Free What Now? by Donna Every

know about prayer and
fasting?” she asked in disbelief.
    “Don’t sound so surprised. I’m not a
total reprobate, you know. Are you praying for my sorry soul too?”
    “I suppose I should be,” Shari said
almost guiltily.
    “Please do. I need all the prayers I can
get.” He sounded almost serious.
    “I’ll start, then. Getting back to Tim,
do you think he’s jealous of you, in light what he said before he stormed out
of the rehearsal in Vegas?”
    "What's there to be jealous about?
Some days I'd trade this life in a heartbeat. And other days I can't imagine
anything else. I'm beginning to think I’m bipolar.”
    “I’ve already come to that conclusion
and I’ve only known you for a few days.”
    He put up his hands as if to block a
blow.
    “You don’t pull your punches, do you?”
    “Maybe this is my delayed reaction to
the unprovoked attack in the limo today.”
    “Whatever happened to ‘turn the other
cheek’?” 
    Shari was immediately ashamed. She
should know better.
    “I’m sorry about that,” Nick apologized.
“I have no excuse for lashing out at you like I did.” His apology was totally
unexpected. She wondered how long Dr. Jekyll would be around this time before
his alter ego showed up again.
    “No, you don’t. I’ll put it down to your
split personality and I know I’m supposed to turn the other cheek, but I’m not
going to take your abuse just because you’re Nick Badley.”
    Nick nodded. He had a new respect for
Shari Goodwin. She was more straightforward than any other woman he had known
before and he found that very appealing.
     

     
    The
drive back was thankfully uneventful. Nick managed to keep within the speed
limit and seemed lost in thought. She assumed that he was mentally preparing
for the concert and didn’t try to start any conversation.
    They
pulled into the driveway of the hotel and Nick got out, handing his key and a
hundred dollar bill to the valet parking attendant who had opened Shari’s door
for her.
    “Look
after her for me, buddy,” he said, giving him a knock.
    “Sure
thing, Mr. Badley. And thank you!”
    “Nick,”
he corrected.
    “Sure
thing, Nick,” the valet repeated with a smile. Shari smiled as well. She liked
this Nick.
    “Thanks
for taking me on the drive and for sharing your stories with me,” she said again
as they walked towards the elevators.
    “No
problem. I find you surprisingly easy to talk to. I have to remind myself that you’re
a journalist,” he joked.
    “We’re
making progress, then. What’s this? We actually have to wait for the elevator?
I guess you need to remind the universe that Nick Badley is back in the hotel
and that you don’t like to wait,” she teased him. He smiled slightly.
    “Is
there a party after the concert tonight?” she asked, getting into the elevator
that had finally reached the ground floor. Thankfully they had it to
themselves.
    “Nothing
organized, as far as I know, but if there isn’t we’ll probably go to a club or
something. You game?”
    “I
don’t think so. I think I’ll have an early night. Brian and I plan to go into
town and do some interviews with your fans tomorrow. Find out what they thought
of the concert, that sort of thing.”
    “Well
I hope they have good things to say.”
    “I’m
sure you can do no wrong in their eyes. If you guys are partying tonight I
don’t think I’ll talk to Tim. I need to talk to him when he’s been sober and
drug-free for a whole day.”
    “I
guess you won’t be talking to him at all, then. Maybe Steve is a better bet. He
probably won’t be going to the party. He’s trying to be faithful to his wife
and I admire him for that.”
    Shari’s
respect monitor crept up a notch.
    “So,
are you coming to the concert?”
    “That’s
what I’m here for.”
    “I’ll
look out for you in the crowd. You’ll be the one that’s not crying or
screaming.”
    Shari
shook her head in amazement as she recalled the last concert.
    “That
freaked me out,”