Either way, they were gems. I couldn’t believe what a fool his manager was to think they weren’t worth recording and putting out for the world to hear. If the enraptured crowd here was any indication, they’d be instant hits.
Johnny played the closing chords of his third song, booming applause filling the small shop.
“Thank you all so much,” he said. “I’d love to stay here with you guys all day, but this trip into town was actually a little break from my tour, and duty calls. But before I leave, I’ve got one last song for you all. It’s a song I wrote a few months back. It’s called ‘Silhouette.’”
This was it—the song that he wanted me to pay special attention to.
Johnny dropped the tuning of his guitar, giving the song a moodier feel. Then he began strumming, the hook already snatching my attention.
Then he began to sing, and I knew right away the significance of the lyrics.
They were about him in a small apartment, playing his guitar, watching a girl he’d just met, but already felt like he knew so well, make dinner for him. As the song went on, he laid his feelings bare, sharing how as he watched the girl cook, entranced by her shape, her silhouette, he found himself feeling a way that he’d long thought he wasn’t capable of.
And the girl was me.
I didn’t know what to say. All I could do was sit as stunned as the rest of the crowd as he went into the explosive chorus of the song, taking us all away to the same height of musical bliss.
“Thank you all so much,” Johnny said over raging applause as the song came to an end. “I’ll be back again soon.”
He nodded to me as he set down the guitar and hopped off the stage.
“Did you like it?” he asked, a small smile on his lips.
I didn’t know what to say. “It-it…”
Sensing how tongue-tied I was, he spoke for the both of us with a hard, passionate kiss. The applause swirled around us, love causing my heart to feel as though it was about to burst.
Chapter 37
Kendra
An hour later, in the car, I was still stunned. Luckily Johnny was behind the wheel and was able to handle music duties, because I was so focused on the last song he’d sung that I could hardly think about anything else.
“You okay over there?” he asked, his eyes on the road.
I couldn’t take it anymore. “What the hell is wrong with Rick?”
Johnny let out a quick bark of a laugh.
“You figure that out, you let me know,” he said. “But is there something specific wrong with him that you’re trying to figure out?”
“Just how the hell he could have songs like that ready to go and not see how freaking brilliant they are,” I said. “Any manager worth a damn could tell you’ve got something amazing.”
“You’re too kind, cutie pie,” he said. “But they’re far from ready to go. I’m going to be tinkering with them for a long while.”
“I know, I know,” I said. “But even when they were still in their early drafts, I could tell they were amazing.”
“Well, I’m glad I’ve got your vote of confidence,” he said. “But I’m more curious to know what you think about the lyrics.”
That was a whole other thing.
“I-I don’t know what to say,” I said.
“I hope they weren’t too much?”
“No,” I said. “It’s not that—not at all. More that...if that’s how you feel—”
“And it is,” he said. “As clear as I can be.”
“Then that means we have something here,” I said. “Something special.”
“You’re right about that.”
“And I’ve been feeling the same way about you. But I was thinking I must be crazy or something to feel so strongly for you. Now I know you feel the same way.”
“It’s the honest truth,” he said. “Back when I was watching you make that dinner for me in Seattle, that first weekend we spent together. It seemed crazy to me, but all I could think about was how strongly I felt for you, how even though I’d only known you for a short time, I could imagine being with you for the rest of my life, building something special with you. It’s what I thought about as I watched you cook, watching your silhouette.”
I didn’t know what to say. So, I didn’t say anything. I leaned over and kissed him hard, and he kissed me right back.
“Easy now,” he said with a laugh. “Unless you want me to put this car right into those pine trees.”
I planted one last kiss on his lips before falling back in my seat. Then shook my head.
“But Rick and this damn tour,” I said. “It’s like the universe doesn’t want us to be together.”
“I know what you mean,” he said. “It’s like we’re being conspired against.”
“There’s nothing to be done,” I said. “You’re going to be on tour, and then you’re going to be stuck with Rick after that, and if word gets out that I went back on my word with Rick, then he’s going to come after me.”
“That right?” Johnny asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “So we’re right back to where we were. I’m going back to Seattle, and you’re going back on tour.”
“Well,” said Johnny. “There’s always another option.”
I was confused.
“What other option?” I asked.
“I could take this car straight to Portland,” he said. “You could come with me to the show tonight.”
I wasn’t ready for this suggestion.
“Wait, are you serious?” I asked. “Just…come with you to Portland. Just like that?”
“Just like that,” he said.
“What about my label? What about Rick? Hell, what about my clothes?”
He laughed.
“First of all, to hell with Rick. I’m about done with my life being dictated by him. If this makes him want to cut me loose, then that’s more than fine with me.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Johnny was ready to throw it all away just to be with me.
“You can’t do that,” I said.
Now I was thinking about what Rick said about suing me for lost profits. He had the ability to ruin my label, and Johnny was about to put it all in motion.
“And why’s that?” he asked.
“Because—” He waved his hand through the air. “Listen,” he said. “I’ve made my decision. If there are consequences, then they’re going to fall all on me.”
I was excited but nervous as hell. Did Johnny know what he was getting into?
“And as far as the rest,” he said. “Can you take a day or two off from your label?”
“I think so,” I said. “The interns should be able to handle it.”
“Good,” he said. “And I’ll get you some clothes once we’re there.”
He reached over and took my hand.
“I’m serious about what I said, Kendra. I’m going to take care of all of this. I want us to be together.”
“Me too.”
“Then that’s all we need. You’re having my kid, and there’s not a chance in hell that I’m going to let another day pass without being the man you deserve.”
His tone was earnest—serious, even. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he meant what he was saying.
“Now,” he said. “There’s only one question left.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you trust me?”
I didn’t even need to think about it. “I do.”
“Then let’s see where this takes us.”
Chapter 38
Johnny
I strode into the green room with a half hour left before the show.
“Holy shit,” said Cole, polishing off his customary pre-show shakes. “There you are!”
“Damn, Johnny,” said Marcus, who looked like he’d spent the last hour pacing a groove into the floor. “Where the hell were you?”
“On the road,” I said.
“On the road without a phone?” asked Marcus.
&nb
sp; “Nah,” I said. “Just didn’t feel like doing much talking. But you guys know I’d never let you down.”
Stone flashed me a smirk from between two groupies.
“Yup,” he said. “I wasn’t too worried. Rick, on the other hand.”
I couldn’t help but let out a snort at the mention of our manager. “How’s he holding up?”
“Last I saw the dude he looked like he was about to blow his top,” said Cole.
“Figures,” I said.
I shot a glance at the girls on the couch and flicked my head toward the door.
“Both of you, take off,” I said. “Emergency band meeting.”
The girls looked disappointed but got up and began to head out.
“Don’t worry, ladies,” said Stone with a cocky smirk. “I’ll be looking for you two after the show.”
The girls giggled and left, the door shutting behind them.
“Band meeting?” asked Marcus. “When’s the last time we had one of those?”
“Doesn’t matter,” I said. “Because we’re having one now.”
“I don’t like the sound of this,” said Marcus. “What’s up, Johnny?”
“Sit down and I’ll tell you all about it…”
I filled in the guys. Right at the moment I finished, to stunned faces all around, a bang sounded out from the door.
“You in there, Johnny?”
It was Rick.
“Shit,” I said. “Time for the other hard part.”
“Are you…you sure about all this, Johnny?” asked Cole.
“Sure as it gets,” I said.
“I don’t like it,” said Marcus. “But we’re in this together.”
More banging.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s get ready to play. I’ll meet you guys out there.”
The boys nodded and headed out. What I’d told them hadn’t been easy, not even a little bit, but it had to be said. Lucky for me, they all took it pretty damn well.
They were good dudes like that.
Rick, on the other hand, I was expecting a little more resistance from. That’s why I’d come up with a special way to break the news to him.
The door flew open, and there he was, a frantic expression on his face.
“Jesus, Johnny,” he said. “Where the hell have you been? And why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone?”
“Had something important to take care of,” I told him.
“More important than letting your freaking manager know where you were?”
“More important than that,” I said.
He shook his head in frustration.
“Whatever,” he said. “You’re here now—that’s what matters. You ready to play?”
“Ready,” I said.
“Good. I saw the rest of the guys getting out there. You got a hell of a crowd tonight. You remember what I said about wowing them?”
“You bet.”
“Good,” he said. “Don’t keep them waiting.”
“Sounds perfect,” I said, blowing past him and heading out of the room.
“Oh,” I said over my shoulder. “Enjoy the show, Rick. I have a feeling it’s going to be one to remember.”
Before he could make heads or tails of what I’d said, I was off.
I strode down the hall leading to the stage, the roar of the crowd growing louder with each step. I knew there was a chance that this was going to be the last show I was going to play in a very, very long time, and I was ready to make it one to remember.
The crowd exploded when I stepped out on stage, and I raised a clenched fist in the air as I strode toward the microphone.
I scanned the crowd, spotting Kendra near the back. As soon as my eyes laid on her, the rest of the crowd melted away. As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t anyone else there but her.
“You ready, Portland?” I called out to the rock club.
The place was a smaller venue, a more intimate show for our homecoming. But that didn’t stop the place from sounding as loud as a stadium.
As I looked over the crowd, I took in their faces, their eager eyes as they waited for me to play. I had no idea when I’d next be up on stage like this with a band behind me and ready to rock. I vowed to burn it into memory. With Kendra there, that wasn’t going to be hard.
I grabbed my guitar and slung it over my shoulder. Pick in hand, I ripped out a booming, distorted chord as Cole clacked his drumsticks together.
Then it was on. We tore through the first few songs of the set, each of us on the top of our game. Not a note was off, and not a single beat was missed. It might’ve been the nostalgia talking, but I was half-convinced it was the best show that we’d ever played.
We soon finished up the third-to-last song of our set, “Grey Mountain,” and the calls for more filled the air.
But they weren’t going to get any more.
The show was over.
Taking one last look over the crowd, I pulled my guitar over my shoulders and set it down.
“Portland!” I called out.
More booming applause.
“You’ve been a hell of an audience tonight. Shit—the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that after playing for you guys, I don’t want to play for another crowd in my life!”
I nodded, watching confused expressions appear on the faces of some of the crowd.
“In fact, that’s what I think I’m going to do. That’s it for me! The boys will be playing the rest of the set, but I’m done.”
And that was that. The faces in the crowd showed in clear-as-crystal terms that they were about as bemused about all this as it gets. I grabbed my guitar picks from the holder on the mic stand and tossed them out into the audience for anyone who wanted a reminder of what was likely to be Memphisto’s last show together.
Most shocked of all was Kendra. Her eyes were wide as saucers, and her jaw looked about ready to unhinge and slam to the floor like a dropped weight at the gym. I gave her a quick “come on” nod as I strode off the stage and stepped backstage.
I half-expected to see Rick waiting for me with a gun. Instead, the back hall was totally empty.
It was just me.
I took a moment to savor the silence, knowing that I’d just crossed a threshold that separated one part of my life from another. I was no longer Johnny Maxton of Memphisto, the only identity I’d known for as long as I’d been an adult. I was now…something else.
Johnny, the father-to-be.
Maybe just “John.”
Before I could think too much about all of that, I heard the open-and-close of a door behind me, the murmuring of the crowd growing louder for a few brief moments as the door was opened.
“Johnny!”
It was Kendra. I turned to see her standing there, a totally shocked look on her face.
“What the hell did you just do?”
“I quit the band,” I said.
“I see that!” she said.
“How’s the crowd reacting?”
“Pretty sure half of them are expecting you to come out on stage and tell them it was all a joke.”
Through the wall, I heard the “clack-clack-clack” of Cole hitting his drumsticks together as the band started in on some instrumental B-sides.
“What’s happening out there?” she asked. “Why’s the band still playing?”
“The guys knew all about this before we went on. I wanted to give the crowd a good show before I quit, so I played most of the set, and now they’re about to hear some unheard instrumental material. I figured between that and being able to say they were at the show when I quit on stage, that would make their ticket price more than worth it. Probably send ’em out with a little free merch, too.”
She waved her hands in front of her face.
“Slow down,” she said. “You’re getting way, way ahead of things. You just quit the band!”
“I know,” I said, crashing guitars and pounding drums now playing from the stage.
T
he music was so loud that I could barely think straight.
“Come on,” I said, nodding toward the back exit. “Let’s get out of here and talk about it. I wouldn’t mind if this was the last club I saw the inside of for a long, long time.”
Chapter 39
Kendra
I was in a daze as we made our way out of the club and stepped into the cool evening air.
“Good,” said Johnny, seeing that the alley behind the venue was empty. “I was worried that the music press would already be here waiting for me. Bet you anything they’re on their way.”
I was too shocked to say anything. In fact, if Johnny hadn’t taken me by the hand and led me along, I probably would’ve stayed there with my feet glued to the ground.
Finally, I was able to speak.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Someplace quiet,” he said.
That didn’t answer my question the slightest, but I was ready to let him do the thinking for me, at least at that moment.
Finally, we arrived at a small, hole-in-the-wall bar, not too dissimilar from the one where he and I had met so many months ago.
“You like ginger beer?” he asked as we took seats at the bar. “No alcohol, but still pretty damn good.”
“Sure,” I said softly, though debating the pros and cons of the various non-alcoholic alternatives was the last thing I wanted to do at that moment.
Seconds later, a pair of dark bottles were uncapped and placed in front of us. Johnny took a long swig of his, letting out an “ahh” as he set it back down on the bar.
“Okay,” I said, finally getting my nerve back. “You want to tell me what the hell just happened?”
“You were there,” he said. “I quit the band.”
“I know that,” I said. “I saw it. But why? Do you have any idea what you just threw away?”
“You’re starting to sound like Rick,” he said.
That wasn’t a coincidence. Rick’s threats, despite having been given months ago, were still fresh in my mind.
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