Lennon's Jinx by Chris Myers Page B

Zoe, and that’s because his little sister was
killed.
    “What’s
the story with Jinx?” Clive asks.
    “Who’s
Jinx?” Susan puts a possessive hand on Danny Boy’s thigh. He kisses her cheek
and lays his hand over hers.
    I
don’t get it with him. He could have a different girl every night, so why does
he put up with her jealousy? “Jinx is our new keyboard player.”
    “Oh?”
Worry creases Susan’s brow. A lot of girls hit on Danny Boy, and she doesn’t
like it one bit. I can tell she doesn’t want full-time competition from a girl
in the band. Her insecurity would drive me crazy.
    “What’s
the deal with Jinx?” Danny Boy shows interest, and flames fly in Susan’s
chocolate brown eyes. Looks-wise, she is quite breathtaking. Tall, leggy, with raven
hair.
    “Jinx
sits next to me in choir. Has never given me the time of day or any other guy, except
Zach. She has a kickass voice.” I won’t deny that or her pretty hair.
    Clive
nods at a girl a few tables down. They’ve been eyeing us since we got here.
“Why the beer bath?”
    I
give them the rundown, ending with Jinx calling me a pig.
    “Honestly,”
Susan starts, “you’ve been called a sleaze, dirt-bag, scum-of-the-earth, womanizer,
lady-killer, and slut to name a few. Pig seems rather tame.”
    “Wow,”
I say. “I didn’t realize you were keeping track. I’m not that bad. Am I?”
    “You
are,” she says. Danny Boy gives her the look, saying that’s enough. Susan
doesn’t listen well. She has her own mind. Another attribute I don’t admire in
her.
    “Other
couples were hooking up in the bedrooms,” I say. “Jinx just doesn’t like me.”
    “She
joined our band,” Danny Boy says.
    “She
didn’t want you in that room and then you were rude to her.” Susan sips on her
drink. “Pig, well deserved, among other things.”
    “Thanks,
Susan. I feel so much better now,” I say.
    “Just
trying to help out.”
    Danny
Boy shakes his head at her. “Maybe it bothers you because you like her,” he
says.
    I
snort out a laugh. “She’s not even my type. She’s a virgin, and she hates my
guts.”
    “There’s
always a first time for everyone,” Clive says. “It’s the challenge that makes
her interesting. You said virgin?”
    “Yes,
and no it doesn’t.” The only attraction is physical. I have that all the time,
but I’ve learned to keep my hands off virgins. I don’t like getting slapped or the
thought of ruining a girl’s first time. Their expectations are maxed out for
that one. “Enough about me.”
    “Why
don’t we chat up those fit birds over there?” Clive asks. “I think I fancy that
redhead after meeting Jinx.”
    I
scoot my chair back to get up when Jinx flashes through my mind. I stumble a
bit before reminding myself that I have zero interest in her.
    “Trouble
at two o’clock,” Danny Boy says.
    Bailey
sways into the club with her friend Tanya. Tanya spots her friends and waltzes
over to them. Bailey’s gaze locks onto me. Hurt riddles her expression. I told
her I had to stay home with Currie, but that was before Mrs. Nowak offered to
take the girls for the night. I get the feeling that won’t matter.
    She
storms over to us, knocking over a chair on her way. “How could you?”
    The
nearby tables gaze at us.
    Tanya
glances up from her friends and decides to stay put. Anger flashes across
Bailey’s pretty gray eyes.
    “Bailey
is hot,” Clive whispers in my ear, “but you’re on your own, brother.” He walks
over to the table of girls who were checking us out earlier.
    “Thanks,”
I mutter.
    “We
need to talk,” she says.
    I
cup her elbow to lead her to the back band room. She shakes off my hand and
walks beside me. “You lied to me. I knew you’d be here when Mrs. Nowak took the
girls.”
    “I
didn’t lie to you. I tried to find you after the show to let you know.”
    Bailey
holds up her cell phone. “What? You forgot how to use this?”
    I
stare at the concrete floor. I can’t face her. Jesus