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Chapter 10
�You have got to be kidding me,� Abe exclaimed, her eyes were huge.
�What�s the static?�
�AJ!� She began counting them off on her fingers. �One, Kevin needs to grow up and take responsibility for his behavior. Two, he prides himself on being Mr. Mature, but he doesn�t have the balls to call her himself. Three, it serves him right if she wouldn�t take his calls after what he did. He sided with her father. This brings us to our fourth and final piece of static, being you don�t mess with Grant Hancock. Damn it! Even Bridget Goldman�s dad is afraid of Hancock. This is why Nick turned him down, when he called trying to get him to call Hancock�s daughter.�
�Kevin tried to get Nick to call Dakota?�
�Yes! Luckily, I was here.�
�Well, hell!� AJ was flabbergasted. He didn�t know if he was more shocked that Nick had stood up to Kevin or that he was the second choice when it came to the shit work.
Abe�s cell rang. She looked at the display.
�It�s Nick,� she said as she answered her phone.
AJ grabbed his cigarettes and stepped out on her patio.
�Hi.�
�Hi.�
�How was the flight?�
�Okay.�
She felt every mile between Nashville and Los Angeles. Although, she thought the distance would be the same if Nick were sitting right next to her on the couch.
�Good. What are you going to do tonight?�
�Probably stay in.� He looked down at the Strip from his room at the Chateau Marmont. He wanted her there so bad his body ached. �What are you guys doing?�
�We�re heading to the Bluebird in few. Charlie Timmons is doing a writer�s night. He invited AJ when they were working today.�
The curtain slipped from his fingers. �Sounds like fun.�
�I think it will be interesting. AJ�s never been to one before. I�m waiting to see if he can actually go that long without talking,� she joked, wincing at how his voice had lost all warmth.
�Then I better let you go. I know what it�s like to get a table there. Tell AJ to have fun.�
�Nick!� She panicked thinking he had hung up.
�I�m here,� he said, but his voice was so far away.
�Call and let me know how your meeting goes.�
�Sure.�
�I miss you.�
He was trying to harden his heart and convince himself he didn�t need her there, but those three words punch a hole through that plan. �I miss you, too.�
She heard the change in his voice. �I love you.�
�I love you, too. Don�t let AJ keep you out too late. Just cause he don�t got the real job concept, don�t mean he can make you go to work tired.�
�I promise. You get some rest, too.�
�I will. Bye.�
�Bye.�
She stared the phone until the door to the patio slid open.
�How�d it go?�
�Fine.�
�That good? Was he a jackass?�
�NO!� She defended.
�All right! Geesh!�
�Sorry. I�m just worried about him. He�s going into the lion�s den by himself tomorrow. I hope he gets some sleep.�
�You could have gone with him. I can get myself to anything you set me up.�
�Let you drive my car,� she attempted to joke.
�Hey my driving fits in just fine here�
�That�s not a good thing,� she stated, a genuine smile curving her lips.
Dismissing her with a wave of the hand, he said, �I would have been just fine. You should have gone.�
Her head dropped. He took a seat next to her on the couch.
�What�s wrong?�
He was surprised when she lifted her eyes to his own that tears were brimming in them.
�He didn�t ask me to.�
Her voice was shaky as a tear broke free and slid down her cheek. He pulled her to him and held her as she cried.
�I�m sorry AJ. We don�t have time for me to do this.� She pulled away and began wiping at the tears on her cheeks. �Give me five minutes and we can go.�
His hand on her arm kept her from getting up. �Hang on. Don�t apologize for your feelings. He�s being �Nick. Don�t forget he loves you and he will eventually get over himself.�
�But��
�No buts about it. You haven�t done anything wrong. He�s being stubborn. Now. Go blow your nose. We can�t have you bein� all snotty on my first trip to the Bluebird.�
�Gross.�
�You�re telling me. I�m lookin� at you.�
�I should use your shirt to wipe my nose.�
�You are not messing up my clothes with your snot.�
�Will you quit saying snot?�
�Only if you get in there and get ready.�
She laughed, �I�m going. I�m going!�
*********
�This is cool as shit,� AJ said in a hushed tone.
�I�m glad you are enjoying yourself.�
�Nick didn�t tell me it was like this. You know people actually sitting and listening. Paying attention to the people singing.�
�I never got Nick to come.�
�Jack ass,� AJ mumbled, oblivious to the fact they he and Abe were not alone.
�Most people wait to meet me before they say that,� the man said.
AJ�s face flushed.
�I�m yankin� your chain, son.�
�Hi, Billy. AJ McLean, meet one of my bosses, Billy Patrick.�
�It�s an honor Mr. Patrick.�
Shaking the hand offered, Billy chuckled. �I went from Jack Ass to Mr. Patrick in record time.�
AJ sputtered.
�Yankin��chain. So, I heard you and Charlie wrote a song today.�
Abe looked at her friend.
�Yeah.�
�Are you gonna sing it with him?�
�Me? Naw.�
�Hmmm. Well, it looks like they�re startin�. I�d better get back to my table. Maybe, y�all want to join us over at the Grill after.�
�Sure.�
He tipped his hat as he headed back across the room. AJ watched as Charlie and three others took seats in a circle in the middle of the room. The Bluebird Caf� was a lot smaller then he expected and from the outside, it was very nondescript, just one more windows in a stretch of stores. Initially, he was taken back with how quiet everyone was when the writers were performing. Here there was a level of respect for the music that you didn�t get in LA or New York. People here took song writing seriously.
The first group to perform was writers new to the Nashville scene and still trying to �get a foot in the door.� The fact that they hadn�t yet made a name for themselves, didn�t matter. AJ was blown away by how good they were. After that set, was a group of more established writers, one of which was Charlie, the guy he�d written with that afternoon. They�d come up with a song that he really liked. Hopefully, Charlie would do it tonight.
Over the past couple of days, Abe had set up meetings with three writers. Charlie was the third meeting and they had clicked. Charlie�s sense of humor was just as irreverent as his own. While they talked, Charlie had strummed on his guitar, playing random chord progressions and snatches of melodies. One caught AJ�s attention, he had Charlie play again, and they were off. By the time he left, the song was done. He had thought it was pretty good, but now listening to these guys play a combination of the hits artists had recorded and new songs, he began to have doubts.
�I got a call from a friend a few days back asking me if I would be open to meeting a Backstreet Boy and seeing if we could maybe write together,� Charlie drawled.
A chuckle rippled through the audience.
�So, I met with him. I figured if nothing else, it�d make a good story,� he chuckled. �To be honest, I didn�t know what to expect or who to expect. Thank God for teenage daughters. So, I spent the afternoon with a gentleman named AJ McLean. Not only does the kid have a voice that�ll knock you back three feet, he can write. Course, I don�t think he realized that �til today.� His fingers played gently over the guitar strings. He paused and grinned. �We wrote a song together this afternoon. I�d like to do it now.� His eyes met AJ�s.
The audience clapped.
�To do it right I think we need a better singer than me. I invited AJ here tonight and I�d like him come sing it for you.�
AJ was shaking his head as everyone in the room looked at him. �I can�t. I don�t remember all the words.�
�He has the words. They�ve all been using cheat sheets all night.�
�Abe.�
�AJ, just go sit down and sing. Here you don�t have to put on a show. You just have to sing and you will blow them away.�
�Ya think?�
�I know. It�s time to shine.�
�Come on AJ,� encouraged Charlie.
AJ felt like his legs were made of lead as he stood up and moved to the center of the room. He saw the arched eyebrows and skeptical looks on the face of each person he passed. Sitting down by Charlie, he wiped his hands on his pants before taking the song sheet Charlie offered. AJ was horrified to see the paper shaking. He quickly rested his hand on his leg to steady the paper.
Closing his eyes, he allowed Charlie�s playing the music to wash over him. AJ focused on the written lyrics. His voice was shaking, but sounded clear. As he started the chorus, he stole a glance a Charlie and received a nod of approval. The other writers began to pick along, a sure sign they were getting into the song. AJ began to relax. Going into the second verse, he looked at Abe. She was grinning from ear to ear. Her smile was the green light he needed to let go and sing the hell out of the song�from the gut and from the heart.
She knew he could do it! His voice filled the room. It was amazing to see him in this setting. She felt the shift in the room�s atmosphere. Most of the people had expected to patiently sit through an okay song that was being done to stroke an out of town star�s ego. What they got was a moment when singer and song come together. It was even a bigger revelation to realize that this ex-boy band member had actually helped write the song.
The song called for a subtle ending and AJ delivered. He gently let the last notes float over the audience. When the song ended and there was silence, he thought he�d blown it. He was wrong. The audience was collectively holding its breath as to not break the spell he�d masterfully woven. When they breathed again, there was rousing applause.
Abe was glowing with pride. She wasn�t alone.
Billy leaned in and placed his mouth against her ear in order to be heard over the clapping. �After he gets a few more songs under his belt, I think that boy needs a showcase and I think are you the one to set it up.�
Abe blinked. �You�re kidding.�
�I�m serious..�
�But�I can�t.�
�Yes, you can. I�m giving you permission to work on this little side project.� He pulled away and grinned at her. �He spread his wings tonight. Now it is time for you to do the same.�
Chapter 11
AJ stubbed out his cigarette and immediately lit another one. He twisted his phone in his hand. Dialing, he put out the half-smoked cigarette, only to light another one while listening to the call go through.
�Hey.�
�Hey.� Well this was going well, thought AJ. �How ya doin�?�
�I�m fine. You?�
�Good.�
After a prolonged silence, Kevin asked, �What�s up?�
�Yeah. Well, I got this showcase thing happenin� Thursday.�
�Showcase?�
�Yeah. Abe�s helpin� me put it together.�
�Really.� The word was drawled out.
Yeah. So anyway, I was wonderin� if you�d come.� He gave a short, nervous laugh before reluctantly adding. �I asked Brian and Howie, too...but...you know...�
Kevin frowned. �Where is it happenin�?�
�Nashville.�
�Bluebird?�
�No, this place called Station Inn. You comin�?�
�I�ll be there.�
AJ breathed a sigh of relief. �Cool. Seriously. Cool...Do you need Abe to book you a place to stay?�
�No. I got it.�
�Okay. Well, I guess I�ll see you next Thursday.�
�See you then. And AJ?�
�Yeah?�
�Kick ass.�
�Dude! I�m all over it.�
Hanging up and stubbing out his cigarette, AJ walked back into Abe and Nick�s apartment. He sat on the couch and propped his feet on the coffee table. Lacing his fingers behind his head, he smiled.
********
Rich Tomulson stuck his head inside Abe�s office. �Add Ben Zuikker and guest to the list for AJ�s showcase.�
�As in Hancock, New York?�
�He left Hancock recently.�
Smiling, Abe said, �I see.�
�That�s my girl. Always thinkin�.� Something caught his attention down the hall. �Hey Nick.�
Abe�s heart started, he had said nothing about coming home when they talked the night before. She looked up to see him standing in the doorway, shaking her boss� hand. She felt the sting of tears. She had missed him so much. He gave her a tentative smile looking up at her from under his bangs.
�Don�t forget Zuikker,� reminded Rich, before heading toward his office.
�Got it.� Abe looked at Nick. �Hi.�
�Hi,� he said almost sheepishly, stepping inside.
She wanted to run to him, grab him and not let go, but her legs wouldn�t cooperate.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, before taking a seat on the other side of her desk. The distance that was there before he left was not closing at all. They both felt it. �Surprise,� he said, with a half-hearted smile.
�I would have come to the airport.�
�I know.� The phone rang, preventing further conversation. He watched her talk. She was so at ease. She belonged in this office, doing this work. He just wished he felt like belong there, too.
Hanging up, she asked, �How did things go in LA?�
�Okay. They want me to do another record for them.�
�Are you going to?� She searched his eyes.
�Don�t know.�
�I see.�
Deciding to change the subject, he asked, �What are you working on?�
Saying a silent prayer, she answered. �A showcase.�
�Oh yeah? For who?�
�AJ.� The color drained from his face. She had a flashback of how quiet he�d become when she told him about AJ�s night at the Bluebird. In fact, when she shared Billy�s idea about the showcase, Nick abruptly ended the conversation.
�Oh.� There was a short pause. �So, when is it?�
�Next Thursday.�
�Wonderful,� he said sarcastically. �I guess you expect me to go.�
�Why wouldn�t you?�
�I don�t know. Maybe, because it pisses me off that you are doing all of this for him!�
Abe couldn�t believe what she was hearing. �You�re kidding right?�
�I was thinking about not takin� Jive up on their offer, but now I think I will.�
�Why?�
�Because at least they�re interested in helping me make music.�
�Don�t be ridiculous! I�m interested! I�ve always been supportive.�
�No, I get it. It would be a conflict of interested for you to help your boyfriend, but not a friend,� he said scornfully.
She stared at him, baffled by his reaction.
He was out the door before she could say anything. Not that she could formulate complete sentences at the moment. Her mind was reeling as she tried to make sense of what happened.
He was angry with her for helping AJ?
A tear slid down her cheek as she whispered, �You didn�t want my help.�
Chapter 12
Abe lay in bed, listening. When she heard the sliding glass door open and close, she attempted to ease out from under Nick�s arm without waking him. He rolled onto his back. She hesitated, but he remained still. She quietly slipped from the room, heading for the living room.
In the shadows cast by the streetlights outside, AJ watch her stop at the entrance to the room. One side of his mouth turned up in a half smile. She looked cute in her pajama bottoms and one of Nick�s t-shirts.
�Shouldn�t you be asleep?�
�Shouldn�t you be,� she countered. Taking seat beside him, she asked, �How many more trips are you going to make outside tonight?�
�You guys gotta move out this place.�
�We are in a couple of months. Now answer my question,� she coaxed.
�Good to know y�all are moving. Sorry �bout waking ya� up.�
�You didn�t.�
�Why you ridin� my case when you aren�t sleepin� either? Why can�t you sleep?�
�I�m not riding your case. I�m just makin� sure you�re okay. I can�t shut my brain off long enough to go to sleep.�
�What are you thinking about so hard?�
�Your showcase tomorrow night. I keep running everything through in my head trying to make sure everything is covered.�
�I�m sure it is.�
�I don�t know. You know I�ve never done this before. I probably should have gotten someone more experienced to take care of this for you.�
�I don�t want anyone else. Abe, you are you and since you are you, then you have everything covered and I ain�t worried.�
She rubbed her temples as she deciphered his last statement. �I�m still waiting for an answer.�
He began to fidget, flicking his lighter on and off, watching the flame appear and disappear. �I ain�t worried about you, but I sure as hell am worried about me.�
�Why are you worried about you?�
He glanced over to see the genuine look of surprise on her face. Looking back at his lighter quickly, he let the flame go out again. �If I screw up tomorrow night, I don�t just fuck up my night. I fuck up the rest of my life.�
�Not gonna a happen.�
�Why?�
�Because you are you and I�m me and it�s not gonna happen.�
He chuckled. �You�re getting me back for that earlier comment.�
�With delivery, yes. With content, no. Alexander James McLean you were wired for this. It is what you do. Music is like air to you. I have absolutely no doubt that if you get up on that stage and just be yourself that it will knock everyone out. Just like it did at the Bluebird. Baby, that was stripped down to the purest form and you held them in your hand.�
�Damn.� His voice trembled. He wasn�t prepared for the onslaught of emotions her words brought. She really believed in him. The way his grandmother had. After letting everyone down in life for so long, it felt good to know someone had faith in him again. It was enough to make him think he just might be able to pull this whole thing off.
�I�ll make a deal with you,� she said.
He cleared his throat. �What�s that?�
�You get up on that stage tomorrow night and show �em what you�ve got and I will take care of everything else. Including all nerves and worries. Deal?�
�I want you to have fun, too.�
�I�ll have my fun once you have offers pouring in from people wanting to represent you.�
�You can be my manager.�
�No way.� She shook her head. �I�m not ready for the big time.�
�You think I am?�
�Have you forgotten you were big time? You never quit, you just needed down time to recharge your batteries. After tomorrow, I have a feeling you�re going to step right back into big time.�
Pulling her into a hug, he said, �You know Anna Bella you are very special. Thank you for doing this for me.�
�Anytime.�
They sat for a moment lost in their thoughts. A car driving by with a bass rattling the windows broke the silence.
�So you say you�re moving.�
�Yeah the lease is up in a couple of months. We found a cute house that�s not too far from the office. The rent is reasonable.�
�I want to see it.�
�We will drive by before you leave.�
�Cool. You know Nick�s never really had to move before.�
�He probably won�t this time.�
�You gonna hire someone?�
She slumped further down on the couch and quietly said, �No.�
�What have I missed?�
�Nothing, we can talk about later.�
�Abe, don�t start that shit. Tell me.�
There was a long silent moment. �He is going to take Jive up on their offer.�
His jaw dropped open. �What?�
�Not so loud,� she shushed, giving him a warning look.
He shook his head in disbelief. �We both know he might as well bend over, because that�s all they�ve done to any of us.�
�Hopefully, it�s different this time.�
It was AJ�s turn to give her a look. �You better hope so.�
�I can hope.�
********
Nick stared at the ceiling, listening to their conversation. Abe had kept him awake most of the night. She was nervous about the showcase. Just like Abe to put pressure on herself only this time it was worse because it was AJ�s career on the line.
He was proud of her for doing this, but it hurt, too. He wished it was him she was doing this for and not AJ. Of course, he didn�t need a showcase. He already had a deal waiting for him to sign. He felt guilty, because, without him telling her, Abe knew he wouldn�t be around during the time they were planning to move. He didn�t have a choice. Once he signed his contact, he would begin working on his new album.
At least she�d turned down AJ�s request to manage him. That would have been more than he could take.
When he heard them say goodnight, he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. There was no way he was gonna let her know how much he was hurting.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.
Copyright ©2004 All Rights Reserved No part of this text may be copied or reprinted without the author's permission.
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