Rock Radio (15 page)

Dana approached Jonny and Jill.  “Okay, now I’m ready to go.”

The boat was approaching the port.  “Looks like you got your wish.”

Dana, Jonny and Jill were among the first to leave.

“Hey, don’t forget your awesome paperweight,” Dana joked.

“Oh, wouldn’t dream of it,” Jonny said with mock sincerity as they crossed the parking lot to their car.  “Ready to go to Luna?”

“I think you know the answer to that,” Dana said, opening her compact to check her appearance.

“You still look great Dana.”

“Thanks Jill.”

They zipped down to South Beach only to get stuck in the familiar crawl on Collins Avenue.

“Parking is going to be a nightmare!” Jill exclaimed.

“I think they have valet,” Jonny answered.

“Yeah, they do,” Dana confirmed.

“Good,” Jill replied, “I’m ready to get out of this car.  I feel like I’ve been confined all night...on the boat...in this car...”

“I couldn’t agree more.”  Dana sighed.

Finally they arrived at Luna, Miami’s new hot spot.  A long line of people wrapped around the stark white structure bathed in purple light.  Models and model wannabes craned their necks to measure their progress to entry.

Dana, Jonny and Jill walked past the crowd up to the red velvet rope.  The doorman stopped them.  Jonny loved this part.

“Jonny Rock from
WORR.”  Jonny gave him his driver’s license, prepared for the usual formality.

The doorman looked down at his list.  “Jonny Rock, plus one.”  He crossed his name off.

“That’s Dana Drew with us.”

“Hey.”  Dana handed the doorman her ID.

“Gotcha,” he released the clip on the rope and let them through.  “Have a good night.”

They slipped through the club weaving their way through a packed crowd.  The far back wall was lined with white beds ensconced with sheer white gauze.  Girls in tiny dresses lounged with men twice their age laughing for no reason.  The center of the club was all dance floor.  Cages with go-go dancers in silver sequined bikinis hung from the ceiling.  People moved rhythmically to the pulsing beat.  It was a challenge, but they made it to the backstage door.  Jonny had set up a meet and greet with
The Cody Blue Experience through the band’s manager, Eric.  He told them to meet him at the stage door when they arrived.

Jonny knocked three times.  Seconds later Eric appeared.

“Yes?”

“It’s Jonny Rock and Dana Drew from
WORR.”

The door swung open.  “Hi, Eric Wayne.  Nice to meet you.”  He shook their hands.  “C’mon, the guys are looking forward to meeting you too.”  Eric knew the power a radio disc jockey had.  For a new band, the jock was more important than pretty much anyone else in their career.  If a deejay liked your band, he’d talk you up, make you sound cool and push to have your song played.  Only when huge fame hit did the roles reverse.  Then the radio stations needed the bands to do interviews to draw listeners for ratings or come down for a station concert festival.  But even with fame, the deejay and rock star relationship was important.  Bands who became too big for their britches often paid the price.  A disc jockey’s distaste was often evident in his voice and he certainly wouldn’t push to promote your group.  Eric eyed the attractive Dana Drew.  He or
she
that is.

“Guys,” Eric pushed into the dressing room, “I give you Dana Drew and Jonny Rock...plus one.”  He smiled at Jill.

Jill rolled her eyes.  She hated her plus one title.

The band turned and greeted Jonny, Dana and Jill with smiles, handshakes and warmth.  This night was important to them.

Dana had her eyes on the guy from the CD.  He was even more attractive in person.  He seemed to tower over everyone else in his faded jeans and light button-down shirt.  He had it open a few buttons so she could see his firm, tan chest.  His brown hair was highlighted with sunlight, his blue eyes sparkled like brilliant jewels.  She felt her stomach tremble.  This was not the time to be shy.  She called on her radio persona for confidence.

“Hi, Dana Drew.”  She extended her hand.

He grasped it and she felt his touch everywhere.  “Nice to finally meet you, I’m Cody,” he said, taking in the gorgeous woman before him.  Dana had an exotic look about her with her black hair, olive skin and green eyes.  She intrigued him.  “I heard you on the air yesterday on our way into town.  You sounded great.”

“Thanks.”  She was flattered and glad he heard her.  She was in the zone yesterday, and glad that he had a reason to admire her, just like she had one to admire him.  “And I listened to your CD.  Quite impressive for a debut.”

“That means a lot coming from you.”  He smiled broadly.  Dana’s knees gave way.

“I can’t wait to hear you live.” 
Damn she sounded like a teenager!

“I hope you won’t be disappointed.”

“I don’t think you’d disappoint me,” Dana flirted. 
Good recovery.

“No...never.”  He played along.

She tilted her head and smiled. “That’s good to know.”  He held her glance.

Eric came over.   “Oh, good, Dana I see you met Cody.”

“Oh...Cody?  He and I, we go way back,” she said, playfully, winking at Cody.

“Really?”  Eric was surprised.

“Oh, yeah,” Cody said, “at least five...

Eric raised his eyebrows

“Minutes...about five minutes.  Isn’t that right Dana?”

She looked at her watch.  “Oh. I’d say at least six, Cody.”

“You may be right,” he sighed, “You know how it is when you know each other for so long.  The little details become so unimportant.”

“Okay,” Eric said, “I see you guys are having fun.  Don’t let me interrupt.”

Dana and Cody looked at each other and laughed.

“It’s nice to meet you Dana Drew,” Cody said, wishing he had more time to talk to her.

“You too, Cody.”

“Okay,” Eric yelled and clapped his hands loudly.  “It’s show time!”

Cody leaned into Dana.  “Can we continue this conversation after the show?”

His warm breath felt soft on her ear sending chills down her spine.  “I’d be disappointed if we didn’t,” she said, trying as hard as she could to keep her composure.

“Great.”  He touched her shoulder on his way on stage.

Jonny came over to Dana.  “You sure don’t waste any time.”

“What?  Me?  This is professional research.”  She was glowing.

“He’s hot,” Jill chimed in.

“Oh, yeah, that too.”

“And young
er than you,” Jonny teased.

“No...” Dana said, “He can’t be that much younger than me.”

“Dana.”

“I’m not that old, Jonny...”

“He looks like his training wheels just came off!”

“No,” Dana smiled, “that’s definitely
not
what he looks like.”

“All right Miss I’m in Love With a Rock Star...let’s go out so we don’t miss the show and you don’t become a groupie.”

They took their places in the VIP section at Luna, prime seats just to the left of the stage.

“Ladies and Gentlemen...The Cody Blue Experience!”

The crowd roared as the band started playing.  The guys could see people singing along to their song...it was an unbelievable feeling for them.  This was their first time playing in a major city and not only did they have a huge crowd, the crowd knew their songs.  Cody marveled at how far they had come - from the small house, to the rental storage space, to the club in Gainesville, to this rock club on South Beach.  Eric seemed to think this was only the beginning.  If this was the beginning...where could they go from here?

Cody strutted across the stage like he owned it.  He was a true performer with an inescapable charm.  Tonight, he owned the room.  He knew where his confidence came from...it was from the exciting rush he felt meeting Dana.

Just like the rush he felt the night he met Laura.

He wasn’t expecting Dana to be so beautiful or so sharp.  He wasn’t expecting anything.  Maybe that’s why things were clicking.  He felt extra pressure since she was there, wanting for her to be as impressed with him as she was by the CD.  No, he wanted her to be
more
impressed by their live performance.

She was.

Dana saw the raw talent of the band.  They were new to the game, she could tell by the effort they poured into their performance.  No one was even close to phoning it in.  They lacked polish, but made up for it with sheer energy.  The band sounded tight, well-practiced and, most importantly, they had good songs – real lyrics with strong melodies.  The band connected with the crowd.  Cody had an easy charisma that drew the audience into his emotional songs.  His deep, guttural voice was hypnotic.  You couldn’t help but listen and love them.

“All right Dana,” Jonny yelled over the music, “if you wanna like him you can.  They’re good.”

“I’m glad I have your approval.”

The band finished their set.   The crowd went wild.

“You want more?”  Cody shouted into the mic, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The crowd responded loudly, hungry for more.

They did an encore then left the stage.  Give the crowd what they want, but hold back a bit so they’ll come back for more.  That was Eric’s motto.  It was a good one.

Jill pulled on Jonny’s arm.  “I’m tired.  Let’s go home.”  It was now almost one a.m.

“Dana won’t be happy about that.  I think she wanted to talk to Cody.”

“Look, I can appreciate that, but I’m tired.”  Jill had enough of this night.  “Can we please go?”

Jonny nodded reluctantly and approached Dana.

“Jill’s real tired.  She wants to leave.”  He shrugged his shoulders as if to say,
I have no choice.

“Really?  I wanted to talk to Cody.”

“I know, but what can I do?  She’s my wife.”

Dana thought on her feet.  “I can take a cab back to my place, right?”

“You’ve really got it bad for him, huh?”

Dana turned red with embarrassment.  For once she had no retort.  “Look, he seems nice...I’m kinda low on myself now.  I could use the attention.”

Jonny put his hand on her shoulder.  “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I won’t big brother.”

“So, you’re okay if we go?”  He peered into her eyes.

“Well, not really, I mean I wish you’d stay, but you definitely can’t, right?”

Jonny looked at Jill.  She was tapping her foot impatiently.

“Right.”

“Jonny, I don’t want to go home to my empty apartment right now.  I know what you’re thinking...”

“I’m thinking rebound...”

“You are?”  Dana said disappointedly.  “I wasn’t thinking that at all...and I don’t want to regret not seizing this moment.”  She sighed and shook her head.  “Maybe I am being stupid and should go home with you guys.”

“Go where?” another voice said.

Dana looked behind her.  It was Cody.  Tall, tan, handsome and seemingly available.  She had her answer.  “Hi there,” she said to him.  “Give me a minute...?”

“No problem,” Cody said.  “I’m just gonna get some water at the bar.  You want anything.”

“The same.”  Cody walked away.

“Jonny I’ll be fine.”  She kissed him on the cheek, amazed at her own adventurousness.  “Thanks for everything.”

“Be safe and call me tomorrow...I wanna know how the story ends.”

“Maybe it’s just the beginning,” she said as he walked away.

Cody returned on cue with two waters.  “We’re hitting the hard stuff tonight,” Dana joked, clinking her glass with his.

“Exactly.”  He leaned into her ear, again.  “Do you want to go someplace less crazy to talk?”

She stopped drinking.  Maybe she had misread the situation.  She was nobody’s groupie.  Not even the sexy Cody Blue’s.  “I’m not that kind of girl.”

“Oh, no...no I didn’t mean it like that at all...” Cody was red with embarrassment. 
Had he blown it already?
  “I mean like a quiet
public
spot.  Like the beach or something.  Honest.  I’m not that kind of guy.”

“Oh,” Dana said and paused, feeling bad for totally misreading the situation.  “I’d like that.”

Cody took Dana’s arm and steered her through the crowd, ignoring the people who all wanted a piece of him.

They left through the
side door of the club and walked across the street to the beach.  The cloak of night was a disguise, giving them anonymity and privacy.  They found an empty patch of sand.

“I wish I had a blanket or something.”

“It’s just sand,” Dana said, kicking off her shoes and lowering herself to the ground.  She curled her legs under her body.  Cody sat down next to her.  The night was slightly cool.  The ocean crashed against the shore and let slip a nice breeze.