Chapter 53

“I like this.” When he started stroking my beard, I almost jumped up to…to what? “Turn around.” He backed up. “Let me see.”

I did as he asked.

“Nice.”

“Maj…I have to say something.”

“Do me next!” AJ came up behind us. “I suck at makeup.”

“Swear jar.” Major held out his hand.

“Darn it. You got me.” AJ slapped Major’s palm. “I’ll be sure to throw in a buck later. We hit a pretty big lull with you gone all week, Sal.” AJ started massaging my shoulders.

“If you could read my mind right now, I’d owe you a thousand dollars.”

“Ten minutes to vocal warmup,” came an announcement over the PA.

“Then five to places,” AJ said.

“Make it twenty thousand,” I amended.

“Oh, Major D, did I leave a pair of black socks at your place?”

“You did.” Major went to the gym bag he’d brought along. “Washed and dried.”

“Well, you didn’t have to do that,” AJ said.

“No problem.”

“Hey…you having some difficulty there, Sal?”