Buckle Bunny by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Author:Pamela Fagan Hutchins [Hutchins, Pamela Fagan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Maggie

* * *

With Hank gone, the sparkle and rebellious triumph of the night fades for Maggie. Even making fun of Kaylee has lost its luster. Plus, Celinda is on the warpath. Apparently Chris isn’t that into what she has to offer, because he’s taken up with Fawn, right in front of her, not twenty-four hours after their hookup.

“Are you coming?” It’s Brent. He doesn’t seem angry.

“I didn’t think I’d be welcome.”

“The Maggie Killian I know wouldn’t let that stop her. Besides, it’s your tour, your van.”

Maggie takes a sip of her Jack and Coke. “Thank you for noticing.”

“And thank you for helping us pack up tonight.”

Which she hadn’t done. She rolls her eyes at him.

A shrill voice interrupts them. Celinda is five feet away, giving it to Chris with both barrels. She looks devastated. He looks relaxed, disengaged, and eager to shed her. During the entire exchange, Fawn doesn’t remove her fingers from the belt loop closest to the head Chris is thinking with. When Celinda is finished with her diatribe, Chris shrugs and turns away from her. Celinda stomps off in tears toward the parking lot. Davo—who has given Maggie a wide berth since their own altercation—runs after Celinda.

“That’s a shit show.” Maggie lifts her cup.

“The title of tonight’s reality TV episode is ‘Breaking Up the Band,’” Brent says.

Maggie slurps the last of her drink.

“Can we go now?”

“You’ve always been free to leave.”

Brent stares at his beer bottle for a second before shaking his head. “It must get lonely, never thinking about anyone but yourself.” He turns to go, but then doubles back. He has bright red splotches high on both cheeks. “I have to send money home to my wife and daughter. You need to pay me back. Now.”

A strange, prickly sensation floods Maggie’s face, then she realizes what it is. She’s about to cry. She grinds her teeth together to hold it in. Reaching in her purse, she finds Cristiano’s hundred-dollar bill, which she’d snatched from the tip jar earlier. She thrusts it at Brent. “With interest.”

The money and the man disappear without another word.

The Rodeway is close by, and Maggie decides to hoof it. She slips out of the bar and uses the walk to process Brent’s accusations. She’s not selfish, is she? A musician has to be singularly focused to succeed. She has that drive, that focus. It’s one of her best attributes. Brent just doesn’t get it. Which is why he’s backing her, and not the other way around. Or was backing her, anyway. Not anymore.

By the time she’s back at the hotel, she’s right in her head, with only a little tinge of guilt and doubt tugging at her heart.

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