Free The Rock Season by R.L. Merrill Page B

drink on the job.”
     
    McShane
     
    I spun around at the sound of the voice I’d been dreaming of hearing again and stood inches from the Goddess.
    “Hey,” I said, somewhat breathlessly. “I wondered if I’d see you.” Dumb! Jesus, I had no idea how to talk to this woman. She had me all tied up in knots just from standing close to her. Tonight she was wearing slim, black cargo pants and a distressed to the point of see-through, light grey shirt over a white cami. She was resplendent! Her long, red curls were falling down her shoulders and her back and she smelled like the ocean. I was really going to die.
    “I saw you before the Trees started, but then you disappeared. So. Hi.” She blushed and I realized she was just as nervous. We stood there staring at each other until I heard a throat clearing.
    “Are you going to order something,” the man behind her said and I shook myself.
    “Yeah, sorry. Can I get you a drink,” I asked her and she smiled.
    “Sure. I’ll have a Diet Coke.”
    I smiled at her and turned to order for us. I opted for the same. I didn’t want to have anything clouding my brain right now. I felt like this was my opportunity and I didn’t want to fuck it up.
    I picked up our drinks and handed one to her, delighted when her hand grazed mine. “Can you talk for a minute,” I asked, praying she’d say yes. I assumed she was with her friend, but I knew we wouldn’t be able to talk if we went back to the seats. Her eyes brightened and she nodded. I led her over to a picnic table that was empty and she sat across from me. The sun was setting behind her and her hair was alive with fire. She was growing more beautiful by the minute. I was growing more dumbstruck.
    “I thought you’d be working,” she said and I shook my head.
    “No. Tyson, the guy I was with? He’s the general manager here and he wouldn’t let me work because I got stitches from the other night. He made me stay and watch the show instead.” I took a drink of my soda, my mouth going dry from nerves. She looked concerned.
    “You ended up with stitches? Ouch! Are you ok? You didn’t get a concussion or anything, did you?”  
    I shook my head and felt my mouth split into a stupid smile. She was asking about my boo boo. God damn she was sexy.
    “I’m fine. I was upset that I had to leave so soon the other night. I didn’t even catch your name.”
     She did that blushing thing that went down her neck and down the front of her… “You didn’t, that’s true,” she said slyly. Ok, innocent, concerned, playing games with me. My head was spinning. She gave me a break. “You’re a music junkie, right?” Ok, not what I thought she was going to say.
    “I am. What gave it away?”  
    She shrugged and narrowed her eyes at me. “I can just tell. I figure if you’re working security here you either get off on knocking drunk people around or you like the music. Am I right? It’s because you like the music?”
    I laughed. She was trying to figure me out. This was good. Scary, but good.
    “I do like the music. I don’t really like to knock drunken people around unless they act stupid. Then it’s just karma.”
    She laughed and said, “Very true. Ok. So you are a music junkie. If I told you I was named after a very famous female rocker, you think you could guess?”  
    I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, desperate for the oxygen necessary to make an intelligent guess. “Hmmm...If I was going by looks, I might say Janis, but if I was going by coolness factor I might guess...Wait. I need more info.”
    She laughed, her eyes crinkling on the sides. “Ok. You can ask me one question.”
    I nodded. “Fair enough. What kind of car did your parents drive growing up?”  
    She burst out laughing and took a minute to collect herself. “Um, a Volkswagen bus.”
    Hmmm, that could mean one of two possibilities. “The best I can do is narrow it down to two with that information.”
    She raised an eyebrow and