The Complete Groupie Trilogy (6 page)

As a wingm
an, Iris Kimble totally sucked.

I tried to muster enthusiasm as we bid Vanni adieu and headed off to get glamorized before the big event that night. Free clothes and a free makeover just didn’t do much to excite me while I had all these unanswered questions swirling around in my head.

I tried to pry it out of Iris as we sprinted in and out of different boutiques and salons, but she wasn’t forthcoming. She either didn’t know or she didn’t feel it was her place to share. Vanni was her friend, after all, and she had to protect his confidence.

So I remained aggravatingly clueless as I was plucked, primped, and pampered for a major event thrown by one of the most important entertainment moguls in the country.

By the end of it all I could hardly begrudge the miraculous efforts put forth by what I affectionately dubbed my “pit crew.” I wore a long plum colored satin dress with black lace overlay. It had an empire waistline enhanced by a jeweled band with black rhinestones just under the bodice, to catch the light around my rather prominently exposed cleavage. My skin was pale but dusted with a shimmering powder to give it a rosy glow. My hair, still in its two-toned bob, was trimmed and teased till it lifted off my head like a Technicolor halo. Everyone vetoed the glasses, so the only real mask I got to wear was a darker periwinkle gray eye shadow they used for a smoky effect.

They provided a lace shawl for my creamy exposed shoulders, which helped detract away from any perceived “flaws.” When I stepped out of the car in front of the luxury apartment building where Jasper Carrington lived with his famous wife Athena, I felt almost as if I belonged to Manhattan high society.

The minute I entered the posh penthouse apartment I took another glass of champagne from a uniformed waiter to fill my tank of confidence. The music thundered around the elegant living room where several familiar faces lingered.

Was that…? Could that be…? I didn’t know he was dating
her… and where is her husband?

Iris would bend toward me every now and then to fill me in on all the hottest gossip. But the only real story I wanted to hear was about Lourdes. Would she make it to this glamorous affair?

And would I be demoted from Cinderella back down to the Ugly Stepsister the minute she walked through the door?

Alana and Iain arrived, arm in arm, looking like normal people in love amidst all the Celebots that were milling around trying to network. I got a quick peck on the cheek from both Alana and Iain before they made t
heir way further into the fray.

Jasper came by with Athena draped on his arm. She was an exotic creature with long, black hair and big brown eyes. Her lips were full and her curves were luscious as they undulated under her silk mermaid dress that dipped low in the front. She murmured her hello graciously, but it was fairly evident she didn’t bother to even learn my name before
she went on to the next guest.

All the players were in place except for one. Okay, two. And the longer I had to wait for their appearance the more anxious I got. I snagged another glass of champagne as the waiter went by, but avoided the hors d'oeuvre tray. My stomach felt as though it was literally in a knot and I didn’t feel that vomit would make a very good addition to
my otherwise stylish ensemble.

About a half hour after the party had started, and nearly an hour after Iris and I had arrived, Vanni e
ntered with Lourdes on his arm.

His hair was styled and fairly controlled for the mane that it was. He wore close-fitting pants, no leather, and a long silky shirt. All his “bling” was in place, rings on every finger, black and jade bracelets on either wrist, with two necklaces visible above the unbuttoned top
of his shirt.

As hot as he looked – like any rock star would – my eyes were riveted to Lourdes. She was at least five-foot-ten, and her stiletto heels put her at almost eye level with Vanni, who I already knew stood six-foot-three. Her hair was teased even more than mine, flowing all around her bare shoulders exposed from her halter dress.

The red number cut across each breast, revealing substantial side-boob from either angle, and then criss-crossed across her tanned and toned abdomen. The hemline was short, which made her long legs seem even longer.

She looked ready to lounge across a luxury car in a 1980s music video, the quintessential ass
et on the arm of any rock star.

I tried not to feel frumpy in comparison, but I became acutely aware of each bulge over my ample frame. I tightened the shawl around my shoulders and stopped just short of covering up my cleavage.

It wasn’t the arsenal of sex appeal that Lourdes may have possessed, but I knew how to work what I had.

And I already knew that he was a big fan.

He smiled our direction when he caught sight of Iris and me, and herded his arm candy our direction. He kissed Iris on the cheek and me very dangerously near the corner of my mouth in greeting. He then turned to introduce me to his date.

“Andy, this is Lourdes. Lourdes, this is my friend Andy I told you about.”

The word “friend” hit me like a punch in the gut. I also had a hard time overlooking the fact he had talked to her about me, but not vice versa. I plastered a smile on my face and stuck out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

She smiled as she limply put her hand in mine. “You’re the writer I’ve heard so much about. I can’t wait for us to sit down for an interview.”

“Me either,” I said, and that was the God’s honest truth.

“No business tonight,” Vanni decided as he plucked a couple of glasses off of the waiter’s tray. He handed the extra one to Lourdes. “Tonight we enjoy the fruits of our labor.” He smiled at Lourdes before
he took a swig from his glass.

Something unspoken and intimate passed between them, and it was very hard to read. Objectively, at least. If they were announcing an engagement I was
taking my ball and going home.

Mercifully they glided over to where Jasper and Athena stood, where the four of them laughed gaily and engaged in an animated conversation I couldn’t hear. I turned to Iris but she had already flitted away to work the room.

Iris never stopped working, even when she was having fun.

I stood rather conspicuously in the middle of the room whereupon I plotted my escape. The heels I was wearing weren’t especially high, I could probably get away with shimmying down the fire escape if I could just inch my way over to the window. I turned around and right into Yael, who looked as uncomfortable to be there as I was. It probably had a lot to do with his carefully cultivated Goth image, but at that moment I was relieved to know I wasn’t the on
ly one who didn’t quite fit in.

Yael was a music nerd. He didn’t care much about success and all the trappings. I had to respect that. More importantly he was also a great backup strategy to my epic fire escape plan. After an uncomfortable moment I blurted, “You want to go somewhere and get our interview out of the way?” I offered, even though I hadn’t packed my interviewing material anywhere in my gown.

“Shit, yes,” he sighed in relief. Like me he didn’t feel comfortable unless he was doing something aside from just holding down the floor. He followed me as we wound our way through the crowded room out onto the balcony.

He took a deep breath as he closed the door behind him. “I hate parties,” he stated unnecessarily. “I’d much rather have stayed at the studio.”

“Command performance?” I asked with a slight grin.

“You know it,” he said as he leaned onto the concrete balcony wall overlooking the view of Manhattan. It was on fire with a million little lights, and the breeze gently lifted our hair from
our shoulders as it drifted by.

“You hit the fast lane pretty quick,” I stated as I looked out over the city. “Is it everything you thought it would be?”

He smirked. “Unfortunately.”

“Vanni seems to
enjoy it,” I mentioned offhand.

“That’s because he’s meant to be the star. He gets off on the fame and the adoration. That’s why we don’t get in his way much.”

I glanced at Yael, to see if there was any underlying bitterness. But the comment was issued more matter-of-fact. Resigned, even.

“I just want to play. As long as nothing gets in the way of that, we’re cool.”

“You’ll pardon me for saying so but I think that the band is big enough for more than one star. You bring a polished edge to the music.”

He looked away, clearly uncomfortable by the praise. “I could be better. I want to be better. That’s what it’s about, you know? Music is evolution.”

I nodded. I totally got what he was saying.

“As long as I learn, as long as I grow, that’s all that really matters to me. Success just means we have the money to keep doing it.” He glanced back at me then, looked me straight in the eye. “That’s what I want my interview to say.”

I smiled. “And it shall.”

He gave me a small nod and then glanced back at the party in full swing behind the patio doors. “I guess I gotta get back. You coming?”

I shook my head. After several glasses of champagne I liked how the night air was clearing my head. “I think I just want to gather my thoughts.”

He gave me a small smile, perhaps the most genuine I’d ever received from him, and left me alone. I sucked in a big deep breath. Maybe Yael nailed it. It was all about getting paid to do what you love, simply so you could grow and do it better.

I couldn’t begrudge my career, as slow moving as it was. I got paid to do what I liked to do, and combine my passions doing it. It was a pretty sweet life.

I had a smile on my face when a voice came from behind my ear. “Penny for your thoughts.”

I turned to fall headlong into Vanni’s dark eyes, still rimmed black with eyeliner. I knew that look was soon going to be the death of me. “Just thinking about life,” I murmured.

He held a hand to his chest, looking emotionally wounded. “And here I thought you were thinking about me.”

I laughed. “Get over yourself, pal.”

He didn’t stop smiling as he brushed my hair out of my face. Just the touch of his hand on my skin sent an electrical charge right to my core. “I was thinking about you.” His eyes traveled over my face, stopping briefly on my mouth, then lower to my dress and all it revealed. “You look amazing, Andy.”

I scoffed. “Say that to someone who hasn’t seen your date.”

He leaned forward on the railing much like Yael had done. “So is that it? You’re mad about Lourdes?”

I leaned forward too. “How could I be mad about Lourdes? I didn’t even know about her until yesterday.”

He turned to face me. I tried my best not to look at the wisps of hair poking out of his unbuttoned shirt. “There wasn’t anything to tell.”

“Oh I think there’s plenty to tell,” I corrected. I turned toward him and leaned on my elbow, mirroring his body language. “Jasper was all too eager to hand me a giant file full of press clippings about your whirlwind romance.”

Vanni didn’t even look chagrined by the news. If anything, he looked amused. “That doesn’t surprise me in the least.” He leaned a little closer. “Tip number one: everyone wants something. You have to know what that is to really know what’s going on.”

“And what do you want?” I asked before I could stop myself.

He leaned even closer, until our torsos touched. I was mesmerized by the look in his eyes, and the close proximity of that full mouth I had only dreamed about kissing. For a second I couldn’t even breathe. “I want a lot of things. Success. Acclaim. Happiness. You,” he added softly, and potently, as his gaze drifted to my mouth. I knew he was thinking about kissing
me, I could see it in his face.

The intimacy of the m
oment was electrically charged.

I wanted to scream, “Why?” but all words were locked in my throat. All I could do was think about the remaining few inches between his mouth and my own. This wasn’
t a dream. It wasn’t a fantasy.

His kiss was mine to take.

The wind blew my hair across my face, and he was quick to brush it away. It interrupted the moment enough I could gather my wits and say, “You have a funny way of showing it, Mr. Carnevale.”

With a chuckle he leaned in and kissed the top of my nose. “Before you go back to Nashville,” he promised, “You will have no doubt.”

He gave me a wink and disappeared back inside. I stood for a few minutes, trying to process exactly what had happened before I could muster the wherewithal to follow. By the time I rejoined the party, both Vanni and his date had vanished.

Somehow or another, I had let the ball volley back over to his side of the court. He used my stunned reaction to his amorous confession to do to me here what I had done to him in Philadelphia.

For this, he would pay.

Though I wanted to retreat back to the hotel room, I stayed with the rest of the band (sans Yael, who had already split,) as well as Alana and Iris until the party was nearing its end – which was near dawn. The champagne flowed and I even managed to get onto the dance floor with Felix, who was extremely animated after he had indulged in a little herbal smoke break in one of the back rooms. Sure I could have taken the time to interview him or Iain and actually do the work no one was paying me the big bucks to do – something the old Andy would have gladly done without complaint – but it seemed a lot more fun to dance to the heavy beat with people I ha
d only read about in magazines.