“And do you speak Italian?”
“Yep. I’m fluent.”
“You were raised bilingual?”
“Yeah, but I only speak Italian with my mom and her family.” I suppress a giggle. “And I like to swear in that language, because then people don’t understand when I curse them.”
Alexis bursts out laughing. “I’d do the same thing.”
“It’s pretty convenient when you’re pissed off. You can rave and rant, and nobody knows what you’re saying.”
“Would you teach me?”
“I don’t know.”
“How can I get you to say yes?” he wants to know, studying me intently.
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m actually asking myself how I can get around it,” I reply with a giggle.
“But why?”
“Because I’m not a good teacher.”
He bites a chunk off his hotdog. “Do you play any instruments?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I’d love to learn to play the piano though.”
He nods happily. “I’ll teach you to play the piano, and you’ll teach me how to swear in Italian. Deal?”
“Sounds like a good deal, but I suspect you won’t be in town forever, will you?”
“Until next weekend. After we decide on the background singers, we’ll be in the Hamptons for a while, and that hopefully means an empty schedule.”
“Then you’re going to have to speed up your piano lessons.”
“No problem. We can start now.” He smiles at me after having finished his hotdog.
I’ve only taken a few bites, since I wasn’t particularly hungry. I’m still holding half of it in my hand.
“Are you done with that?”
I shrug. “I guess so.”
“Okay.” Alexis grabs my hotdog and takes a large bite. I give him a surprised look.
“Do you always take other people’s food and finish it?”
“All the time,” he confesses with a grin, eating the last bite of my hotdog. “I thought you weren’t hungry anymore?”
“I’m not. I’m just surprised that you do this. I could have an infectious disease or something.”
It’s his turn to shrug. “Catching it would be my own fault then, but I doubt that you have any serious illnesses.”
“I don’t, but the point is that I could.”
Alexis breathes a sigh that I interpret as relief, and then he suggests, “Should we head back to the hotel? There’s a piano in my room, so I could show you how to play it.”
“I told you I can’t. I need to get home and get ready for work.”
“How often do you work in that bar?”
“Four times a week.”
“And how many times do you have to work this week?”
“Today is the last shift. I worked Monday, Tuesday, and last night.”
“Then we could meet again tomorrow, or maybe Sunday, right?”
“Maybe. But I’ve really got to get going now.”
We stand up from the bench. “Can I give you a ride home?”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you anyway, because it would take me forever on my own,” I giggle.
Alexis offers me his arm, so I link mine with his and let him steer me back towards the ferries.
He stops in front of my house. “Tomorrow?”
“Let me think about it, okay?”
“Give me your phone number.”
“Alright.” I take my lip liner from my handbag, then roll up his sleeve and scribble my number on his arm.
“It would have been more practical to save it in my phone,” he remarks dryly.
I laugh. “You wanted my number. And in case you smear it, Jayden has it, too.”
“Of course.”
I raise my eyes and consider his. “Stop wearing those shades. You shouldn’t hide your eyes.”
He raises an eyebrow. “People would recognize me if I took them off.”
I smile. “So what?”
“Sometimes I don’t want them to recognize me.” His voice is husky, sexy.
“But you look better without them.” I kiss him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you for the surprise trip.”
His jaw drops. “My pleasure.”
I get out and walk towards the house, a grin playing on my lips. I sense him staring after me. When I reach the door, I turn around to look at him again. He’s still parked on the other side of the road, and now he’s waving goodbye. I wave back.
Chapter 4
One week later
The meeting with Alexis never happened, because he and his friends had to do another round of press gigs and interviews. They did a press conference, announcing that they would go offline for a while to write new songs. The official audition would’ve been yesterday, but Alexis sent me a text, telling me that I didn’t have to come since they had already heard me sing. All my hopes immediately evaporated. How am I supposed to know whether I stand a chance, and who the other applicants are? Did they put an ad out, or post it on the Internet? I couldn’t find anything. Jayden and I met for a quick cup of coffee during one of his lunch breaks. He encouraged me to continue to look for other possibilities, in case I didn’t get the job with Linden’s band.
Now I’m sitting in the bar, waiting for the call that changes everything. But there is no call.
“Hey, honey, be patient. I’m sure they’re going to call you eventually,” Jo says with conviction, while Krys rubs my back comfortingly.
I look up at them. “I’m beginning to seriously doubt that.”
“If they don’t want you, they don’t know what they’re missing,” Krystle states.
“Krys is right. If they don’t call you, they are stupid.”
“So you don’t think they are going to call?” I ask sheepishly, before throwing another hopeless glance at my phone.
Jo snorts and then she sighs. “How are we supposed to know? But you said that this Mr. Young was impressed with you as well. I’m sure they want you to be part of this band.”
I let my head sink down onto the countertop of the bar. “Ouch.”
“Don’t let it get you down,” Krys says. “They will call you.”
I groan unhappily. “I don’t believe that anymore.”
“Oh come on, that’s bullshit. Since when have you become such a pessimist?” Jo wants to know.
“Since this Mr. Young said he wanted to wait and hear the others. They could be discovering the next Madonna or something.”
“Madonna is not really a good example if we’re talking about a great singing voice,” Krys remarks skeptically.
“Well, the next Kelly Clarkson then.”
“You could compete with her, Honor.”
“Shut up.”
Jo laughs. “If you don’t stop your whining right this minute, I’m going to register you for the next season of American Idol. I’m going to knock you out and drag you to the casting.”
I lift my head with a jerk. “What?”
“I’m serious. If you don’t stop saying you aren’t good enough, that’s what I’m going to do. Dear god, honey, you already rocked Broadway two years ago, when they casted you as an understudy for Phantom of the Opera.”
I sigh heavily. “This job would really be an awesome opportunity.”
“Did you give them your resume?” Krys wants to know.
“No, the manager only asked for my demo, nothing else. They didn’t even look at the bits from Phantom.”
“Then that’s what they should do. Come on, we’ll drive over to the Plaza and tell this Mr. Young to take a look at your outstanding performance,” she suggests enthusiastically.
I shake my head violently. “I can’t do that! I’d spoil any impression I might have made.”
She giggles. “Then let’s get drunk.”
“I had enough alcohol for this week. And the next.”
“You could work a shift if you wanted to, Honor. I can go home and stay with Kitt,” Jo offers.
“Or we could go
out dancing, how does that sound?” Krys asks.
Dancing. “That sounds awesome. I haven’t done that in a while.”
“Except you did just a few days ago. But let’s go, grab your jacket.”
I give her an uncertain look. “Are you sure that’s going to help?”
“Of course. Grab your damn jacket and get moving!”
“With or without Micah?”
“I’m afraid he’s seven inches deep in Zelda right now,” she remarks darkly.
“Oh my god!” I cry in heartfelt disgust. “I was so happy that I had gotten rid of that thought.”
Jo and Krys laugh out loud. “Don’t be such a prude, Honor,” they demand in unison.
“You didn’t take an acting class with this woman. She killed me, insisting that I needed to feel the role I was playing, I needed to let it love me and all that crap. The only thing she didn’t say was that I should make babies with my part.” I hop from the bar stool and go fetch my jacket from the hook behind the bar. “And now I need to drink yet again, to dispel the images of her and Micah on her desk.”
“We’re going to dance and forget about this whole mess,” Krys insists. “And maybe drink a little, too.” She grins. “Come on now.”
“See you next week, Honor,” Jo says.
I pause and look at her. “I thought I was supposed to come in tomorrow.”
She shakes her head no. “Kitt is going to help me tomorrow. I need you on Tuesday, when the beer delivery comes in. Preferably around noon?”
“Oh, alright. See you Tuesday, Jo. And call me if you need my help tomorrow, after all.”
“Okay. And now get lost, you two,” she shoos us out with a laugh.
We leave the bar, and once we’re outside, Krys looks at me. “Wanna take a cab?”
“Where are we going anyway?”
“I don’t know. Either the Cave, or maybe Spirit? What are you in the mood for?”
“Spirit, hands down.” Spirit is a new club. They opened two months ago. Micah, Krys and I went there a few weeks ago, to dance the night away. The place is great for that. The patrons are young, the music is awesome, and the drinks aren’t too expensive. Perfect for college students or poor waitresses like me.
Once we reach Times Square, Krys waves for a cab to stop. Fortunately, the very first one is vacant.
“Pretty loud in here!” she yells into my ear.
“You don’t say! It’s a club, silly.”
“Blah, blah. Let’s dance, Miss Wisenheimer.”
I merely nod instead of screaming my answer, but then I point at my glass, which isn’t empty yet. I need to finish my mojito first.
“Well, chug it then!”
“Yes, Ma’am!” I drink the last sip and set the glass down, and she’s already pulling me along with her, heading straight for the dance floor. The song is a really old number – ‘Dance with me’ by 112 – and we start to move our hips to the music. We circle each other and enjoy ourselves, and it doesn’t take long for Krys to draw the first admirers, who start to try dancing with her. She is a much better dancer than I am. I can move to the beat, but she’s really got it down, sensual and lascivious. I, on the other hand, am worried sometimes that my dancing looks more like a guinea pig on speed.
Hands. On my hips. I look over my shoulder and am surprised to see Alexis behind me. “Hey!”
“Hi. I saw you and your friend coming in. Want to join us in the VIP lounge?” he asks in a loud voice, while his hands set a pace that I pick up instinctively.
I lean my back against his chest. “I think I’d rather keep dancing.”
“Why don’t you dance with me then?”
I turn around and press my body against his. “Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?”
“I’d call it flouncing and fidgeting,” he admits dryly.
I roll my eyes. “I’m not a very good dancer, to be honest.”
“Hardly noticeable,” he says with a laugh. His voice is so distinctive and resonant that I can hear him above the music. I, on the other hand, am all but yelling to make myself audible. “So, are you going to dance with me, or do you want to continue flouncing?”
“I’m better at flouncing.”
“Another thing I could teach you in exchange for some Italian swear words.”
“You’re leaving town soon, remember?”
I can see him sighing. I can also see that he still looks exhausted and worn out. “Come with me. I’d like to talk to you where it’s quieter.”
“Hey, hey!” Micah yells and approaches us. “I’ve been looking for you guys!”
I pull away from Alexis and give Micah a hug. “Hey. I didn’t Krys told you what we were doing tonight.”
“She didn’t. I came with a buddy.” He lets go of me and taps Krys on the shoulder, and she throws herself into his arms. Micah stumbles, but I react quickly, steadying him with my back against his. We perfected this technique over the years. When I feel that he’s regained his balance, I move away and jab my elbow into his ribs.
“What?”
I grin at him. “I’m going to chat with Alexis in a quieter corner. Are you staying with Krys?”
“Yeah, I’m here. When you get back … we’re sitting at the table over there in the back corner.”
“Alright, I’ll join you in a bit.” Then I turn back to Alexis, who takes my hand. “Do you want to talk outside, or is it quieter upstairs in the lounge?”
“Outside sounds good. Did you bring a jacket?”
“Yep. I left it at the coat check, though, but I’m hot anyway. Some fresh air will be nice.”
“Okay.”
We leave the club, but Alexis tells the bouncer that we’ll be back in a little while.
“Where are we going?” I want to know, because he steers me into a narrow side street. Why am I suddenly reminded of every bad movie I’ve ever seen? If we encounter a vampire coven now, I’ll know that I’m starring in a cheap version of Twilight.
“Here.”
I look around. “This is the back door, right?”
“Yep. And we’ll get in through it once I knock,” he smirks as he sits down on the steps made of metal grating.
I rub my arms. It’s cooler than I expected. “What did you want to talk about?”
He gives me an assessing look. “About your new job, if you’re still interested.”
My lips curve into a wide smile, completely of their own account. “Are you serious?” I blurt, sounding almost hysterical.
He nods.
I raise a finger to ask for a moment, before taking a few steps away from him.
“Honor?”
“Fuck yeah!” I cheer, jumping up and down like a madwoman. It takes a few moments until I calm down again, cheeks blazing with excitement. Then I return to his side. “Sorry.”
Alexis chuckles. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“You bet your ass it’s a yes.”
“We just didn’t call you yet because Joel is still going through all the applicants who weren’t chosen.”
“Got cha. I was afraid I wouldn’t get the job.”
“Well, it’s you and one other woman. Her voice is higher than yours, so she’s the missing bit. You and her and Trevor, our background singer from the last tour, will make a great backing section.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“You’d have to join us in the Hamptons for the studio recordings though. Our studio is in the basement of the house, so we can record and mix the songs right there. The sessions are set to start next week,” he explains.
I lift one eyebrow. “To be honest, I can’t afford a hotel in the Hamptons.”
“You don’t have to. The house we’re staying at has enough rooms for everyone.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll have to check with my boss to see if I can get some time off or if she needs me. I might end up going back and forth between the city and your house.” When my friends and I once spent the weekend out there, the drive took more than two hours
by car. I hope the train will be a little faster.
“If you’re up to it, I could take you there tomorrow. I’m sick of New York City right now, and I don’t need to be part of the interviews the others will be doing Saturday and Sunday. I’m officially sick and in urgent need of rest,” he says with a smile.
Me and him alone in that house? I don’t know if that is such a good idea. “Okay.” I sigh. “But first of all, I need to talk to Jo, to see about work. How long would we be gone for anyway?”
He exhales. “At least six weeks. That’s the minimum amount of time we set aside for writing and recording a new album.”
“Wow. I don’t think she will be thrilled.”
“And I don’t think you’re going to need that waitressing gig anymore, Honor. We’re really quite busy.”
“I’m not sure I should quit just yet,” I confess.
“You won’t be able to work behind the bar when we are on tour either.”
“I know, but I like the job.”
Alexis sighs heavily. “You should make a decision though. Do you want a career, or do you want to remain a waitress all your life?”
“Of course I want a career. But I should at least give her a heads-up. I wouldn’t want to quit before I’m holding a contract in my hands.”
He looks at me and pulls out his phone. “Hi, Joel … Yes, it’s late, I know. Look, I’m talking to Honor … you know, the singer we want to hire.” He nods and grunts a few times, presumably in agreement. “Yeah, could you maybe fax me the contract? She wants to hold it in her hands before she quits her current job … yeah, I get that … okay, let’s say noon tomorrow. Thanks, Joel.” He hangs up and looks at me again. “You’ll get the contract tomorrow. Then you can sign it or tear it apart - your choice.”
“Whoa,” I blurt out in surprise.
Alexis cocks his head to one side. “What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t expect to get a contract at all.”
“Why not?”
“Because … because I felt very insecure when I walked out of your hotel room. Mr. Young didn’t look excited, let alone impressed.”
“Yeah, Joel’s poker face is pretty solid.”
“Maybe that’s a very common thing in your business.” I wrap my arms around myself again, because I’m getting colder. Going outside after sweating like crazy on the dance floor wasn’t the brightest move.
Alexis: In love with a rockstar (The Hamptons Series Book 2) Page 4