Chapter 2Mars
February 20
Mars saw blooming recognition in Pax’s face and started to smile. It really had been a long time, nearly twenty years, since they’d seen each other. He knew he looked different: a short natural cut instead of floppy braids, clean-shaven instead of scruffy, clear skin instead of post-adolescent acne. And the name on the list—Mars Hudson, rather than Marshall—must not have flipped any mental switches. Mars would’ve bet Pax would now grab him up in a hug, and sure enough. He leaned into the squeeze.
“Marshall! NYU in the house! Where you been all this time?”
“Atlanta for a while, then Los Angeles, and now I’m based here in LV. When Scott rolled in last year everybody in the music circles sat up and said hey now.”
“I’ll bet! Holy s**t, this is great. We’ve got a
