Haunted(58)

I walked toward him and he had his hand stretched out. I put my hand into his, and he led me through the kitchen and we went up the stairs into our den. He closed the door. When he turned to me, he had a miserable look on his face.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I asked.

He seemed genuinely confused. I walked into our bathroom and put toothpaste on my toothbrush and brushed my teeth.

“I…I thought you would be mad at me.”

I finished a quick brush, spit, and rinsed. “Why would I be mad at you?”

“About Candy.”

“Babe, you didn’t invite her and you sure as shit weren’t flirting with her. Why would I be mad? Now Paul…”

“I thought you would be mad because I used to f*ck her.”

“Roman, I used to f*ck Eric all the time, and you have to see him every once and awhile.”

He cringed at my harsh language.

“Nope, in my mind you and Eric only had sex once and that was to conceive Joey. I imagine it was a very boring lay and I am almost positive you were wishing it was me for the full two minutes that it lasted.”

I laughed. “Roman, I didn’t know you existed when I conceived Joey.”

“You did. You probably saw me in a movie and subconsciously you imagined me while you were with Eric that one time.” He smiled a crooked little smile.

I hugged him because he looked as though he could use it.

“You know I love you?” he asked me.

I kissed him. He tasted like whiskey. “I know, baby. I really do.”

His fingers threaded into my hair and we kissed. That kiss held a lot of promise.

“Did I tell you how sexy you look in that outfit tonight?”

“No, but your boner whispered it to my butt crack earlier tonight.”

He laughed and I laughed with him. I took his hand and led him back to our party. We walked out into the living room.

***

Berg grabbed the remote and went to our DVR and found Rock of Ages.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I am glad that the others left,” Berg admitted.

“Okay everybody, this is how we are going to play this game. We can talk during the movie, but when the songs come on, we have to take a shot and sing the song. There are no exact rules, but if you are inspired to sing, sing. If you feel shy, sing with a partner.”

“What if you can’t sing?” Berg said pointedly at me and then he winked.

“Okay, you little shit. I am going to sing even louder because you complained about me.” I pointed back to him as I sat on the couch beside Roman. Berg and Eve sat on the other couch with Phoebe, and Dennis sat in a chair.

We went through the first nine songs and had a blast. Sometimes we stood and preformed, and for other songs, we stayed seated and sung. We paused the movie so Phoebe could have a bathroom break. Actually everyone needed a bathroom break. So we sat around and waited for everyone to go.

“You know, don’t get me wrong, I am having fun, but having two professional singers in the game, it’s just not fair,” Dennis said. “It makes the rest of us look bad.”

Berg stood. “Dennis, don’t worry. Beth evens it out because she sings so awful.” Berg looked down at me and stuck out his tongue. Then Roman’s leg shot out and kicked Berg hard in the butt.

Berg picked on me all the time, but Roman didn’t like anyone making fun of me. He was a little over-protective that way. Like with Candy, he would have never been so mean if she hadn’t talked smack about me.

“I believe in certain things in life, and one of them is to sing out loud,” I said. “Life is too short not to sing if you want to.”

Berg nodded at me because he got it. He’d almost died trying to save me. I thought we both embraced life a little more after that.

“Beth, what other things are you certain about in life?” Dennis enquired sounding a bit tipsy.

“I believe in certain things, such as Michael Keaton is the only Batman who really matters. Bon Jovi should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Spider Woman should have her own movie, because she is highly overlooked. And Channing Tatum is the only male who should ever dance to the song ‘Pony.’” I smiled while Dennis looked at me in stunned disbelief. Maybe he thought I would struggle with my answers.

“Amen!” Eve shouted. “Channing tore that song up with his dancing.”

Roman looked at me with a jealous expression. “When did you see Channing Tatum dance?”

He knew Channing Tatum was one of my five celebrity crushes. I could tell he actually thought I’d seen him in a club or something. I smiled and kissed his cheek. I thought it was cute how this gorgeous rock star of mine became jealous of other men.

Phoebe said, “He danced in Magic Mike, the movie. Hell, even Eve saw that one.” Phoebe pointed to Eve.

Roman and Berg frowned. I could tell that they’d never seen the movie.

Men…

Phoebe turned to Roman. “How could you not watch movies Roman? Hell, you made some even though your Bacon number is only a four.”

“What’s a bacon number?” Roman asked.

“Have you never heard about six degrees of Kevin Bacon?”

Roman shook his head.

Phoebe explained, “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a game based on the ‘six degree of separation’ concept. Kevin Bacon once made a comment that he had worked with everybody in Hollywood. I think these college kids invented the game and even wrote a book about it called Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Anyway, in the game people challenge others to find the shortest path between an actor and the handsome Mr. Kevin Bacon.”