Page 25 of Edge

He felt out of place, anddid the only things he could without looking like a complete dork:he continued to sip his rum and coke, and observed the madness.Alice, a pretty African-American woman, seemed to sense his “fishout of water” status and came over to lay a soft hand on hisarm.

“Hey, I don’tthink Jory will be much longer.” Her expression was sympathetic.“He’s a stickler for making sure the setup is what he wants beforewe perform, and of course, Dumont accompanies him everywhere inplaces like this to make sure no one gets their hands on Jory’sbooty.” She smiled wickedly. “I guess you’d know a little aboutthat, huh?” Alice let out a peal of teasing laughter.

Damian grinned. “I’m notsure. We’re good friends.” He wasn’t certain what kind of storyJory had told his crew about their relationship, and a fewincredible nights of getting off down and dirty didn’t make themready to swear undying love.

At least that’s whatDamian told himself.

Sooty cackled loudly.“Well put, Alice. Our Jory has been a little preoccupied lately andI’m guessing this is the man who has his brain allaflutter.”

Damian warmed at thethought even though he wasn’t truly convinced he was having as muchof an effect on the sexy, moody singer as they believed. Still, itwas pretty cool they thought so. Jory must’ve said something tomake them think it, and then there was the curious comment aboutJory’s brain being aflutter.

Their chatting wasinterrupted by the strident tone of an unwelcome yet familiar,demanding, almost militaristic voice. “Is he around? I need to seehim. Urgently.”

Alice frowned and Sootyturned around slowly, her top lip curling. Damian twisted about andsaw Roger standing there. He was dressed in dark blue chinos, abutton-up white shirt with a cardigan draped elegantly around hisshoulders. Damian thought his clothes looked a little big for him,as if he’d lost weight. Roger ignored everyone except Sooty as hetwirled a peremptory finger towards her.

“Well, whereis he? Please tell someone to find him and tell him I need to speakto him.”

Damian couldn’t help hisgrin as Sooty strode towards Roger like a mantis about to eat hermate. Alice muttered something intelligible about getting ready anddisappeared into the throng.

“Roger, hownot so nice to see you,” Sooty cooed. “It’s been ages since youcame to one of his concerts. I think the last one was in Birminghamif I recall?”

Roger scowled and lookeddown at his watch, a fancy piece of extravagance. It looked like aRolex, but Damian wasn’t tuned in to watches costing more than heearned in a year, perhaps two. “I have no desire to get into itwith you, Ms Marcus. All I want to do is see Edge about a personalmatter. Now can you arrange it or not?” His eyes darted around theroom like marbles rolling around in his head.

What the hellis wrong with him?

Sooty shook her head.“I’m afraid not. He’s around, but he’ll be getting ready to go onstage right now. The show kicks off in a half hour. I’m sorry, butyou’ll have to give your little impromptu, disruptive meeting amiss.” She winked at Damian. Roger noticed and his lips pursed in amoue of distaste as he regarded Damian.

“Oh, it’s youagain. I’m sorry I don’t recognise you with your clothes on andwithout your pecker hanging out. Honestly, where does Edge find youpeople? He must have had to do a lot of bottom-feeding to allow youinto his fuck harem.”

The vein in Damian’s headbegan to throb. Christ, this guy was an arsehole. Why did Jory putup with him?

“At least hewants me here,” Damian remarked conversationally. “Let’s see.” Heput his forefinger to his chin. “Before we left, I seem to rememberhim saying, ‘I hope that fucker Roger doesn’t show his ugly facetonight. I have a baseball bat I’d like to introduce himto.’”

Sooty chuckled as Roger’sface turned puce. “Why, Damian, I think I might have heard Joryexpress the same sentiment.” Her face darkened. “We’re about to gobackstage, Roger. Might I suggest you find your seat? I do hope youenjoy the show.”

She took Damian’s handand tugged him to follow along towards the backstagearea.

“The mandrives me meshugganah,” she muttered as she swept forward, still holding Damian’shand. “He is a pig. Not fit to grace anyone’s presence.”

“So why thehell does Jory live with him?” Damian sidestepped a sound engineerand managed to stumble over a speaker without incident. “He’s soclose-mouthed about why they’re together, yet no one, includinghim, can stand the man, who’s as weird as he’sintrusive.”

Sooty sighedloudly as they arrived at the door. “Boychik, it’s something we’ve allasked him. Like you, he gives us no explanation.” She knockedloudly on the door to the dressing room. “We’re coming in, hideyour dangly bits.”

Without waiting for ananswer, Sooty entered the room, Damian hot on her heels. She let goof his hand and walked over to Hannah and Alice, who sat onupturned crates in front of a larger dressing table mirror. The twowomen were having their makeup done while having their hairstyled.

“Sooty, youlook gorgeous as usual.” Alice and Sooty air-kissed, then it wasHannah’s turn. “The lavender shade looks good on you.”

Sooty twirled,highlighting her trendy-cut pantsuit and pale grey shirt. Itmatched her curly, blow-dried, grey hair. She was the epitome ofolder woman chic. “Thank you, darling. You look dashing too. Thebronze colour suits you.” She looked over to where a young man sat,one Damian hadn’t met yet. He had a bandanna around his foreheadand sported a pair of leather trousers with a matching jacket. Hewore no shirt underneath and his dark-toned skin shone under thelights.

“Bernard,sweetheart, come over here and meet Jory’s friend Damian. I don’tthink the two of you have had the pleasure yet.”

Bernard ambled over withan easy smile and held out a hand for Damian to shake. “Good tomeet you at last, mate. I thought Jory was making up his boyfriend,but here you are.”

“Boyfriend?”Damian squeaked. “Oh, I, erm, I’m not sure we’re quite thereyet.”

Joryintroduced me as his boyfriend? Holy crap, what a step forward fromwhere I thought we were.

Bernard laughed, a deepbelly rumble. “Maybe I jumped the gun, but the way he talks aboutDamian this, Damian that, I thought for sure you two were an item.My bad.” Somewhere, a loud gong sounded and Bernard turned aroundand gestured to Hannah and Alice. “And there’s our cue to get outthere and join the boss. See you later, peeps. Wish usluck.”