Page 159 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
“That’s good to hear.Did you ever think you’d be double dating with Lena and Jimmy Ferris?”
I softly laugh.“Not even a little.”
“Me neither.”He lowers his face and sniffs my neck.And he’s not even subtle about it.“How do you smell so amazing?”
“Would you like the truth?”
“Always.”
I smile and shift in my seat.Because being closer to him seems like a great idea to me.It’s like we’re in our own little bubble of infinite possibility.And it is beautiful.“This is a distinctly unsexy answer, but it’s probably Jamesy’s organic diaper balm or the calming lavender lotion I put on him.”
“The baby needs calming?”
“Most of them do at one stage or another.”
“What’s that like, working with children?”he asks.
“It’s fun and challenging.Sometimes a little bit hellish.But what job isn’t?”
“This is true,” he says.“It’s not unknown for rock stars to act like toddlers now and then.But I don’t have a lot of experience with children in general.”
“Watching them grow and learn can be amazing.They develop so quickly in those first few years.Not just going from crawling to walking, but language and comprehension too.They’re kind of fascinating.”
“I can see that.”He turns back to the band, listening as they change to a folksier-sounding song.“How did you get into working with celebrities?”
“I was finishing a degree in early childhood development, and a friend’s sister worked as a personal assistant for someone big in Hollywood.”In an act of sheer bravery, I take hold of his hand.Underneath the table and out of sight, our fingers entwine.His hand is large and the tips of his fingers lightly callused.From playing the guitar, probably.It’s nice to hold someone’s hand again.To feel connected to a special person in a such a sweet way.“She heard that they were after someone young but qualified who could be trusted not to spill any secrets.It wasn’t what I was planning on doing, but the money was good, and the idea of being around people like that was intriguing.They traveled a lot too, and that was cool.I hadn’t been many places beyond the West Coast.What about you?Was it the link with your father that got you into producing?”
He nods.“He took me to shows with him when he could.Bought me my first guitar when I was seven or so.”
“What were your biggest influences besides your dad?”
“Music-wise, I like all sorts of styles.Mom had varied tastes and a great collection of vinyl.She liked playing The Pixies, Placebo, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ray Charles…I could go on all night.”
“I feel like we need to have a listening to music date.Not that this isn’t,” I say.“You know what I mean.Were you ever interested in being in a band yourself?”
“Nah.”He gives my hand a squeeze.“I prefer working behind the scenes.Touring for months on end isn’t really my thing.Getting hassled every time you go out…”
And it is funny he should say that because a beautiful woman is creeping up to his side with a piece of paper in hand.The bodyguard watches but doesn’t intervene.It’s not like she’s approaching Jimmy or Lena.But he does keep his eye on the stranger.She gives Dean a tentative smile and ignores me entirely.
“Excuse me,” she says.“Are you Dean Jennings, the producer who worked on The Sugar Bowl’s last record?”
“Yeah, I am.”
Her answering smile is broad as can be.“Oh my God.That album was amazing.What you did really elevated their sound.”
“Thanks.”
It’s the way Dean’s body language abruptly changes that bothers me.He releases my hand and turns away from me.Just enough to exclude me from the conversation.Not that I was a part of it to begin with because what do I even know about producing music?Nothing.It might be my imagination, but it feels like he doesn’t want to be seen with me.I don’t know.Any time I’ve been out on dates in the past, being suddenly ignored is rarely a good sign.And I highly doubt that has changed.
Even Lena is frowning in our direction.It’s not just me and my imagination.Okay.
Jimmy meanwhile keeps watching the band, spellbound by the music and oblivious to the drama.Not a bad way to be.The band really is great.I hope they have the opportunity to get their music out to people.
Dean and the mysterious stranger start chatting, and she tells him all about the music she’s been making.She sings, plays guitar, and writes her own songs.Wish I was that talented.My singing voice is best confined to the car or shower.Though my rendition of “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish is solid.Just take my word.I can’t catch much of the conversation due to the noise, but Dean seems totally engrossed.He doesn’t even spare me a glance.It appears that these two have a lot in common.Not to mention, the woman who is slipping him all of her contact details is gorgeous.Her head is shaved, and her cleavage is spectacular.She even has a cool neck tattoo.As if Frankie the supermodel wasn’t a big enough hit to my ego.
No.Enough of this negative self-talk.I am great in my own way.As for my chest, I’ll never have to worry about developing lower back pain.I can get around sans a bra with little to no visible boob bouncing.There are positives to everything.Maybe.But right now, I could do with a break from this anxiety-inducing situation.
“Back in a minute,” I say to a still frowning Lena.How Dean is failing to feel her eyes boring a hole into the side of his skull, I have no idea.But the woman has my back, which is nice to know.Meeting great people through my position with the Ferris family has been a boon that I hugely appreciate.
