Whiskey for Elephants

9.

By the time Ronnie got back, I was making Chicken breast with thyme and lemon grass with a side of rice and bell peppers for me and Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs for Willow.
"It smells like someone crawled up Mr. Freezes ass and pulled out a mint leaf in here." He says, putting his gym bag down. I scrunched my nose at his comment but when he walked into the kitchen and stood next to me, he reached into the pan and pulled a piece of my chicken off and ate it. He smirked at me while he chewed, causing me to look at him. He was covered in sweat, his body glistened in the light. I could feel my face heat up as he smiled at me looking at him, taking in the sweaty, hot mess he was.
"Still think it's gross?" He says into my ear leaning over to snag another piece.
"Asshole. Shower." I say, as straight faced as possible. He chuckled while he ate and wrapped his sweaty arms around me. I didn't complain, but I did say, "no wonder you work out so much, it raises testosterone in you. Hashtag big dick energy." And playfully shoved him towards the hallway. On his way out, he hugged all over Willow who was grossed out and squealed laughing.
After us girls ate, I started getting Willow ready for the show tonight.
"Willow, come here!" Ronnie yelled. We both jumped and headed towards the voice. When she got there first, her demeanor changed. He was sitting on the table with his head resting on his hands, braced by his arms on his knees. His phone was on the table. "Why did your mom text me that she's on the way to get you?" She grimaced as she stood there sheepishly.
"Willow," I say, eyeing Ronnie's very angry dad look. "Go put your tank top on while I talk to your dad." Ronnie jerked his head up at me, in an attempt to stop Willow who was already running down the hall.
"Hey, you might be liked by her and her mom, but you don't get to tell her what to do. She's my fucking daughter, Danika." I lean against the counter, looking at his back in the chair.
"Let me see the text." He stands up, seemingly ripping the air as he did.
"What? You jealous brat-" I take a deep breath, and through my teeth, I speak.
"Let me see the text, Ronnie."
"You're not gonna find anything."
"I don't give a shit about what I could find, I'm just worried that you didn't use your context clues and almost yelled at Willow for no reason. You're not a shitty dad like you say when you're three sheets to the wind, but that's the first step." I say, finally just snatching it from him. "She even says comma right with a question mark which means you say yes but not until after the show." I say, shoving his phone into his chest. He was still seething, but now he was mad at me and not Willow. I grab my keys, purse, and phone.
"I'm going on a drive,"I yell, so Willow can hear. I lean and point to the hallway. "When I get back, you better have apologized." He stood there, chest puffed and frown deep as fuck.
"Real mature, cause an uproar and leave." I put my sunglasses on.
"I like it when you're mad, don't push it, though. Go apologize to the girl, maybe when I'm back I won't be as pissed." I say, opening the door. As I leave, all I hear from him is, 'So unfair!'.
And of course, when I leave, I leave to the venue to scope the layout and take notes. When I get there, I premise Ronnie's dressing room. I call for another mirror, his vain ass always needs a full length in addition to the vanity mirror. I was still mad myself, so in my red lipstick, I write that I was here on the mirror, then kiss the one they bring in.
I leave the venue, hit up a star bucks and sit for a while. I feel so grumpy now. Also feel kind of weird, but it'll be okay after the shows over and my week starts with Ronnie.
I leave to the Airbnb after an hour, when I walk in the door, I hear music coming from the living room and walk in to those two weirdos playing Just Dance, Michael Jackson. I stand in the doorway and watch for a minute before heading to the bathroom to shower and start getting myself ready. When I leave the bathroom, I walk to the bedroom and search my bag for the flannel. When I found it, I pair it with a white tank top, black jeans and gray converse.
I leave my hair wavy but I put it up in a high pony tail. The only thing I wear on my face tonight is chapstick. I search for my VIP Staff badge and pin it to my jeans. All of my work stuff was already ready in the car. It was an hour and a half until show time now. I sit on the bed, wind up laying down, and take a thirty minute cat nap.
After I woke up, I hear the front door close, the bedroom door open.
"I didn't know you were back." Ronnie says, gently. I wasn't mad anymore now that I'd had another nap. "I'm sorry about earlier. I-" He tries to continue.
"Shut up, Ronnie. I just think you jump to conclusions sometimes. You two ready?" I ask, standing up.
"Yeah, you look good."
"Thanks."
"Autobots," Ronnie says as we leave the Airbnb. "Roll out."
We pull up to the venue with forty five more minutes to wait. Ronnie was getting anxious on the drive. As we walk down the hall to the dressing room, I remember the lipstick. I chuckle.
"What?" Willow asks, tugging on my hand.
"Oh, nothing. You'll see." I say, scooping her up and poking her side. Ronnie gets there first, so I wait for the cue.
"Haha, very funny!" Ron says, so I walk into the room with Willow. He hasn't even seen the other mirror yet.
"Ronnie," I say coyly. "Let me look at you in this mirror." I tug on his hand and drag him over and stand behind him. When I see where the lips are on him, I open my eyes wide. The landed perfectly on his neck.
"I look okay what're you-Oh. Ohhhh.." The oh fades into a pouty groan as he turns to look at me. He hugs me suddenly and at first I'm confused and weirded out but then he kisses my temple. "I really am sorry about earlier. To both you and Willow." He murmurs before pulling away. He walks away from me and plops on this worn out couch, Willow plops on top of him. He groans but adjusts accordingly. I sit on the foot of the couch, his legs splayed over me as we watch TV to pass time.
"Hey, dude it's ten til-" Tyler bursts through the door, scaring all three of us. "Oh. My bad. What's up, Danika?" He says, stiffening up.
"Thanks Tyler, we know." Ronnie says, removing his arm from behind his head.
"Right, then," his eyes dart from us to the mirrors and back, twice. "Just wanted to make sure. See you out there, Bitch." He says to Ronnie, who throws his shoe at the man and misses.
A few minutes later, we're all up and walking. I'm wiring Ronnie up as we go, test our headset connection, send Willow to where she's supposed to Go.
Two minutes.
"You ready to go?" I ask, doing another once over of his frame and wires.
"Yes ma'am. All good. Where will you be tonight?"
"I don't know if I want to tell you, you called me on stage last time." I say, pulling on his collar to feign adjusting it.
"If I do tonight?"
"Who cares? I'll be sitting just off to the left with Willow." He nods. The nodding intensifies.
"Okay So when I call you over for Bad Girls Club you'll come do the cheer with the crowd?" He says.
"Well I-" I blink a few times. "I should have worn different clothes."
"Hey guys, it's forty five seconds til." A stage hand says.
"No, you're perfect. I'll see you!" Ronnie's running up now, so I go to the stage doors where Willow is. I hear him. "What is UP Ohio?! Sometimes, you just have to just Let me go, I'm on my own, I'm a rolling stone and I am in the zone," He transitions into rolling stone beautifully to start the show. Tonight was going to be great.