Page 55 of Make Me Laugh

I can’t take my fucking eyes off her…

And I guess it’s about time I stop trying to lie to myself and admit that I’m absolutely gone for Josette whatshermiddlename Daniels.

God-fucking-damn-it.

I don’t even know her middle name, and I’ve already asked her to come on tour with me… Thrice!

I’m frustrated by all of it—trying to figure out why I care so much about a woman I barely know. But that’s the thing, right?

It’s that I don’t know her all that well, but I want to, and I can honestly say I’m on unfamiliar ice here. My next move could end in tragedy, or I could live to see another day.

Living to see another day would be ideal, particularly because I’ve already used my second chance, and I’m not really sure I’m the type of guy who gets a third.

I don’t know what love’s supposed to feel like. I’ve never been in love. I don’t have a story about a girl from my hometown who broke my heart and scarred me. There have been plenty of women along the way, especially over the last couple years, but not a single one who’s made me feel alive. I’ve been numb for a long time.

Joey makes me feel something, and I might not know what it is yet, but I’m determined to figure it out.

I do know what love looks like though. My parents slow dance in the kitchen when they think no one’s watching. My dad pretends to be annoyed when my mom brings home a new rescue animal, just because he knows she likes to think she’s convinced him with whatever sad story the poor critter has. My mom told my dad twenty years ago that she’s afraid of the snakes that get into our chicken coop sometimes. He’s been coming to her rescue ever since, being the hero and releasing the snake somewhere away from our property. Mom made me promise to never tell him her secret when I caught her picking up a snake barehanded in the barn when I was sixteen.

“Numbers.” Joey finally breaks the silence. “I need numbers.”

I don’t think I can move, but at least I’m no longer holding my breath, waiting for someone to talk. It’s not often I’m at a loss for words.

Enzo nods, because he’s similar in a way. When he decided to take a break from cyber security and come with me on this tour as my manager, it had taken weeks to make the decision. He had to mull over every detail and what-if at least four-thousand times each.

Me? I typically don’t think before I do. “I’ll figure it out later” has always been my motto.

Enzo pulls his phone out of his pocket, tapping a few times before handing it over to Joey. “The top is estimated total income this month based on ticket sales alone, and if you keep scrolling, you’ll see all the financials since the beginning of the tour.”

Joey nibbles on the inside of her lip as she scrolls, and I wonder if she’s aware she does it when she’s deep in thought. She hands the phone back to Enzo. “When do the new show’s tickets go on sale?” she asks.

“They’ll all be posted and available no later than Friday. I negotiated a higher percentage based on demand too.” I’m feeling like an outsider in my own business, because I had no idea he’d done that.

I stand by the front door, sticky with sweat, staring like some kind of child watching the adults talk. I actually really fucking hate it, but it’s no one’s fault but my own for not knowing what’s going on beyond the surface level stuff.

“What’s your budget for social media?” I hear Joey ask, growing more annoyed that I can’t be the one to answer.

“Why are you asking all these questions if you’re not even staying?” The words are out of my mouth before I realize I’ve asked them.

Kell stops slurping the last of the milk in his bowl when Joey scrunches her brows and turns to me.

Pretty sure everyone in the room can hear me swallow and no one breathes.

Joey doesn’t look mad, but she’s masking her emotions again, not allowing anyone to know her next move. It’s Hex who’s looking at me right now, not Joey. “Well, West, I’m asking questions because if I’m to consider the offer, there needs to be an offer.”

I open my mouth to rebuttal whatever sass she gives but stop and snap my jaw closed, reopening only to ask, “huh?”

Enzo sighs, but I pay him no mind because I think I heard Joey say she’s considering staying?

Her chuckle makes me shiver. God, this woman! I feel like she’s put my brain inside a tornado and set it loose in my head.

“For the right price and percentage of the brand deals I’ll inevitably get you, I’d consider taking the position.” She takes a sip of coffee, and adds, “I womaned up and checked the severance package I’m receiving from my former employer, and it’s worse than laughable, but it’s not worth wasting the money to take them to court for more when they’re flat-ass broke. So, if this is a job offer, then make an offer.”

I’m not sure how she’s so calm during a conversation like this because I’m sweating worse than I did during my run. I can only imagine what I look like right now… Probably pale, hair stuck to my forehead, eyes wide, panting like I sprinted a marathon.

“What’s your bottom dollar?” Enzo asks calmly.

The stare Joey levels on Enzo isn’t one I’d like to be on the other side of. I see the VP now. “What’s your top dollar?” she counters with an almost light and playful tone.