mr. Lotte, before I have you arrested for breaking and entering, I suggest you leave the premises, too. Miss Ascolat has work to do before this evening’s show.”
“I don’t think I care for the way you’re talking to her.”
“You…,” the greasy man choked, “you don’t care…get the hell out of my opera house. Both of you.”
I heard Layne whimper behind me.
“That’s not necessary. We weren’t doing anything wrong. She was showing me the place and she sang a gorgeous song.”
“Sang?” the man laughed. “We don’t call that singing.”
I was suddenly angry.
“I demand you apologize to Layne. Have you ever heard her sing?”
“I…I don’t need to justify myself to you, young man.”
“No, you need to justify yourself to her,” I demanded. I felt Layne shift behind me. She wasn’t hiding so much as standing to the side behind me. I could feel her eyes on my face, as I bored a look into the man below me.
“Who are you, might I ask?”
“I’m Gregory Beck, the manager.”
I thought for a moment and played my hunch.
“Have you heard of Ingrid Tintagel?”
“Ms. Tintagel? Why yes I have. She’s one of our greatest contributors.” The man pulled himself upright, displaying his pride in knowing such a recognized supporter of the arts.
“Well,” I began, as I narrowed my eyes and bent my knees to lower myself toward the infuriating ass. “I know Ingrid very well, as her son, Arturo King, is my best friend. I will be sure to inform her of your hospitality and kind words to Ms. Ascolat.” I paused for effect as my sarcasm suddenly occurred to him.
“Arturo King? Lansing Lotte? Oh my word, I certainly didn’t mean…”
I held up my hand as I interrupted him.
“You certainly did mean, now apologize.”
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Lotte. I had no idea…”
“Not to me, to her,” I said hooking my thumb in the direction of Layne, who had been frozen in a gaze at me the entire time the conversation occurred.
“I apologize deeply, Ms. Ascolat. I had no idea you were so deeply connected. Perhaps you should audition again for the role you so desire.”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary. She’s going to audition on Broadway and won’t have any purpose for this house, off Broadway,” I emphasized.
Layne gasped and continued to stare at me with wide eyes. I grabbed her hand and turned her stiff body to lead us off the stage through the back curtain. I hurriedly tugged her to the exit and pulled her into the dulling afternoon light. Once outside, with the clang of the metal door into its frame, Layne snapped out of her stunned stupor and laughed. Bent over at the knees laughter filled the alley as she continued to the point of hysteria. When she looked up at me, her laughter filled her eyes with tears and suddenly she was crying.
“What did you just do?” Tears rolled down her face as she shifted from humor to terror.
“I just got you away from that terrible man.”
“No, I mean. You just got me fired, after he offered me another audition.”
“I said you’d audition on Broadway instead,” I said with confusion.
“You can’t say I will audition on Broadway. It doesn’t happen like that.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Don’t you trust me?” I said without humor. “I’ll get you an audition on Broadway. I promise.”
With that she launched herself at me and
hugged me hard. When she pulled her head back, she kept her arms secured around my neck. My reflexes forced me to hold onto her hips, keeping her in place against me. She hesitated for a moment before her mouth crashed into mine. Her lips devoured me then she licked the outline of my lips and slid her tongue inside me. It was quite a surprise compared to the innocent kisses inside the opera house. I also realized she was more practiced than I originally gave her credit. It wasn’t terrible and I let myself be enveloped in her excitement. It was nice to feel wanted by someone.
I felt obligated to stop by to check on Guinie that night, to make sure she was okay. She seemed so fragile, despite her strength at kicking me out the other morning. Talia answered the door and told me that Guinie didn’t want to see anyone, but I knew that was a lie by the sound of Kaye’s voice inside the apartment.
“Don’t make me push open the door, Talia,” I demanded. Something in my face must have told her I was serious and she opened the door wider. When I entered the room, Guinevere glanced up and excused herself.
Kaye was addressing both Tristan and Perk.
“It’s the only solution for now,” Kaye was saying.
“What’s the only solution?”
“Nice of you to show up,” Kaye laughed bitterly.
“What?” I asked looking at Tristan, who only shook his head at me to ignore Kaye.
“Kaye wants to cancel the tour,” Perk answered.
I didn’t know how to respond. I knew it was coming. We couldn’t just postpone. We didn’t know if Arturo was coming back. We still didn’t know if he was alive.
“What are you suggesting?” I asked.
“Cancellation. We’ll have to fully refund.”
“What?” Tristan choked.
“What do you recommend? We don’t know where Arturo is. I’m gonna kill Mure Linn, if I ever see him again. That dirty old man knows something and he isn’t sharing,” Kaye replied angrily.
“What about Ingrid?” I asked.
“What about her?” Kaye defended.
“What does she know?” I questioned. I didn’t believe she was innocent.
“She’s talked to Mure Linn, but she claims she doesn’t know anything. Mure said to her he would handle everything.”
“What does that mean?” Tristan asked.
“Fuck if I know,” Kaye said slapping the side of his leg.
I noticed that Perk wasn’t involved in the conversation. As a matter of fact, his interest was on his phone which he continued to text on.
“Who is she?” I asked.
Perk looked up at me when he realized my question was directed at him. He didn’t answer.
“She must be really special. Was she worth it? Was it worth it to kill Arturo for her?” I yelled. I wasn’t sure where my anger was coming from, but I could feel my heart racing.
“Hey,” Tristan warned.
“We don’t know that he’s dead,” Perk replied calmly.
“Well, we don’t know he’s alive either,” I added, still bitter.
“He’s not dead,” came a soft voice from the corner.
We were all frozen by her tone, but my heart melted fast.
“How do you know? How do you know that, Guinevere?”
“I just do,” she said defiantly with a glare at me.
“How can you know? Has he contacted you? Do you know something, just like Mure? Just like Ingrid?”
“That’s enough.” Kaye stepped into the mix.
Guinevere stood taller against the wall corner. Her eyes narrowed at me.
“Do you think for one minute that I would let this happen, if I knew something?”
“Let what happen?” I glared back at her.
“Concerts cancelled without a reason. The band arguing and falling apart. Losing a baby.”
“You lost a baby?” Perk asked.
“Perk,” Tristan warned then.
“Where the fuck have you been? She lost a baby. Arturo’s baby,” I was yelling again.
Perk looked at Guinevere, sadness immediately in his eyes. For a big man, he had a gentle heart; he didn’t deserve my wrath. I was all kinds of confused after my day with Layne.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know. Why didn’t I know?” Perk looked around the room.
“You’ve been busy,” Tristan snorted.
“Not that busy,” Perk replied under his breath.
“Can we get back to the business at hand? The concert?” Kaye used his authoritative tone for a moment. I wanted to interject and ask who died and left him in charge, but I knew that answer. Arturo had, when he left us to wonder what happened to him.
“I suggest we cancel. Full refund. In the meantime, it gives us time to figure out what to do about the album. Do you want to replace Arturo?”
“What the fu…?” Perk began, but Kaye silenced him with his hand.
“Replace him, or finish the album with only the three of you. Or scratch the album.”
“No,” Tristan’s tone was firm.
“Well, these are all things to think about. Concert is a done deal, though.”
We were all silent for a moment. The room had that funeral feeling again. If it wasn’t that someone had died, it was that something had. Possibly the band. Possibly our spirit. We remained silent as Kaye said he was using Arturo’s office to make a few calls. Even though it was evening, he could still reach the West Coast. Guinevere followed him down the hall and the rest of us remained in the living room. Perk looked at his phone again, and I threw myself onto the large couch like a petulant child.
“What the fuck is your deal?” Tristan began.
“I…I don’t know,” I said scrubbing my hands down my face.
“When was the last time you got laid?” he asked.
“Fuck off.”
“No, dude, that’s what you need. To fuck. Off.” Tristan laughed again, and Perk looked up.
“What about you?” Tristan eyed our big friend.
“What about me?”
“Did you do her, yet?”
I’d never seen Perk move so fast, but he was up in Tristan’s face instantly.
“Don’t you ever talk about her like that.”
“Whoa. You got it bad. We got another Arturo here. Have you fallen in love?”
The thing with Perkins was he wasn’t falling. He’d been in love with the same girl for years. A girl he had obsessed over, but couldn’t prove existed. However, I think I knew who she was, but that was another story.
The guys eventually left. When I said I was going to stay, Tristan gave me a long hard look before he said, “Oh no, not you, too?”
I didn’t respond and he didn’t push. He had a girl to find, he claimed. He never had the same girl twice, so it wouldn’t be the nurse from the other night. Every night was a new flavor to him. Perk, on the other hand, continued to seem distracted and left without much further conversation.
“You don’t have to stay,” Kaye assured me. “She’s much stronger than we give her credit for. Arturo knew that about her.”
I didn’t respond to him, either. I didn’t want to discuss Arturo and Guinevere’s relationship. I didn’t want to discuss Guinevere, period. I knew I should go home to my own place. I didn’t know why I kept showing up to torture myself. My thoughts drifted to Layne. She was sweet, a bit of a contradiction, but I was willing to find the balance in her. I was thinking those thoughts when Guinie entered the living room.
“I was just leaving,” I said to her placing my elbows on my knees for a moment.
“Where were you today?” she addressed me from the corner, like she had earlier.
I was surprised she asked and I looked in her direction.
“I had a date.”
She smiled weakly and her eyebrows rose.
“You did?” her voice actually sounded excited.
“I did.”
“Anyone I know,” she teased lightly, the smile creeping larger on her face.
“Just an old friend.” I didn’t feel ready
to share with Guinevere who that friend was. If Layne had already told Guinevere, Guinie would have to admit it to me first.
She approached me slowly and stood at the back of the couch.
“That’s exciting.”
I didn’t know how to respond, so I pressed my hands on my knees with a slap and stood. When I turned to look at her, her face fell a little from the enthusiasm moments before.
“What?” I said slowly.
“Are you staying here tonight?” she asked quietly.
“I…I think I need to go home.”
“Oh, of course,” she tried to sound cheery again, but her voice was too high.
“Or I could stay if you would like?” I hesitated.
“I…you can do what makes you comfortable.”
I had a hundred things I wanted to say to her. A million questions I wanted to ask, but I didn’t. I started to walk away, sliding my hands into my front jean pockets. My back was to her and I made it the length of the couch when she surprised me by meeting me at the edge.
“Or you could stay?” she said softly. Her hand reached out and then withdrew. I looked up at her, willing her to look at me, but her gaze had dropped down to her fallen hand that picked at nothing on the couch cushion seam.
“How about if I stay for a while? Until you fall asleep?”
She nodded just once.
“Want to watch a movie?”
Without answering, she cleared the edge of the couch and went for the remote. We sat in awkward silence on opposite ends of the couch while a movie began. I didn’t want to see a romance, and I didn’t think a comedy would even make Guinie laugh, so I was relieved when she put in a Bourne movie. Action packed was good.
As the movie played, I noticed Guinie slid down on her side, eventually closing her tired eyes. I tugged her feet as they slipped toward me and pulled them into my lap. She didn’t resist and I kept my hands on her ankles. That brief bit of contact was more electric than the kiss I shared with Layne. I felt guilty for that.
I liked Layne. I did, but I didn’t feel the attraction to her like I felt to Guinie. Of course, my attraction to Guinie was wrong. Wrong on so many levels. She was physically hurting after the loss of the baby. She was emotionally spent after the disappearance of Arturo. She was altogether off limits as Arturo’s fiancée. But I still couldn’t help how I felt about her.
