Page 117 of Doc Rock
“Me too!”Scotty leapt up from his drum kit.“It takes a lot of energy to play and keep my guns intact.”He lifted his arms and flexed both his biceps, which were prominently displayed in his singlet.
Mai raised an eyebrow and said dryly,“Hmmmm, I remember your muscles being bigger. Must be the ageing process.”
When Scotty sputtered in indignation, Mai began to giggle.
“You’re still mean.”Scotty pointed his finger at her.
“Sorry,” Mai chortled. “It was too easy. You know you’re a great-looking guy, and yourgunsare better than most blokes your age.”
“Oh, my god.There’s the age thing again,”Scotty pouted.
“Stop fishing, mate,”Ford broke in and slung his arm around Scotty’s shoulder, even as he stared at Mai.“Let’s all eat. And get out of the way so they cangetthe audience in.”
Ford gestured to the bar, where—despite looking absolutely ecstatic to have Midnight Thunder play for the bartenders—the landlord was checking hiswatch.
Mai nodded and placed her guitar onto the stand on stage, grabbed her handbag and followed the band into the staff room they’d used to hide in before.
Pulling her phone out, she texted Sadie and Hel.
‘I’ll nip out and catch up with you guys before we play.’
Hel answered immediately.‘Great! I’m in the queue with Frost, they’ve just opened the doors.’
It wasonly a couple of minutes later when Sadie texted.‘We’re running behind. George is a massive Midnight Thunder fan and is collecting all his memorabilia up for you guys to sign.’
Mai snorted with laughter.“Hey, guys,”she asked the band.“Do you mind if we go over to one of my mate’s houses tomorrow for you to sign all her husband’s Midnight Thunder stuff. Or she’s never going togethim out of the house as he’s trying to find it all.”
Ford chuckled and glanced at the other two, who both nodded, before he answered for them.“Sure.”
‘Tell George to put it all back. I’ll bring the boys over tomorrow evening to sign it all.’
The bubbles of Sadie’s reply stopped and started a few times before a message finally came through.
‘I think George just had a stroke. Although if he has, I’m calling an ambulance for him and coming anyway. Are you sure that’s okay? He’s now dancing around our living room.’
Mai smiled as she replied.‘They said yes. So it’s a date.’
‘Amazing. I’m dragging George out the door as we speak.’
“Thanks, guys. I don’t think Sadie would’ve got George out of the house otherwise.”
Mai shook her head in astonishment at the turn her life had taken.
Four weeks ago, she would never have predicted that she’d be sitting with Midnight Thunder, waiting to play in front of all her new friends.
Chapter 40
Ford
The band sat together in the staff room, eating the burgers they had taken as‘payment’and listening to the pub fill up. Ford kept his eyes on Sie, watching for any sign of her panic returning, but she looked remarkably calm, and even slipped out for a few minutes toseeher friends.
“What time are we meant to play?”Ford asked Donnie.
Their manager checked hiswatch.“We’ve said eight-thirty until nine-thirty.”
Ford huffed.It wasonly eight.“Are all the ticket holders here?”
“Let me check.”Donnie nipped out of the door, a wave of noise washing over the room as it opened and closed. The pub was rammed full.
