"Anise," I correct, my voice strained because if I breathe, I'm going to laugh, and if I fucking laugh, our cover is blown and Carmine will think we're mocking him and he'll hit the roof.
Literally.
As in, he'llgo up to the roof,where I'm positive Bells is getting railed by Rex because my alpha instincts are flaring in instinctive possessiveness right now and there has to be a reason for that.
And Rex would fold Carmine like a pretzel.
Carmine consults his tablet. "That's what I said. Star anus."
Raf makes a sound like the air being slowly squeezed out of a balloon. "Anise. An-ees."
"Andgalangal," Carmine says, mercifully moving on.
"Thai cousin of ginger," I confirm, clearing my throat. "Life-changing."
Carmine stares at me. "These are cooking spices," he says slowly.
"They're versatile."
"You told me these weredrugs."
"No,Rafaeltold you these were drugs. I was trying to correct him."
"That isnotwhat happened," Raf mutters.
Carmine drags his hand down his face. "I Googled galangal. I was on the phone with Meridian's legal team asking if galangal use could violate morality clauses."
"Can it?" I ask.
"It's aroot vegetable, Phoenix."
"So that's a no."
Carmine sets his tablet down on the mixing console with deliberate care that suggests he'd prefer to throw it. "I need you to understand something. I have managed bands through heroin relapses, DUI arrests, paternity scandals, and one incident involving a stolen horse. Ahorse.I can handle drugs. What Icannothandle is being lied to aboutspices."
I open my mouth.
"If you say 'technically galangal is a rhizome,' I will terminate my contract tonight."
I close my mouth.
Raf coughs.
"The truth," Carmine says, fixing me with those gray eyes, "is that none of you are on anything. Are you?"
"Technically, Raf and I smoke weed and Bells drinks those energy drinks that could probably strip paint off a car. Uh. That's about it."
Carmine stares at us for a long beat.
"You're telling me the hardest substance in this band isweed."
"And the energy drinks," Raf adds. "Those things are genuinely terrifying. Bells likes this one called Unicorn Cumboost?—"
"Unbelievable." Carmine picks his tablet back up.
"Sorry to disappoint," I say mildly.
"Don't be. This is the best news I've gotten all week." He sighs and taps something on the screen. "Now where the fuck are your singer and guitarist? I didn't drive this far to research seasoning."