Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
She nodded and stood. “What do you call yourselves then?”
“We’re the Sassy Boyz,” Z said. He stood close to Tam with his arms loose at his sides and his chin raised defiantly.
“Ah, you’re the group that used to perform at The Vibe, right? I’ve heard about you.” She tilted her head and studied them each individually. “I thought you were a four-person group?”
“We’ve expanded,” Tam said, casting a glance to Jae and Hop.
“I’m glad. There’s so much more variation. I saw you once about a year ago. You were good then. You’re better now.” Finally, she smiled.
“Does that mean you’ll hire us?” Ansel asked at the same time as Tam said, “Thank you.”
“I’d love to have you as regular guest performers but I can’t offer you the same kind of steady schedule you had at The Vibe. We’re more of a variety club. We get comedians, drag queens, singers, bands, Broadway actors and—” she gestured to them “—dance groups like you.”
Tam took a deep breath. Okay, it wasn’t the best offer but at least they’d have something.
“How often are we talking? Once a week?” There was a hopeful note in Z’s voice.
She cringed. “More like once a month, but I could get you in for your first show in a couple of weeks if that makes any difference.”
“Shit,” Ansel swore under his breath.
“Listen, I know it’s probably not what you want but something is better than nothing, right? And, how about this, I’ll invite some of my manager friends to your first show and maybe you’ll get a few guest gigs from it.”
“Of course, we’re happy just to dance and that’s a very generous offer. Thank you.” Tam hopped off the stage and crossed to shake her hand. “And sorry about barging in here unexpected.”
She shrugged. “An artist has got to do what an artist has got to do. I understand and admire your tenacity. Come to my office so we can get the details ironed out. We’ll need to be quick.” She looked at her watch. “My real one thirty should be arriving any minute now.”
* * *
“I thought I might find you here,” Driver said from the doorway of the basement laundry room. “The same place we met one week ago today.” When he’d called and heard Tam’s cell ringing inside the apartment he’d known exactly where to look. He hadn’t needed to come down, but this was as good an excuse to wash his crap again as any.
Tam grimaced. “Am I really that predictable?”
Driver came forward dragging his bag with him, counting each scrap of silk Tam added to his machine. How many pairs could one guy own? Driver only had five. “Apparently so since you’re washing your super cute panties again.”
“Hey, still not appropriate.”
Both palms flew up. “Right, right, my bad.” He laughed at Tam’s exasperation.
Tam’s golden locks swung across his shoulders as he shook his head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Truer words.” He checked the empty washer and began loading his clothes. He still hadn’t found a way to give back the pair he’d found. Hell, honestly, he probably never would. They were his now. A token of the guy next door that Driver could hold on to when he was back on the road. If that made him a pervert, well, he was okay with it.
“Why were you looking for me?” Tam stuffed the last piece into his machine and added the soap.
“To ask if you preferred Italian or Asian delivery?” His entire day came down to dinner with Tam, not that he’d say so. Some things a guy needed to keep to himself. Being a boring piece of shit with no life was one. He’d gone out. He had. He’d worked a couple hours at the construction site but that wasn’t worth talking about. Other than knowing which sister had betrayed her best friend on daytime TV, Driver was seriously lacking in conversation topics tonight.
That didn’t stop him from wanting to spend it hanging out though. And anyway, with Tam he didn’t need to fill awkward silences.
After a pause, Tam said, “Depends, what kind of Asian?” He started the machine then he pulled himself up to sit on the closed lid.
He had on loose shorts that gathered high on his smooth thighs and a basic gray sweatshirt that looked like it had seen better days. And still he was the most appealing person Driver had seen all day—all week even.
“I was thinking Ayama, it’s an Asian fusion place a few blocks away. I found the menu on Harrison’s table. Seems like they have curries and sushi and stuff.”
The way Tam kicked his feet reminded Driver of children on a playground. How fun would it be to go swinging with Tam? To play like innocent kids again. Driver smiled just thinking about it.
“Curry sounds good,” Tam said, eying him suspiciously.