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After Dylan hung up on him, Tyler blew out a sigh of annoyance. He knew he had taken it too far while talking to David earlier in the day. He hadn’t expected him to tell Dylan about it though.
“Something wrong?” Jordan asked.
The three bandmates had been working on a song together at their new-to-them dining table. The surface was littered with scraps of paper, guitar picks, pens, and a couple empty water bottles and pop cans each.
“Nah. I’m gonna step out for a minute and make a call, okay?”
“Don’t be long. We almost have this,” Heath told him. “And when you come back, grab us some more drinks, huh?”
“Sure, sure,” he agreed. “Be right back.”
He let himself out onto the balcony that overlooked their little street. He felt like the view was oddly quaint for being in Manhattan. He took a seat in one of the wicker chairs they had placed out there and brought up David’s number on his phone.
“Hello?” David sounded curt.
“David, it’s Tyler. I’m calling to say I’m sorry. I wasn’t serious earlier. You know that, right?”
David sounded deflated as he let out a breath. “I know.”
“I would never genuinely ask you to jeopardize your job. We’re friends, but we’re not that close.” Tyler allowed a hint of humor enter his tone.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry too. I assume Dylan called you?”
“He was pissed.”
“He caught me at a bad moment,” David admitted. “I’ve been on this job for five years. I have difficulty separating sometimes.”
“This time, it was my fault. I won’t do it again. And if I do, you can call me on it. Don’t let it fester.”
“Deal,” he agreed.
“Good. To make up, how about we get together tonight for drinks at Charlie’s? You can invite Mora and Dakota. I’ll bring Heath and Jordan.”
“Dakota has the night shift this week, but I’ll see what Mora is up to. I get off around seven. Is that still good for you?”
“Perfect. We’re working on a song right now, so it’ll be something to look forward to as we’re hashing it out.”
“I’ll see you there,” David quipped. “Later.”
“Later, man,” Tyler hung up and pocketed his phone again.
Heath and Jordan looked up as he entered the apartment again.
“Everything cool now?” Heath asked.
“Yes,” Tyler nodded, “and we’re going to Charlie’s tonight.”
“Sweet,” Heath nodded. “Mora going to be there?”
“Yep.”
He’d been pleasantly surprised that Heath and Mora had it hit off very well. Though, not in the way expected. Heath had openly admitted to finding her attractive, but after talking for a while it was very clear that they would not necessarily be hooking up.
“Not my vibe.” Mora had grinned at him when Heath had made the hint. “But I’ll wing-person for you. How about that guy?” And they had spent the remainder of the evening getting phone numbers.
“C’mon,” Tyler plunked back down in his chair, “let’s get this done. Then we can use the night as a celebration.”
They put their heads together and a few hours later, got their first celebratory beer (and a coke for under-aged, teetotaler Tyler) of the night. Just as they were taking their first sips, Mora rushed into the bar, sweeping into the booth as only she could. She didn’t apologize as she helped herself to Jordan’s beer, straight from his hand. She had half if it gone before she finally took a breath and set the mug down on the bar napkin.
“Hi guys.”
They stared at her for a moment in silence before Heath cleared his throat. “Hard day at work, honey?”
“The fuckin’ worst,” she admitted. “Sorry I took your beer, Jordan. Let me get you another one.” She stood up slightly to hail the bartender, then signaled for another round for the table. Then she took her seat again and heaved another sigh. “I got felt up by a photographer today.”
“Did you punch him in the balls?” Heath asked over the lip of his mug.
She gave him a soft smile. “I wanted to. I really wanted to. But, the fact is, he’s more important than I am. Even though I have friends in high places, if I want to continue getting modeling work for the foreseeable future, I need to play nice. Even with the disgusting assholes who think that because I openly identify as other, they can try shit they wouldn’t with cisgender straight women without remorse. Or hell, things they would do with cisgender straight women.”
“Men are scum.” Jordan reached over, giving her arm a squeeze.
“Not all of ’em.” She patted his hand. “Just like ninety-eight percent.”
“That’s a super shitty thing to happen.” Tyler shook his head. “You didn’t do anything?”
“I may have had some choice words for him and indicated I would break his fucking dick off if he ever touched me again.” She shrugged. “Life is too short to focus on that bullshit. How have you all been? How’s the apartment? Sorry I haven’t stopped by. I’ve been busy.”
“We’re good,” Heath replied. “Where’s David?”
“Um,” she lifted her hip to pull her phone out of her pocket, “he just texted. He’s leaving the Montgomery’s now. He’ll be here in about fifteen. He says to start without him. Kinda late for that.”
“Truth.” Heath drank down the last of his beer, just as one of the waitstaff appeared with a fresh pitcher, a full mug, and another coke for Tyler.
“Ease up,” Tyler warned him. “It’s not a contest and I’m not taking care of your drunk ass.”
“I’m fine.” Heath refreshed his mug with the pitcher. “Cool your jets, Mom.”
“Are you guys bickering?” Mora prodded. “Is there trouble in paradise? Tell me all about your woes. Then, we’ll solve issues with an orgy. I think I’d be up for a safe, consenting orgy.”
“Are we inviting David? I feel like that would be awkward,” Tyler teased her.
“Oh right, shit. Plus, that’s a lot of dicks and I can only handle so many at once.” She looked down at her now empty beer mug. “I probably should not have drunk that so quickly. I think it’s already gone to my head.”
“Take it easy with the next one,” Jordan told her. “And no, we’re not bickering. We’re celebrating! We finally finished a song we’ve been working on.”
“Oh yeah?” Mora perked up. “That’s exciting!”
“I think we’re going to test it out at our gig next week. And we’re in talks to do an East Coast tour with a couple of smaller bands. Lipid is headlining.”
“Lipid,” Mora repeated. “Is that the band that has the song that’s like da-da-da-dun-Eco Terrorist?”
“No, that’s Cornucopia. Lipid has the song that features elephant trumpeting as a thinly veiled metaphor for orgasms,” Tyler replied.
Mora took another sip of her beer. “Have you thought lately that music is really fuckin’ weird?”
The trio laughed but Jordan spoke first. “I promise, our song is pretty normal by current standards. It’s an upbeat dance number about being young as long as you can.”
“Really? I thought it was about sex,” Heath admitted.
“Cripes,” Tyler sighed, “we wrote a damn song and none of us know what it's about. Maybe we should rethink this music thing before it goes too far.”
“I’m sure it’s a great song,” Mora assured them. “And doing a tour will be fun!”
“It’s just a couple of weeks, in the spring. We’ve got some smaller gigs between now and then, but it’s fun to travel.” Jordan offered. “And it’ll open us up to bigger opportunities later.”
“We’ve been asked to record a song for a movie too,” Tyler said. “A soundtrack song will definitely get us up and out.”
“Good for you,” Mora nodded. “I’m glad things are working out and that you had to take the long way to get there. It, like, validates it more.”
“Unlike your Friends in High Places approach?” Tyler asked.
“Yeah,” she mused. “They well. I guess that’s saying something.”
They spent a few more minutes talking amiably until their attention was drawn by David squeezing in next to Mora.
“Hey man,” Tyler gave him a nod, “everything cool?”
“Yeah,” David nodded, “sorry about earlier.”
“What happened earlier?” Mora pressed.
“Wild Child issues,” David told her. “I don’t want to say more.”
Mora gave an understanding nod. “You need this more than I do then.” She slid her mug toward him.
“Hey, you had a shit day too. You deserve that beer,” Heath reminded her.
“What happened?” David’s concern switched was flipped.
“Same old shit, different photographer,” Mora replied flippantly.
“Fuck,” he swore. “I wish you’d quit. It wasn’t OK the first time, and it’s happening more frequently.”
“It is not,” Mora admonished. “And it pays well. Or at least, decently.”
“You have an advanced degree. Why don’t you get a real job?”
“David, sweetie, I love you. Don’t make me punch you.”
David tipped back the mug and then placed it gingerly back on the coaster with a grimace. “Fine. I’m not your keeper, Cousin.”
“Damn right!” She thumped her palm against the table. “So, go get us all a round of shots.”
“You sure?” David asked.
“Yes,” she nodded. “The good stuff.”
“Tab is open,” Tyler told him. “Get her whatever she wants.”
“You’re all enablers,” David said as he got up to go over to the bar. “Terrible, terrible enablers.”
Heath shrugged. “There are worse things to be called.”
“Let’s not start a competition to come up with the worst,” Mora suggested. “We’re in a public place.”
“Agree,” David tossed the word over his shoulder as he made his way over to the bar.
“You know, we only ever come to Charlie’s. Doesn’t Kendall own a club around here?” Tyler asked.
“He used to,” Mora explained. “He put up all of his properties for sale, that his ex didn’t want to buy him out of. Except the apartment.”
“Kendall owns your apartment?”
“Kendall owns our whole building,” Mora replied, sipping her drink. “How do you think I got you such an amazing deal?”
“I didn’t think that much about it,” Tyler admitted. “Still, where can we go and all have a good time? Not that I don’t love watching the four of you drink.”
“We could go over to The Spot,” Mora suggested. “It’s an all-ages place. Booze upstairs only. Huge dance floor.”
“What do you say guys? Should we go dancing?”
“I enjoy any opportunity to flirt with attractive people and dance,” Jordan said. “Let’s do it.”
“After we finish this round,” Heath agreed..
“We can find you an evening paramour.” Mora smiled at him.
“Nah,” Heath declined. “Not tonight. But I’m up for other fun.”
She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Here we go.” David came back, placing the four shot glasses on the table carefully. “Sorry, Tyler. I figured you’d find it condescending if I asked for a shot glass of cola for you.”
“That’s fine,” Tyler chuckled. “We’re going to go to The Spot. That OK with you?”
“Sure,” David nodded, sitting back next to Mora. He slid the shots around the table to the other drinkers. “They’ve got good smoothies downstairs, actually. And a big collection of glass-bottle soda.”
“I like this place already.”
Tyler watched his friends knock back the shots. David took it coolly. Mora sucked in a breath between her teeth and shuddered. Jordan coughed with regret. Heath whistled. He shook his head, picking up his coke again.
A few minutes later, the others had finished their pitcher and they settled up their tab with the bartender.
“How far is this place?” Heath asked as they stepped out into the chilly fall air.
“About half-way down the block,” Mora replied. She slipped her arm around his elbow. “You worried about getting cold?”
“Nah, I’m built like a polar bear.” Heath patted his belly. “I got enough fat here to keep me warm, well below freezing.”
Mora hummed. “You’ve got more of a Grizzly thing going on.” She reached up to tug at the ends of his hair. “If bears are your thing, maybe we should go over to The Den instead.”
“Ah,” he feigned a worried look, “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
“Wait,” David waved a hand, “isn’t The Den where they have that men’s knitting group on Wednesdays?”
Mora sighed. “Men can be interested in the fiber arts, David, and still consider themselves Bears. Or Cubs. Or really anything they want. The Den is an open, welcoming atmosphere for anyone who wants to explore their masculinity in new ways.”
“You helped them with that marketing campaign,” he continued.
She heaved an even heavier sigh. “God, David, read the crowd!”
“They knit? Really?” Heath asked.
Mora pinched him in the side, making him jump.
“Okay! Sorry!”
“See the line,” she pointed ahead. “That’s for The Spot.”
“We have to stand in line?” Jordan whined.
“Oh, hell no,” Mora assured him. “You’re with me. I can get you into a lot of places.”
The guys hung back while Mora bypassed the line and approached the bouncer.
“Asim!” She exclaimed. “Hey!”
The large man at the door turned to look at her but did not return her demeanor. “How are you tonight?”
“I’m good, but I’ll be amazing if you do me a solid?” She grinned at him. “I’ve got more you-know-what, you-know-where.”
At that his eyebrows perked up slightly. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah,” she nodded, “I ran into Leo last week. He hooked me up. You can take me home when your shift ends. I’ll get you set up?”
Asim leaned over slightly to look at the line, then back at the door. “Yeah, okay, honey. You know I can’t resist my candy.”
“Is Mora a drug dealer?” Jordan whispered to David.
“Nah. She hooks him up with foreign sweets. She has a modeling friend that ships her stuff from overseas all the time,” David explained. “It’s legit candy.”
Asim was whispering something to Mora, while the people in line looked annoyed and antsy. When he’d finished, she grinned pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“Thanks, Asim. You’re the best. Text me when you’re done!”
“You got it.” He agreed.
“C’mon, guys.” She beckoned them and they followed her a little further down the street. They slipped into an alley way, lit only by a couple of safety lights near doors. She led them down to a green painted door with “STAFF ONLY” printed in peeling letters. She knocked out a pattern and a voice answered.
“Password?”
“Claudia,” Mora replied.
“Welcome to The Spot.” The door swung open and a petite girl with wild red hair opened the door to them. “Good to see you, Mora. It’s been awhile.”
“Hey Steph.” She pressed a kiss to the girl’s cheek. “You know David, but these are my friends. Tyler, Heath, and Jordan. They’re in a band.”
“Who isn’t?” Steph rolled her eyes. “IDs?”
“Sorry, she’s a New York Cynic,” Mora apologized, standing out of the way so Steph could card the guys. Heath and Jordan passed, already over 21. But Tyler had to get a stamp on the back of his left hand.
“A kitten, really?” He asked, blowing on the ink.
“Everyone likes kittens, baby,” Steph stared at him with widened eyes.
“Thanks, Steph.”
“Any time.” She saluted them. “Enjoy. 2-for-1 drinks upstairs and there’s a special on virgin daiquiris downstairs, if that’s your jam.”
“Let’s go check it out.” Mora lead the men down the hall and out into the club proper. There was a DJ booth that over looked two dance floors; one on the lower level and one on the upper. The lower bar looked steady, but not overrun.
“I’m dancing. Who’s coming with me?” Mora asked, walking away while the bandmates took in the venue.
“I’m going for another drink upstairs.” Jordan motioned upwards. “Heath, David?”
“Nah,” David shook his head. “I think I could use a dance. Tyler?” He held out a hand.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” David nodded. “I don’t like dancing with women. They’re too clingy.”
“You’ve never danced with Tyler then,” Heath teased. “I’ll go with J.”
The group went their different ways. By the time David and Tyler hit the dance floor, Mora had already found a partner in the form of a heavily tattooed, braided hair woman. David turned, putting his arms on Tyler’s shoulders.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve come to a place like this,” David leaned in to speak into Tyler’s ear. “I apologize if I step on your toes.”
“Are you sure everything is okay?” Tyler replied.
“I’m fine,” David assured him.
“People only say they’re fine when they’re not.”
“I can’t hear you!” David yelled. “The music is too loud!”
Tyler grinned, shaking his head. “Yeah, all right. If that’s the way you want to play.”
Mora finally noticed them across the floor and waved them over. She didn’t bother trying to introduce her dance partner over the music. The group let the rave beats do their work through a couple of indistinguishable songs. Then the Braided Woman kissed Mora goodbye before disappearing to a group of women on the other side of the dance floor.
Mora mimed a drink then pointed toward some tables in the corner. David nodded and he and Tyler made their way to save a table while Mora went to get drinks.
“So, now that we can hear each other again,” Tyler slid into one of the chairs, “you going to tell me what’s up?”
David ran his fingers through his hair, “It’s nothing. Just...” he blew out a breath, “I don’t like to make a big deal.”
Tyler folded his hands on the table and stared at him, waiting.
“I was deployed in Iraq for four years after college, and before I started working for the Montgomery family,” David explained. “Like a lot of guys, I came home with some PTSD issues. I got help and took meds for a while. I’ve been doing really well. Lately though, I’ve been having night terrors.”
“Night terrors?”
“They’re worse than your average nightmare. I have a hard time distinguishing dreaming and being awake. I forget that I’m home. That I’m safe. They take a lot out of me.”
“I’m sorry,” Tyler shook his head. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s just a thing I deal with. I’m going to be fine. Please, don’t look at me like that. There are so many other veterans out there who have it worse.”
Tyler pursed his lips. “You’re right. But you’re the vet I know, so I’m worried about you.”
“Acknowledged,” David quipped, “but unnecessary.”
Tyler blew out a sigh. “You don’t make it easy to be your friend sometimes, David.”
“I know.” David offered a soft smile. “I’m working on that too.”
Mora returned with three drinks. “I went out on a limb and just ordered us all virgin strawberry daiquiris. I hope that’s OK.”
“Perfect.” David plucked the lemon off the side of his glass and shoved it into the drink.
“Where’re the other two schmucks?” Mora asked, sliding into the chair next to Tyler.
“They went upstairs.” Tyler motioned upwards.
“Pfft,” Mora rolled her eyes, “figures. Boozehounds.”
“Heath maybe,” Tyler agreed. “Jordan is usually okay though.”
“What about you two? You were looking good on the dance floor together. You going to make this happen–finally?” Mora teased.
David frowned, looking first at her, then over at Tyler. “Eh...”
“I think it’s a soft pass,” Tyler finally replied. “Open for the future, but I’m not in a headspace for adding another layer of messed up to this ragtag group we’ve developed.”
“That is very true,” David agreed. “We are a whole lot of messed up here.”
Mora shrugged, sipping her drink, “A’ight. Just never say I didn’t try to lead you into the sexual revolution.”
“Trust me, you’ve attempted to lead me plenty,” David assured her. “To which I will repeat for the millionth time: I can find my own dates, thanks.”
“Who said anything about dates?” Mora rolled her eyes. “I’m talking about getting laid.”
David stirred his drink as he mused aloud, “I often wonder how different you would have been if I’d never invited you to New York that first time.”
“I’d still be here,” she assured him. “I’d probably be very boring. With hair down to my ass, deeply closeted, and handing out religious pamphlets out front.”
That got a laugh from her cousin. “You would not. You’ve never been religious.”
“True,” she admitted. “How are your drinks? Mine is sweet.”
“Well, I think they compensate for the lack of alcohol with sugar,” Tyler suggested. “I think it’s fine.”
She scowled a bit, swirling the glass around. “Maybe.”
“Everything okay with you?” Tyler asked. “Is the thing with the photographer still bugging you?”
She looked up at David. “You’re right. I need to stop modeling.”
David looked surprised. “You do?”
“I was never really interested. I did it for Chuck because I liked him and he saw something in me. Over time, as I’ve started working for more companies, it’s not fun anymore. And that tool bag today, was just the tip of the iceberg. I’m going to finish up my current roster, and then I’m done.”
“Good for you.” Tyler raised his glass to her.
“Of course, that means I have to find an actual job. The side-stuff I’ve been doing for Kendall isn’t going to cut it after the last of the sales go through,” she grumbled. “Shit.”
“You’ll be fine.” David reached over to press a hand over hers. “You know Martha will help you out any way she can.”
“Martha has helped me enough over the years.”
“Martha, as in Mrs. Montgomery?” Tyler asked.
“Oh yes,” David nodded, “Mora has wiggled her way into the highest reaches of New York society, with Martha Montgomery as her Gate Keeper. Where Martha hasn’t gotten her, Kendall Snow has.”
“Yes,” Mora agreed, “I’ve followed an illustrious set of coat tails.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” David admonished her. “You’re great.”
She rolled her eyes before casting them across the room, “Yeah, yeah. I’m amazing. I’ll be even better if that girl from before can hold a conversation for ten minutes. Or if she has a friend who can.”
“I think we’ve lost her in favor of libido,” Tyler spoke up.
David sipped his daquiri. “Yep.”
“Should we go dance again?” Tyler nodded toward the dance floor.
“Sure,” David nodded, finishing off his drink. “Let’s go.”