Chapter Twenty
“Somebody get me a can of Crisco and an antidepressant.” Drew emerged from the dressing room and hung a pair of pants on the return rack. She stopped in mid-stride and watched as Ashleigh surveyed her own reflection in a mirror. The jeans hugged her slim form, accentuating a firm rear end. “I hate you,” Drew said as she walked by. “Love the jeans, though.”
“Check these out.” Vicki walked into the dressing area. Her eyes sparkled as she held up the black leather pants. “With that white shirt that you bought and a pair of black boots, this outfit would pop.”
“And where exactly would I wear that ‘popping’ outfit?” Ashleigh asked as she fingered the smooth leather.
“On stage,” Vicki said nonchalantly as she failed to meet her eyes.
“That’s where all this singing business is going, isn’t it?” Ashleigh turned on one heel. “I’ll sing in my car and in your shed, but that’s as far as it goes.” She closed the dressing room curtain in Vicki’s face.
“It would be the ultimate if you’d join us on stage at the club,” Vicki said as she poked her head around the curtain. “Just for a few songs after you’ve had time to practice and build up your voice.”
Drew’s head appeared on the other end of the curtain. “You’re gonna perform at the club?” she asked excitedly.
“I didn’t say that.” Ashleigh wagged her finger at them both. “Now can I have some privacy?”
“I’ve seen you naked. What are you worrying about?” Vicki said.
“That was twenty years ago, Vic.”
“I’ve seen her naked recently,” Drew said with a grin.
“How’s she holding up?” Vicki asked.
“Not bad.” Drew shrugged. “Everything is still up where it’s supposed to be.”
“For the love of Pete! Do you two mind?”
Both heads disappeared from the curtain, but as Ashleigh changed, she could hear them speaking in hushed voices. Ashleigh shook her head. It was no wonder that Vicki and Drew hit it off. They seemed to share the same brain—and it was twisted.
“Where to now?” Ashleigh pulled back the curtain.
“Shoes,” Drew and Vicki said in unison.
After sufficient damage had been done to Drew’s and Ashleigh’s credit cards, the group went back to Vicki’s. As they opened the door to the shed, the sound of drums was overwhelming. Chantal’s eyes were clamped shut as she pounded away to a song that played in the earphones she wore.
“She makes me hot when she’s like this,” Vicki yelled over the sound.
“We’ll be happy to leave you two alone,” Ashleigh yelled back.
Vicki slipped behind the enclosure and grabbed Chantal’s shoulder while avoiding the flying sticks. Chantal jumped at the touch. A smile spread across her face when she looked up at Vicki. It was the same way that Kaitlyn looked at Drew; it made Ashleigh realize that she’d been missing that look in Erica’s eyes lately.
Chantal pulled the headphones off her head. “Hey there. When you said that you were going shopping, I didn’t expect to see you for a few days.”
“Where are the girls?” Vicki asked as she planted a kiss on Chantal’s lips.
“Jaclyn is helping Lindsay with something, then she’ll be on her way. Alex will be here in a few.”
Ashleigh sank down onto one of the sofas against the wall and let out a groan. They’d been on their feet and moving for most of the day. “They’re cute,” Drew said as she took a seat next to Ashleigh.
“They remind me of you and Kaitlyn, always nuzzling and fawning over each other.”
“Don’t be jealous.” Drew nudged her. “I know you want me.”
Ashleigh and Drew looked up when the door opened and Alex stepped inside. “Hi, Alex,” they called out in unison, sounding like two school girls.
“You’ve been sleeping all day, haven’t you?” Vicki said as she moved toward her bank of keyboards. “Late night?”
Alex ran a hand through her messy hair and looked down at the old T-shirt and sweatpants she was wearing. “I look like a slob, I know,” she said with an embarrassed grin.
“You didn’t answer the question,” Vicki said teasingly. “Did you have a long night?”
“I didn’t answer you the first time, Dickie, what makes you think I’m going to answer the second?” Alex said with a wink.
Ashleigh chuckled at the nickname that only Alex could get away with using. She couldn’t help but join in. “Did you at least bathe before coming over here?”
Alex rested a hand on her hip and glared at Ashleigh. “I take enough abuse from these two.” She pointed between Vicki and Chantal. “Don’t you start with me because I know way too many embarrassing stories that I could share with Drew.”
As Alex was speaking, Jaclyn slipped into the room, crept up behind Alex, and yanked her sweatpants to her knees. Alex’s face registered shock at first, then flushed red. “You are such a bitch, Jac,” she said without turning.
Jaclyn tugged on the T-shirt that hit Alex mid-thigh. “You’re not wearing underwear.” Alex slapped her hand away as she pulled her pants up. “Don’t act embarrassed. We’ve all seen it.”
“Oh, Jac, the payback is going to be so painful.” Alex glared in her direction.
“You can’t get me back. This is payback for taking a picture of me on the toilet. It’s Lindsay’s screensaver, by the way.” Jaclyn took a step back when Alex moved toward her.
“I guess it’s obvious that we still haven’t grown up,” Vicki said with a look at Ashleigh and Drew.
Chantal looked at her watch. “Time’s wasting, and I wanna hear Ash sing.” She waved a drumstick at Alex and Jaclyn. “Can you two act like adults for an hour or so?” She gave a satisfied nod when both women shot her the finger.
Ashleigh warmed up by singing backing vocals while Alex and Jaclyn alternated singing lead on several songs. To her own ear, their voices still blended well, and after her anxiety waned, she took the lead on their own material. Ashleigh closed her eyes when she began to sing “Love’s Someday,” unable to look at her bandmates as she sang the song that had one time been so personal. She couldn’t help but smile when she heard Alex, Jaclyn, and Vicki’s harmonies come in behind her on the chorus. For a moment, she was back in time before fame had changed their lives and everything felt right. When the song ended, she felt tears pushing at her closed eyelids, and when she opened them, she realized that everyone in the room was wiping at their own eyes, including Drew.
Ashleigh rubbed at her throat and made a weak attempt at a smile. “I think I need a break.”
“I think you need some of Vicki’s famous hot tea.” Alex unstrapped her guitar and walked briskly toward the door. “I’ll go put the water on.”
Vicki gave a shrug. “I guess I’m making tea then.” She followed after Alex, leaving everyone else looking slightly bewildered.
Drew checked her cell phone and noticed a dozen missed calls from home and stepped outside to call Kaitlyn while Jaclyn and Ashleigh talked. “Where are you?” Kaitlyn asked with an edge to her voice.” Drew glanced at her watch and was surprised to realize that it was nearly ten. She and Ashleigh had left the house at nine that morning.
“We’re at Vicki’s. We lost track of time.”
“Well, you better have Ash call Erica. She’s worried. We’ve been calling both of your phones since six.”
“We couldn’t hear them. We’ve been out in the shed and the girls have been playing. Ash has been singing. I’m the first person to see the official reunion of Versal,” Drew said excitedly.
“She’s gonna have to sing her way out of the doghouse with Erica. She’s alternated between frantic worry and pissed off for the last two hours.”
“Sorry, honey,” Drew said. “We’ll be on our way shortly. I’ll have Ashleigh call Erica when we get in the car. Tell Erica we’re all right.”
“She knows. She’s standing right here.”
Drew went back into the shed and wen
t straight for Ashleigh. “The girls have been calling since six. They’re more than a little pissed at us.”
Ashleigh’s eyes widened when she looked at her cell phone. “Oh, yeah, we’re in trouble.” She turned to the rest of the group. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to leave. Our yard pass has been revoked.”
“Let’s make that tea to go then.” Chantal slipped an arm around Drew’s as she led them from the shed and into the cool night air.
Ashleigh pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “Y’all go ahead. I’m going to call Erica.”
“Lindsay tries to call and calm me down too when she’s been out too late,” Jaclyn said as they walked away leaving Ashleigh alone. “It never works.”
“Honey, I’m sorry,” Ashleigh said when Erica answered.
“You’re a grown woman and you don’t have a curfew, but it would’ve been nice if you would have at least called and let me know where you were. This is totally out of character for you.”
“I know, I know.” Ashleigh slowly made her way toward the house. “I just got caught up and forgot to call.”
“I assume Alex is there,” Erica said testily.
“Well, yeah,” Ashleigh said, caught off-guard. It took her a second to realize the implication. “I’ll talk to you when I get home.” Ashleigh snapped her phone shut angrily. Erica had a right to be angry, but her comment was unfair and insulting. She’d never given Erica any reason not to trust her.
As Ashleigh walked onto the patio, Alex was coming out the back door. Ashleigh noticed something akin to discomfort flitter across Alex’s face as she crossed her arms. “I just wanted to tell you that…it was great having you sing with us. You really did sound great, and I’m not just saying that to make you feel good.” Alex looked at the ground and pivoted from foot to foot. “It felt like old times, you know?”
After talking to Erica, Ashleigh felt almost guilty for being alone with Alex. “Thanks,” she said with a smile. “I needed to hear that, and now I have to go before I get into any more trouble.”
Alex nodded and began walking across the yard toward the fence. “Good night,” she called over her shoulder.
Ashleigh watched her disappear into the shadows before calling out, “Should you be walking home in the dark? We could give you a ride.”
“No, thanks, do it all the time,” Alex said, sounding more distant. Ashleigh wondered for a moment if she was running.
“I’m exhausted,” Drew said with a yawn as Ashleigh merged onto the interstate.
“Lay the seat back and take a nap.”
“That wouldn’t be fair. You’re as tired as I am.” Drew yawned again and sipped from her to-go cup.
“I’m on a high right now. You don’t have to worry about me falling asleep.”
Drew smacked her lips. “Is it the tea? Because it’s just making me sleepier.”
“No, it’s a natural high,” Ashleigh said with a smile. “Tonight was…” She paused and took her eyes off the road to glance at Drew. “I know now that I can still do it.” Ashleigh gripped the wheel and shook her head. “I feel like I have a second chance now.”
“Second chance at your music career?” Drew asked, sounding alarmed.
Ashleigh shot her a sideways glance. “Indeed,” she said sarcastically. “What I mean is, I have a second chance to enjoy music again.”
Drew set her cup in the holder and turned in her seat to face Ashleigh. “Vicki and Chantal got a little misty-eyed when y’all did ‘Love’s Someday’ tonight.”
To know that they were equally affected made Ashleigh smile.
“Alex, too, normally she’s kind of stoic. Did you notice?”
Ashleigh shook her head as the smile slipped from her face. She knew that Drew was watching her intently ready to pounce on anything that conveyed interest. “I kept my eyes closed most of the time. It helps me concentrate.”
“Her eyes teared up right at the end. I think that’s why she left so suddenly.”
Ashleigh could sense rather than see Drew’s expectant expression. “What?” she asked irritated that she’d taken the bait so easily.
“Don’t you wonder what she feels? It’s got to be weird for her, too. I mean, you two were lovers, don’t you wonder what’s going through her mind?”
“Why should I?” Ashleigh asked defensively, then winced inwardly at her tone. Drew would weigh every rise and fall of her voice. Scrutinize the emphasis on every word until she was in Ashleigh’s head, and that thought scared her.
Too many feelings and emotions were swirling around in there, and Ashleigh did not want to be forced to examine any of it. “Alex is still single after all this time, Drew. I think that sums things up. She has never allowed herself to connect with anyone outside of the bedroom. I’m pretty damn certain she looks at me like she does all the other women she’s fucked.”
“Oh, you dropped the F-bomb. You never say that.” Drew was sitting ramrod straight now. “I thought you were done with all the anger.”
Ashleigh banged her hand on the steering wheel furious at herself. “It just frustrates me that you’re always picking me apart about her.”
“Calm down, I’m just telling you what I noticed.” Drew held her hands up in surrender.
Ashleigh shook her head and smiled ruefully as she wagged a finger at Drew. “Don’t play innocent. You’ve been baiting me for a while, so I’m going to spell it out. I am over Alexandra McKinney, and any feelings you think she may have are no concern of mine.”
“O-,” Drew clapped her hands together, “-kay. You’ve made your point. But for the record, I don’t think you should drink any more of Vicki’s tea. It makes you bitchy.”
“Kiss my ass,” Ashleigh said with a smile despite her aggravation.
“The only ass that’s gonna be kissed tonight is Erica’s ’cause you’re in the doghouse big-time.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Erica took a deep breath and let it out slowly when she heard Ashleigh come through the kitchen door. Since they’d spoken, she’d had time to calm down. She felt bad about making the comment about Alex, but there was still a bit of anger that made her not want to apologize for the low blow.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” Ashleigh walked into the den. She didn’t bother to take a seat, but rather leaned against the recliner, a sure indicator that she was still pissed off.
Erica turned to face her, noting the fire in Ashleigh’s brown eyes. “It’s not about you being late. You could’ve spent the night if you wanted to. It upset me that you didn’t call.”
“And I apologized for that,” Ashleigh retorted. “That comment about Alex was uncalled for.”
Erica nodded and looked away. “I was angry because you scared me.” Ashleigh didn’t say anything. Erica knew she was waiting for the apology she owed her. “I’m sorry.”
“I won’t make you worry again,” Ashleigh said with resignation in her voice. “I’m…going to take a quick shower before bed. Are you coming up?”
“Yeah, I’ll be up in a few.” Erica watched her go. She was still angry and pretty certain that Ashleigh was too. They wouldn’t speak of it again. After a night’s sleep, they’d go on like there had never been a disagreement, and in a day or two, all would be forgotten. But until then, Erica knew that another sleepless night was in her future.
Ashleigh heard the phone ringing as she slipped her key into the lock the next evening. Vicki’s voice greeted her when she answered. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”
Ashleigh grinned. “I suppose you’re going to tell me.”
“We’re getting together around six to play. You must join us.”
“I must? And if I don’t?” Ashleigh asked as she perused the contents of the fridge for something to whip into dinner.
“If you don’t, I’ll be forced to show Erica some of the video that Chantal keeps locked up.”
“Six it is then,” Ashleigh said with a laugh. “Do I need to bring anything?”
“Nope, I�
��m going to cook something light, so don’t stop for junk food on the way down. Oh, does Erica have any seafood allergies that I need to know about?”
“She doesn’t, and she won’t be joining us. Things at work are hectic and she’s going to be getting home late this week.”
“I like her. You made a good choice, Ash.”
“I’m a lucky girl,” Ashleigh said, regretting instantly how sarcastic that statement sounded. “I’m just a little frustrated right now and getting tired of eating dinner alone.”
“Come see us tomorrow and vent your frustration on the mic.”
“I’ll be there.” Ashleigh pulled out the rest of the salad she’d made the night before. With a glass of iced tea, she sank down onto the couch and reached for the remote.
“Please tell me you’ve made something fattening for dinner,” Drew said as she pushed through the back door.
“Salad,” Ashleigh called over her shoulder.
“Shit! Got any cookies?”
“Look in the pantry.” Ashleigh speared a cherry tomato.
Drew came into the room with a bag of Oreos and a tall glass of milk a few minutes later. “I’ve got the worst case of PMS ever,” she said as she plopped on the couch next to Ashleigh. “I murdered a garden trowel today.”
“What did it do to incur your wrath?” Ashleigh asked absentmindedly as she flicked through the channels.
“It was handy. Good thing Kaitlyn’s working late or I’d have to have a chunk of her ass too. She left clothes all over the bathroom. The hamper is two feet away, and she couldn’t make the effort. Her dirty socks are stuffed in her pillowcase. I think that’ll make an impression when she lays down tonight.”
“I’ll have to remember that one,” Ashleigh said with a grin. “I’m going to Vicki’s tomorrow night, wanna come?”
“Can’t,” Drew said around another cookie. “I promised Mom that I’d have dinner with her. I wish I could come see y’all play, though.”
“There’ll be more times, and you can come with me.”
“You’re really jumping back into this with both feet, aren’t you?”
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