Star Maker

by J. M. Nevins

  He nodded. “I know. You’re right. I got carried away. It’s been easier with Dahlia out of town shooting her new movie. Not as much party pressure. Ok, enough about me. Kit, what’s going on? What could possibly have you this upset?”

  She shook her head and looked down, ashamed. “Seth dumped me.”

  He stared at her, not believing what she said for a moment. He had thought they would end up getting married. This was almost as much a shock to him as it had been to her.

  He immediately felt bad, knowing that Kit was heartbroken. He opened his arms to her. “Come here, baby.” She collapsed into his embrace and started sobbing. He kissed her on the top of her head and held her tighter. “I am so sorry, Kitty-Kat. He’s a fool, a big, stupid fool. Do you want me to kick his ass for you?”

  She giggled, but didn’t move from where she was. She spoke, sounding muffled against his chest. “He told me I’m too ambitious.”

  Sully shook his head and chuckled. “He can’t handle the fact that one day you’ll be more successful than him. Yes, you are ambitious, but it’s very attractive… to the right guy. He wasn’t your right guy, babe.”

  She looked up at him, her eyes still watery, her nose red like Rudolph. She sniffed. “Really? You think so?”

  He chuckled and stroked her cheek. “Yes, I know so. Practically every guy on the Sunset Strip has a thing for you. You’re a catch. The ultimate catch.”

  She grinned. “You think I’m the ultimate catch?”

  He gazed into her eyes and felt himself headed toward a very dangerous place. A place he knew he couldn’t afford to go again. He sighed and pulled back, reaching for his drink and taking a sip. “Yep. And all the guys in the band can vouch for me. So can Joe. If we called up any one of them right now they would agree, one-hundred percent guaranteed.”

  She slumped back into the sofa and held the drink in her hands, staring straight ahead. “I thought I was going to marry him one day, Sull. I really did.”

  He chuckled and sat back next to her on the sofa. “I did too.”

  She glanced over at him. “You did?”

  He nodded. “Yep.” He took a sip of his drink.

  She sighed. “I always saw myself with some big industry exec and we’d have this big music empire together. Oh well, I guess it’s not him.”

  Sully looked at her. “Kit, you’ve got plenty of time to find your man. He’s out there. He’ll probably find you when you’re not looking.”

  She chuckled. “Ok. How very cliché of you, Patrick.”

  He stared at her and pointed. “Hey, watch the name.”

  She giggled and took a sip of her drink. “Couldn’t help it.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Well, try to.”

  Her thoughts carried her back to Seth’s departure. She sighed. “He’s marrying her, Sull.”

  He took a moment to try to figure out what she was talking about and realized she was backtracking on the earlier events of the evening. He stared at her. “Marrying who, babe?”

  She sighed. “Seth. He’s marrying some girl named Joannie who he started dating when he was dating me. She’s having his baby. He said he wanted a family and didn’t think I did.”

  Sully was ultimately curious. He had always wondered if she was the kid type. Now, he had the perfect opportunity to ask. He was eager to find out. “Is that true? Do you want kids?”

  She looked at him. “Maybe, but not right now. I’m twenty-two. Jeez. I just want to finish law school and make you guys famous. Once I do that then maybe I’ll think about it.”

  He grinned, pleased with her answer. “Making us famous is one of your big goals?”

  She stared at him. “Duh. Don’t test me tonight, Mr. Foxx.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s like I said, Kit-Kat, he’s a fool. He’s given up the ideal for the mundane. He’s stupid. Jeez, talk about having the best and walking way from it.”

  She stared at him. She was ready for a dose of truth. “Let’s get real. I’m a pain in the ass and you know it. You’re only saying that to make me feel better.”

  He chuckled, looked down at his drink, and shook his head. “Oh, honey, if you only knew.”

  She frowned. “Knew what?”

  He stared at her. “Kit, c’mon. Don’t do this. Don’t.”

  She leaned in and gazed into his eyes. She sensed he was holding back and wanted answers. “What were you going to tell me? It’s something big. I can see it in your eyes. Your eyes speak volumes, Sull.”

  He swallowed hard. She was mere inches away from him. He closed his eyes for a moment in an attempt to clear his head and he felt her lips on his. Now, the tables were turned. As he kissed her back, knowing it was one of the most amazing experiences he had to date, he stopped her. He gently pulled back and looked at her. She was confused, her eyes searching his for an answer. He shook his head. “Kit, this isn’t a good idea.”

  She stared at him and sighed. She felt foolish and slightly embarrassed. “I’m feeling pretty awkward right now, so please say something more than this isn’t a good idea.”

  He sighed and wondered why they had such bad timing. He couldn’t face her. “First of all, I have girlfriend and I promised her I’d be loyal. I want to keep my word because she’s been good to me.” He kept his head hanging low, having a hard time verbalizing what was on his mind and then it effortlessly spilled out. “Secondly, Kit, I’m not on your level. I don’t deserve someone like you.” He mustered up the courage and met her eyes. “C’mon. I’m a good person, I’ve got talent, but I’m not good enough for someone in your league. You’re gonna be a powerful attorney someday and probably a major record exec. You’re well educated. You come from a background that I can’t even begin to understand.”

  She stared at him and folded her arms across her chest. Now, she realized where all his insecurities of not being good enough were coming from. She had to set the record straight. “Ok, I get that you have a girlfriend and I respect that. I’m glad you like her and you’re loyal to her. That’s cool of you. But this shit about you not being good enough for me? That’s gotta stop because it’s crap. Drop that shit right now because frankly, Sully Foxx, you are one of the best men I have ever met and even though you probably only have a penny to your name right now, you have one of the richest, loving, and most generous spirits I have ever met. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.”

  He burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Kit, you never cease to amaze me. Come here.” He hugged her tightly and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He stared into her eyes. “Did you really mean that or were you just blowing smoke up my ass?”

  She stared at him, her gaze determined and unwavering. “I meant every word.”

  He nodded, confused. He still had strong feelings for his girlfriend but now his feelings for Kit that he had willed himself to push down were bubbling back up to the surface. He felt like his head was spinning. He looked at Kit, who awaited a response. He forced a grin. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  She nodded sadly. That wasn’t the response she was looking for, but she decided it was time to move forward and explore other options. Focusing on work and school would get her through it. She forced a grin. “Pour me another drink, would you? And tell me about this girlfriend of yours that you adore so very much. If you love her, I’m sure I can find a way to love her too.”

  He chuckled and poured her a drink. “Sure you have time for this?”

  She shrugged. “I have a big exam in a few hours, but that doesn’t matter. I’ll still make the test.”

  Sully stared at her. This wasn’t like her. “Did you study?”

  “A little. Honestly, Sull, I don’t care.”

  He stared at her and could see her headed back into the downward spiral, self-pity infused thinking about Seth again. She started crying. He took her into his arms. He stroked her back. “Maybe I should go so you can get some sleep?”

  She looked up at him with pleading eyes. “No, please don’t go. I don’t want to
be alone tonight. Please stay with me.”

  He nodded. “What time is your exam?”

  “Nine.”

  Sully woke up at a quarter past eight the next morning.

  He was half sitting, half lying on the sofa with Kit asleep on his chest. He groaned. His head throbbed. He glanced over at the bottle of scotch, noticing that it didn’t have much left in it. When he brought it over it was half full. Now, it was almost gone. He glanced down at Kit who was passed out cold. He then remembered what Kit was telling him the night before about her exam. He could not let her miss this test because she was mourning her asshole ex-boyfriend. He shook her gently. “Kit! Kitty-Kat, c’mon baby, wake up.”

  “Hmm?”

  He panicked. She still wasn’t moving. He got up and she flopped back down onto the sofa. He ran into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. He then sprinted into her bedroom and found a clean pair of her jeans. He seized them along with her UCLA sweatshirt and her running shoes. He laid them on top of the sink in the bathroom and turned on the shower. He ran out to the sofa and hoisted Kit over his shoulder. She finally roused. “Sull? Ugh. Oh crap. I feel like shit. I think I’m gonna throw up. What are you doing? Where are you taking me?”

  He walked into the bathroom, opened the door to the shower stall, and carefully deposited her where the stream of the water from the showerhead hit her directly in the face while she lay there fully clothed.

  She let out a quick scream from the shock of the cold water. “Sully!”

  He pointed at her. “You have five minutes. Only five. And you better be dressed when I come knocking.” He walked out and shut the door behind him.

  He hurried over to the table and seized all the notebooks he saw, shoving them into her backpack, along with a thick, law book with highlight marks that lay open. He put the packed backpack next to the front door and walked into the kitchen, looking for a thermos. He found one and poured the coffee into it. He glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall, 8:20 a.m.

  He put the thermos next to the backpack, threw on his leather jacket and headed over to the bathroom where he pounded on the door. “Kit, are you ready?”

  “Five minutes, Sull.”

  “You don’t have an extra five minutes, Kit. I’ll meet you downstairs. I’m driving you to school. I’ve got your backpack.”

  “Ok.” She yelled with a full mouth of toothpaste.

  Sully waited out in the back alley, behind the carport, idling in his girlfriend’s Mercedes-Benz. Kit walked out wearing dark sunglasses and got into the car. She looked down and noticed her backpack on the floorboard.

  As Sully pulled out into traffic keeping his eyes trained alternatively in front of him and on the car’s side and rear view mirrors, he simultaneously handed her the thermos of coffee. “Careful, it’s hot.”

  She looked at him and grinned. “You made me coffee?”

  He nodded. “Where am I going, Kit?”

  “Take Sunset down to Hillgard and take a left.” She sipped the coffee carefully from the thermos and grinned again. She felt like crap, but was grateful that Sully had woken her up and shoved her into the shower.

  They reached a red light and she looked over at him, reaching over to grab his hand that rested on the gearshift. “Hey, thank you. I owe you big for this. If you wouldn’t have done all that I would have missed my exam and would have had hell to pay.”

  He looked over at her and grinned, took her hand in his, and kissed it. “You’re welcome.”

  “Breakfast on me afterward? Will you come back and pick me up?”

  He chuckled and sped along Sunset Boulevard. “Breakfast, yes. Who ever said I was coming back to pick you up? I was planning on sleeping in the car until you were done so I could take you back home. Your exam is probably gonna be about an hour, right?”

  She laughed. “Yes. In that case, I’ll show you where to park.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Kit felt butterflies churning in her stomach as she knocked on Joe’s front door. He opened the door and grinned, immediately pulling her into his arms. She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling relieved. She pulled back and gazed up into his caramel brown eyes seeing a light in them again that she hadn’t seen in months. She smiled. “You look like you again. I’ve missed you, Joe.”

  He smiled and kissed her on each cheek. “C’mon in to my drug free zone. Do you want a drink?”

  She stared at him and took a seat on the extra large, luxurious, suede sectional sofa. “Whatcha got?”

  “Soda, tea, sparkling water. Pick your poison.”

  She smiled. “I’d love some sparkling water.”

  He entered the kitchen and retrieved her drink. He took a moment and leaned on the counter to keep his balance. He closed his eyes and grimaced. Something was very wrong. He hadn’t admitted it to anyone. After Kit’s last lecture and a talking to from Sully and his bandmates, he had made a trip to rehab in London.

  His rehab went well and he left England afterward for France where he remained with family for several weeks afterward to clear his mind. He had only been in Los Angeles for a few days and realized he was in for the test of his life. He had already turned down dozens of invites to parties and put the kibosh on drop ins from his famous rock star friends that wanted to come over and party.

  Veronique’s unmistakable French accent wafted through the apartment. Joe heard her talking to Kit and introducing herself. He knew that was his cue to head back out. He pushed the concerns about his health to the back burner and made his way back to the living room. He smiled at Kit as he handed her the drink and put his arm around Veronique. He kissed her on the lips. “I see you’ve met my new wife.”

  Kit sat on the sofa stunned as the color drained from her face. She stared at the gorgeous, tall, slender, brunette glamazon with cat-shaped, light blue eyes. Veronique was surely a model. She was absolutely exquisite. She gulped and forced a grin. “Yes. She’s lovely, Joe. When did you two tie the knot?”

  Veronique gazed sweetly at Joe. “Two weeks ago.” She looked at Kit and smiled. “My parents know Joe’s family very well. We happened to run into each other in St. Tropez and put the pieces of the puzzle together. We got married at my parents’ chateau in the Loire Valley. It was so impromptu. I’m sorry you weren’t there. Joe says you two are childhood friends.”

  She nodded. “Yes, we are. Congratulations.” She looked at Joe. “I should probably go and leave you two lovebirds alone. I’m sure you want to get acclimated back to L.A. life.”

  He shook his head and Veronique smiled. “That’s nice of you, Kit, but I have to go meet up with the L.A. office of my agency. They said there may be some work for me here.”

  He smiled at Kit. “And besides, you said you wanted to talk to me. We need to catch up anyway. Veri will be gone all afternoon.”

  She nodded and kissed him. “I will.” She bent down and gave Kit a kiss on each cheek. “Pleasure meeting you, Kit. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you quite a bit.”

  Kit nodded. “Likewise.”

  Veronique gave Joe an affectionate goodbye as he walked her to the door and gave her a long kiss, professing his love in French as she grabbed her handbag and walked out. He shut the door and returned, smiling at Kit. “Isn’t she great? And I don’t even have to worry about her taking me for my money. She’s from a wealthy family and she totally gets me. She’s an artist too. She models for the fun and travel, but is an amazing sculptor. Isn’t that crazy?”

  Kit wanted to be happy for him, but felt nauseated. She shifted her eyes away from Joe and stood up. The door of opportunity that had been open all her life had been slammed shut in her face. She was too late. “I have to go.”

  He stood in front of her and braced her shoulders, frowning. “Kit, what’s wrong? Talk to me. You said you wanted to talk about something really important. I’m here to listen. Look at me.”

  Her eyes met his and she scrambled to find the words. She felt like a fool. “You seem really happy with her. It’s good to see
you healthy and happy again.”

  He stared at her, completely unconvinced. “Sit. We’re talking. You just lied to me. I could see it in your eyes. Do you not like her? Maybe I should get you two together so you can get to know her. I swear you’ll love her. She’s a lot like you. She doesn’t put up with my shit for a second!” He chuckled. She sat down and couldn’t face him. He sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders, sensing there was something still bothering her. “What’s up?”

  She looked at him. “I really should go.”

  He faced her and folded his arms. “Ok, now you’re being weird. Kit, what were you going to tell me? Spit it out. We’ve been best friends since we were seven. You can tell me anything. I swear I won’t judge you. Just say what’s on your mind.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes and she shook her head. She didn’t want to tell him, but he had backed her into a corner. “It’s not what’s on my mind, it’s what’s on my heart. I’ve been thinking about lots of things and I came to some conclusions but they just don’t matter anymore.”

  He continued to stare at her with growing concern. The Kit he knew was tough as nails and never showed her emotions or talked about how she was feeling. He wondered what was going on. “Why are you saying that? Kit, you’ve lost me. You’ve gone from the Kit I know to someone I’ve never met before.” He joked. “Are you the one on drugs now?”

  She reached her boiling point and stood up, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I fucked up, ok? I should have given you a chance. You were right. I’m not meant to be with a suit. I realized it when you were in rehab. All that talk about us getting together that you kept pushing on me when we got to L.A. actually felt right. I was resisting it. I was scared. I was coming here to ask you for a shot now that you’re clean, but I already have my answer. You’re happily married. Let me go, Joe.”

  He stood up and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she sobbed. He closed his eyes and felt even more confused. He got his thoughts straight and pulled back. He looked at her and brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Kit, sit down. Let’s talk, ok. I can tell you’re really freaked out and vulnerable right now, but I promise you that we’ll tread lightly through this, ok? I can’t let you leave here like this.”