“I knew it!” Gary shouted, as he headed for the van with his arms loaded down with cables. “He’s screwing her! I told you guys this would happen,” Gary screamed toward Buzz and Ivory.
Michael tossed his coat onto a nearby cocktail table and caught Gary just as he came off the stage stairs. Quick as lightening, Michael clamped his left hand around Gary’s throat, and pushed him up against the wall with a loud thud. His right hand coiled behind his head, balled into a fist, and aimed for impact against Gary’s face.
Michael’s speed caught Gary off guard and the cables fell from his arms. Gary stood there, arms flailing like a helpless rag doll, desperate to loosen Michael’s grip around his neck.
“I'm not screwing your ex-wife,” Michael spat his words between clenched teeth into Gary's face. “And I resent the fact that you're implying I am.”
An eerie silence fell around the stage stairs while the bodyguard swiftly flanked Michael’s right side, every-ready to quell a fight. Luckily, the only people left in the club were the wait-staff and bouncers picking up after a busy night. Everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard the raised voices coming from the stage area. You could have heard a pin drop. Annie was afraid to draw a breath.
“I think you should show her some respect and say you’re sorry,” Michael hissed, as he squeezed the flesh around Gary’s esophagus a bit tighter.
“Go to hell,” Gary coughed. Before the last word was out of Gary’s mouth, Michael’s fist began to throttle forward.
“Michael!” Annie shouted. “Don’t! He’s not worth it!”
The bodyguard caught Michael’s fist in his pizza-sized palm and stopped it cold before it hit its intended target.
“Okay people, fights over,” the low growl of the bodyguard’s voice called out to the few remaining workers in the club. Then his eyes shifted to Michael. “What the hell are you doing, man?” he asked in a hushed tone for Michael’s ears only. “You better hope he doesn’t press assault charges. That prick is just stupid enough to file just for the thrill of it!”
Gary stormed out the back door, leaving the cables on the floor and the rest of the equipment still on stage. Annie was torn between rushing to Michael’s side or following Buzz and Ivory. Sheepishly, she chose her band mates and began to head outside behind them.
Michael caught Annie before she reached the door and pulled her into an empty dressing room beside the hallway. “Look, I’m really sorry about that,” he said, pacing relentlessly back and forth in front of her. “Man, I haven’t felt rage like that in a long time. I really wanted to kill him.”
Annie snickered and Michael’s feet finally stopped. He turned and looked at her quizzically. “Part of me wanted you to kill him or at least hurt him a little bit,” she said shrugging off her ambivalence. Michael’s face softened.
“Hey boss man, we gotta hit the road soon,” the bodyguard called into the room. “People out here are getting nosey.”
“Yeah, I’ll be right out,” Michael yelled back over his shoulder.
“Good thing we have a day off tomorrow,” Annie commented. “I think the band could use some time and space after tonight.”
“Probably right,” Michael replied, his voice trailing off.
“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” Annie asked pensively.
“Yeah. I’m supposed to be seeing my son.”
“Your son?”
“Yes, I have an eleven year old son with my ex-wife. On very rare occasions she actually allows me to spend time with him.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm.
“You sound as if you don’t expect to see him tomorrow.”
“And you’re probably right about that. The visitation schedule has a way of changing last minute - every time.”
“Well, I hope you get to see him.”
Michael stepped toward her and stopped, gazing into her eyes. They stood silent, each wanting to say something but the words failed to leave their mouths. Annie had questions. Michael had the answers. They both wanted each other.
“Ah, boss…” the bodyguard’s head popped into the doorway again.
“Yeah, I’m on my way,” Michael replied. “I guess Bull is getting itchy. I better go.”
“His name is Bull?” Annie asked.
“Yep. It’s short for Bulldog.” Michael smiled and headed toward the door.
“Have fun with your son,” Annie said, as she watched Michael disappear around the corner.
Annie spent her day off catching up on housework and laundry. Through it all, her thoughts were consumed with Michael. She wondered how his day was going with his son, what they were doing and where they went. Was he seeing his ex-wife too? Maybe that was part of the deal.
Bottom line, she wondered if he was thinking of her as much as she was thinking of him. She seriously doubted it. By eight o’clock she had fallen asleep in bed while watching the television. Several hours later a low rumble woke her. She sat upright in bed, peering toward the kitchen door. A shadow appeared behind the window curtain that hung on the door and then she heard the knock. Annie sucked in a deep breath.
She darted from her bed and quickly peeked out a side window toward the driveway. The moon illuminated Michael’s shiny black Porsche. There was no time to change, put on make-up or, even comb her hair. She grabbed a satin robe off the chair and ran her fingers through her hair as she went to the door.
Cautiously, she pulled the door open a crack. Michael stood on the step wearing a white t-shirt and worn blue jeans with holes in both knees.
“Did I wake you?” he asked, his smile warming her.
“No, I was watching TV,” she replied.
“You’re a lousy liar,” Michael laughed. “Can I come in?” he finally asked. “Or would you like to talk through the crack in the door?”
She rolled her eyes at him and opened the door.
Michael stepped into the tiny kitchen and scanned the room. It was comfortable and homey. Then his eyes fell upon her. She was standing a few feet away from him, bare-legged up to her firm thighs, and wearing a sky blue nightie, trimmed in white lace. The robe she wore hung loosely at her sides. Her hair was loose and wild. His heart began to beat faster.
“Wow, do you always answer the door looking like that?” he asked, his eyes starting at her toes and working up toward her hips. He wondered if she was wearing panties.
Annie quickly pulled the robe tightly around her narrow waist and blushed till her face was hot to the touch. “I wasn’t expecting company,” she sighed, pulling nervously at the hem of her robe and nightie. It was a useless effort.
“Kind of makes me wish I was your mailman.”
Annie giggled at the thought of him wearing a postal uniform.
“Come in, the living room is in there. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll go change,” she said, heading into the bathroom, relieved to be away from his stare.
A few minutes later Annie emerged from the bathroom wearing a pair of boxer shorts and a baggy t-shirt. Michael was sitting on her couch, remote control in hand, quickly flicking through the cable channels. Annie stood, hands-on-hips, and laughed at the vision.
“That must be a guy thing?” she said.
“What?”
“Guys and the remote control.”
“Oh, I suppose so,” he laughed and turned off the television.
She sat beside him on the couch, tucking her slender legs beneath her as she sank into the flowered seat cushion. She was wondering why he was there; after all, it was against the rules -- or so he said.