Part 20 (1/2)

”Yeah.” He drew on the joint he had lit to extend the high. ”I wish you

were here.”

She heard the background noises, loud music, male and female laughter

mixed with it. ”So do I.”

”Then come.” He pushed away a blonde, half naked and glazedeyed, who

tried to crawl into his lap. ”Pack a bag and fly over.”

”Do what?”

”I mean it. It's not half as good as it would be if you were here.”

Across the room a brunette, nearly six feet tall, slowly stripped.

Stevie, the lead guitarist, popped a Quaalude like rock candy. ”Look, I

know we talked about it and decided it was best for you to stay home,

but we were wrong. You need to be here, with me.”

She felt tears well in her eyes even as laughter bubbled. ”You want me

to come to America?”

”As soon as you can. You can meet us in New York in-s.h.i.+t. Johnno, when

are we in New York?”

Sprawled on a couch, Johnno poured the last of the Jim Beam. ”Where the

f.u.c.k are we now?”

”Never mind.” Brian rubbed his tired eyes and tried to concentrate.

His mind was bloaty with booze and smoke. ”I'll get Pete to work out

the details. Just pack.”

She was already out of bed. ”What should I do with Emma?”

”Bring her, too.” On a burst of family feeling, Brian grinned at the

blonde. ”Pete will figure out how to get her a pa.s.sport. Someone will

call you this afternoon and tell you what to do. Christ, I miss you,

Bev.”