9
Goon A Road Trip
MOLLY
“HEYTHERE,Miss Molly,” Donnie the bartender greeted me with a grin. “Back again so soon?”
Mynod was coupled with a tired sigh. “Ain’tno rest forthe wicked, Don.”
Andwasn’t that the truth? My weekend hadn’t been nearly as restful as I had hoped,and in the blink of an eye, it was Monday again. I was only playing the LocustLounge my usual three nights this week, so I hoped more rest was on thehorizon. But for now, I had to wipe the exhaustion from my eyes and smile forthe crowd. My bills depended on it.
Donniehanded me a bottle of water and I headed for the employee bathroom to applysome makeup before my set. Tonight, I was thinking something minimal. Maybe aheavy winged eyeliner, some mascara, and just a bit of lipstick in a “my lips but better”shade. I pulledmy cosmetic bag from the front pocket of my guitar case and set to workblotting my skin to a matte finish and doing my eyes with skilled excellence.
Iftortured adolescence had done anything for me, it gave me the opportunity toperfect the cat-eye.
Withinfifteen minutes, I was made up and ready to go. From inside the bathroom, Icould hear the murmur of the crowd, and I kicked off my shoes and gripped the sidesof the porcelain sink. In the mirror, I stared myself in the eye and muttered,“You got this.” After years of performing in the small club, IknewI did. I had confidence in myskills and my accumulated audience. But I still said it anyway, for that extrashot of assurance that this was what I excelled at. This is what I loved. Itwarranted only praise and zero ridicule, and with a solid nod, I left thebathroom with my bare feet and guitar.
Theyapplauded the moment I stepped up to the mic and surveyed the crowd. I alwaysknew to expect the regulars, and always welcomed the new faces, but tonight,there was also Chad. Not lurking in the back as he had done the first time hecame to my show—this time, he was right up front, and when my eyes met his, hegrinned boyishly from beneath the bill of his hat. The skip of my heartfaltered my smile, made me hesitate for just a second, before I was grinningright back.
AndI wished that this would be the best show I ever played.
***
“Molls,Igottatellya,” Chadsaid, bringing back a couple of beers to the table. “You’re really fuckin’good.”
“Yeah,whatever you say, Mr. I Play Sold-Out Shows with A Rockstar.” I took a bottleand clinked the neck of mine against his before tipping the brew back anddrinking.
Hesat down and met my eyes with a deep sincerity. “I’m being serious right now.You’re incredible.”
Hewas speaking sofrankly,I lowered my bottle slowly tothe table and canted my head to the side. “Okay,” I spoke quietly as I nodded.“Thank you.”
Hisgaze held mine for a few hammering beats of my heart, before he pulled hisphone from a pocket and laid it on the table. He pushed it toward me and said,“I want you to read this.” A text message window was open on the screen, and Ilaughed tensely.
“Wow.I can’t say I’ve ever had a man offer to let me read his texts before,” Ijoked, and hoped he’d laugh with me, but he only tilted his chin toward thephone and nudged it further across the table. “Okay, okay,” I sighed and tookthe phone from him.
Iwas looking at a group chat between Chad and the men I knew to be hisbandmates—Devin, Ty, Sebastian, and Jon. It had apparently been initiated byChad, with a message containing a video and a text that read, “Y’allneed to watch this right now.”
Iknew from the video still, that it was of me from my performance tonight, and Inarrowed my eyes with panicked speculation. “What is this?” I breathed withapprehension, knowing he’d never send a video to his friends to laugh at me,but still worrying that one of them might’ve responded with insults.
“Keepreading,” he instructed calmly, so I did.
Devin:Uhh, who the hell is that?
Sebastian:My dick, guys. Holy shit. It’s so hard right now.
Furrowingmy brow and wrinkling my nose with immediate disgust, I turned the phone towardChad and asked, “What the hell doesthismean?”
Herolled his eyes and waved his hand flippantly. “Ignore it. He doesn’t mean itlike that.”
“O-kay…”
Chad:That’s my friend, Molly.
Chad: Anddude, if you mention your dick when referring to her again, I’mgonnacastrate you myself.
Sebastian: Ilove when you get all feisty, baby.
Jon: So,when were yougonnatell us that your friend is amusical genius?
