Free The Story of Lansing Lotte by L.B. Dunbar

audition on Broadway.  I promise.”
    With that she launched herself at me and hugged me hard. When she pulled her head back, she kept her arms secured around my neck. My reflexes forced me to hold onto her hips, keeping her in place against me. She hesitated for a moment before her mouth crashed into mine. Her lips devoured me then she licked the outline of my lips and slid her tongue inside me. It was quite a surprise compared to the innocent kisses inside the opera house. I also realized she was more practiced than I originally gave her credit. It wasn’t terrible and I let myself be enveloped in her excitement.  It was nice to feel wanted by someone.
     

 

    I felt obligated to stop by to check on Guinie that night, to make sure she was okay. She seemed so fragile, despite her strength at kicking me out the other morning. Talia answered the door and told me that Guinie didn’t want to see anyone, but I knew that was a lie by the sound of Kaye’s voice inside the apartment. 
    “Don’t make me push open the door, Talia,” I demanded. Something in my face must have told her I was serious and she opened the door wider. When I entered the room, Guinevere glanced up and excused herself.
    Kaye was addressing both Tristan and Perk. 
    “It’s the only solution for now,” Kaye was saying.
    “What’s the only solution?”
    “Nice of you to show up,” Kaye laughed bitterly.
    “What?” I asked looking at Tristan, who only shook his head at me to ignore Kaye.
    “Kaye wants to cancel the tour,” Perk answered.
    I didn’t know how to respond. I knew it was coming. We couldn’t just postpone. We didn’t know if Arturo was coming back. We still didn’t know if he was alive.
    “What are you suggesting?” I asked.
    “Cancellation. We’ll have to fully refund.”
    “What?” Tristan choked.
    “What do you recommend? We don’t know where Arturo is. I’m gonna kill Mure Linn, if I ever see him again. That dirty old man knows something and he isn’t sharing,” Kaye replied angrily.
    “What about Ingrid?” I asked.
    “What about her?” Kaye defended.
    “What does she know?” I questioned. I didn’t believe she was innocent.
    “She’s talked to Mure Linn, but she claims she doesn’t know anything. Mure said to her he would handle everything.”
    “What does that mean?” Tristan asked.
    “Fuck if I know,” Kaye said slapping the side of his leg.
    I noticed that Perk wasn’t involved in the conversation. As a matter of fact, his interest was on his phone which he continued to text on.
    “Who is she?” I asked.
    Perk looked up at me when he realized my question was directed at him. He didn’t answer.
    “She must be really special. Was she worth it? Was it worth it to kill Arturo for her?” I yelled. I wasn’t sure where my anger was coming from, but I could feel my heart racing.
    “Hey,” Tristan warned.
    “We don’t know that he’s dead,” Perk replied calmly.
    “Well, we don’t know he’s alive either,” I added, still bitter.
    “He’s not dead,” came a soft voice from the corner.
    We were all frozen by her tone, but my heart melted fast.
    “How do you know? How do you know that, Guinevere?”
    “I just do,” she said defiantly with a glare at me.
    “How can you know? Has he contacted you? Do you know something, just like Mure? Just like Ingrid?”
    “That’s enough.” Kaye stepped into the mix.
    Guinevere stood taller against the wall corner. Her eyes narrowed at me.
    “Do you think for one minute that I would let this happen, if I knew something?”
    “Let what happen?” I glared back at her.
    “Concerts cancelled without a reason. The band arguing and falling apart. Losing a baby.”
    “You lost a baby?” Perk asked.
    “Perk,” Tristan warned then.
    “Where the fuck have you been? She lost a baby. Arturo’s baby,” I was yelling again.
    Perk looked at Guinevere, sadness immediately in his eyes. For a big man, he had a gentle heart; he didn’t deserve my