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song, mate.” He let loose an evil laugh and hiked
his leg up to rest his ankle on his knee.
    “So what are you doing now?” He queued up the track he wanted to
play.
    “Session work, mostly. I heard you’re doing a comeback tour.”
    “Comeback? Cheers, Dave.” Surely it took more than six months for
people to think you’d disappeared?
    “You know what I mean. I’m not being rude, but you haven’t looked
too good the past year or so.”
    He’d seen the evidence in the mirror – the visible ribs, the dark
circles under his eyes, the sallow complexion – but it still hurt to be
reminded of what he’d done to himself. “I thought you knew flattery doesn’t
work on me. Are you angling to get up on stage with me again?” It hadn’t
exactly worked out brilliantly the last time. Sometimes he wondered if he
should have let Suzy back into his life instead of Dave.
    “I wouldn’t say no.”
    But he didn’t want to make him the offer. “Tell me what you think of
this.” He pressed play and let the music change the subject. If he knew Dave,
this would end up being a flying visit. He wanted to have fun while he was
here. And that meant living in the moment.
    He tapped on his ankle in time with the song. “It’s a bit of a
departure for you, isn’t it?”
    “Is that good or bad?” Playing for Angie had been the most natural
thing in the world. But Dave... Dave knew his stuff and now Noah’s heart was
trying to set some sort of speed record.
    “It’s good, man. Kind of angsty, but good. The emo girls will eat it
up with a spoon.”
    That wasn’t the type of compliment he’d been hoping for, but it was
better than calling it a dud. “It’s a market, right?”
    “Yeah, man. They’re not so keen on what I’ve got for sale.” He took
hold of his sizable belly with both hands and they both laughed. “What’s the
story with your assistant then? You been there?”
    “No. She works for me.” Not that he hadn’t thought about it. But
things were complicated enough as it was.
    “What happened? They cut your dick off in that rehab clinic?”
    “Some of us can keep it in our pants, man.”
    “Where’s the fun in that?”
    Noah shook his head. Same old Dave. Which made him dread what would
probably come later on.
    “Do you mind if I have a crack at her then?”
    He gave a snort of laughter. “Be my guest. I’ll lend you a basket to
carry your head in when she rips it off.”
    “No, mate. You haven’t seen me in action recently. She’ll be begging
me to take her by the time I’ve finished. Especially when I’ve had some of
this.” He reached in his pocket and brought out a bag of white powder very much
like the one Angie had confiscated the day before.
    “Put that away, man.”
    “What’s the big deal? Don’t tell me you’ve given that up too?”
    He shook his head. It was like talking to someone from another
planet. “Just put it away, okay?” The last thing he needed was Angie walking in
and getting the wrong impression.
    “Whatever. I guess that means you won’t be wanting any?”
    “Nope.”
    “More for me.” He put it back in his pocket. “So Angie’s fair game?”
    He almost told him she didn’t like to be called that, but something
stopped him. “Seriously, I’m tempted to let you try just so I can watch what
happens.”
    “You’re on. Why don’t the three of us go out for lunch and I’ll show
you how it’s done?”
    “We can go out for lunch, but I wouldn’t advise you to try
anything.”
    “Don’t worry about me. Worry about her when it’s time for me to
leave. She’ll be heartbroken.”
    Time to change the subject again. “Did you bring your guitar? We
could have a jam before we go out.”
    “Yeah. I’ll go and fetch it from the car.”
    Noah walked out with him. He was relieved that Angie stayed out of
the way. He’d seen the look on her face every time Dave opened his mouth. Lunch
was going to be interesting.
    ***
    I t made Angelique’s life a lot