Learn to Fly by Heidi Hutchinson Page B

pull away.
    “ No,
no, no.” Lenny prodded, “You have a show tonight and you
need a healthy breakfast.” She unwrapped the hash browns for
him and raised an expectant eyebrow.
    Blake grimaced but
surrendered and took a bite. After a few more small tastes he
started eating normally and even asked for some coffee. Lenny sat
next to him in the booth and put her hand on his back. She ignored
Carl's watchful eye. If she expected these guys to be upfront with
her from now on, she was going to have to let some of her own walls
come down.
    Carl texted Luke and
Mike to join them and he pulled Sway and Harrison from their bunks,
literally. He was obviously still mad at them. They all gathered
around the food silently. Carl let them eat for awhile before he
spoke.
    “ Last
night was stupid.” His voice was calm but serious. “The
only thing that saved your asses from a full blown media evisceration
was this girl, right here, going all Chuck Norris on that idiot.”
He pointed at Lenny and the guys snickered quietly. “We’ve
got a few more months before we can call it a day, you know what I
mean?” They all nodded.
    The air was quiet
and Lenny was again struck with compassion for the guys. While she
was mad that they lied to her and Blake had come dangerously close to
alcohol poisoning, she understood how badly they needed to expel some
energy. They were rock stars after all.
    “ Thanks,
Len.” Blake gestured with his food and then looked down at the
table.
    “ Don’t
think you’re off the hook with me,” Lenny was stern, “I’m
still angry with you.” She sighed, “but I get it, more
than you know.”
    Mike’s brow
furrowed at her slight confession and he exchanged a look with Luke
who shrugged. Lenny didn't feel the need to explain herself. The
time for that would come later.
    “ Next
time you feel the need to prove your manhood, come and see me first.
I have some alternatives that might interest you.” She slid
out of the booth and started for the door.
    “ Where
you goin?” Sway asked.
    “ I
smell like a bar floor, I have to shower. You guys need to get your
act together. Just because last night was rough doesn’t mean
you can slack off at your show.” She almost cringed at how
much she sounded like her father.
    ***
    Lenny left the bus
and Blake swallowed another sandwich nearly whole and wiped his lips.
“That chick is a genius; this food is a miracle cure.”
He belched loudly.
    “ She’s
a lot stronger than she looks.” Sway said, tearing into a
sandwich himself.
    “ I’ve
never seen anyone so pissed,” Harrison agreed.
    “ I
wonder what she did before joining us,” Sway mused.
    “ Probably
UFC,” Harrison said, half-serious.
    “ Regardless,
this should be a good lesson for all of you,” Carl interrupted
gruffly. “Don’t cross her. She will mess you up.”
They all nodded solemnly and he added, “She was mad when we got
there but she didn’t ‘Hulk-Out’ till she heard that
asshat talking shit to Blake. You all know Lenny to be level-headed
and focused. Turns out, her line is you.” Carl let his words
settle over them before he excused himself.
    The guys chewed
quietly for a few minutes, thinking about what Carl had just said.
    Blake cleared his
throat, “Um, Luke?” He said hesitantly.
    “ Yeah,
buddy?”
    “ I
don’t remember a lot from last night…but I’m
pretty sure I told your girlfriend to kiss me.”
    Light laughter
erupted around the table. Luke rolled his eyes. “She’s
not my girl.”
    “ Not
yet.” Mike replied quickly, causing more laughter.
    “ Let’s
just drop that whole train of thought right now, okay?” Luke
was trying to look as serious as possible but the side of his mouth
kept turning up. “Lenny is off limits to all of us, remember?”
    “ Why
ya smiling?” Harrison ribbed.
    “ Go
to hell.” Luke picked up his coffee and left his band mates
laughing behind him. He went outside and stood in the warm sunshine,
trying to push their comments