Star Maker

by J. M. Nevins

“Remember how we talked the other day about the magazine?” Alexa had approached Kit with the possibility of starting an entertainment magazine together. She liked the idea, but hadn’t had the chance to evaluate it properly.

  “Mmm hmm.”

  She stared at her, grinning in anticipation. “Have you made a decision yet?”

  Kit sat up. “I haven’t, but I promise you I will before I head out of town. I have to make some calls before I can give you a firm yes. It’s on my high priority decision list.”

  She chuckled. “What else is on that list?”

  Kit sighed. “I need to give Lew an answer.”

  She smiled. “I hope it’s yes.”

  “We’ll see, Lex.”

  Three days later, Kit accepted a position with Diamond Records working on their legal team as a senior associate. She negotiated well and Lew agreed to all of her conditions, including lots of flexibility to work offsite, and juggling Gypsy Tango in addition to her legal duties.

  * * *

  Kit groaned and rolled over. Sully wrapped himself around her and nuzzled into her neck. He pulled her tighter. “Don’t go getting out of bed just yet.”

  She closed her eyes and leaned back against him. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I feel like I’m half dead. How much did we drink last night?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know and I don’t want to think about it, so let’s just lay here.”

  She rolled onto her other side to face him and giggled. “And be miserable together?”

  He chuckled. “Yes. Misery loves company, y’know.”

  She playfully shoved him. “I didn’t get that memo. Make yourself useful and call room service.”

  He grabbed the phone and placed an order for them. He rolled over to face her again. “They said they’ll be here in thirty minutes. That gives us thirty minutes to think of something to do or we can just lay here.”

  Kit giggled, teasing him. “Let’s just lay here and stare at the ceiling.”

  He shook his head and smiled as he started tickling her, moments later kissing her passionately. The phone rang loudly. She kissed his neck. “Don’t answer that.”

  He looked at her and grinned. “It might be something important. It will probably only take a sec.” He answered the phone. Seconds later she heard him ask who was calling. He handed the phone to her. “Told ya it was important. It’s Lew Diamond.”

  She looked surprised. She wondered if he had changed his mind about the terms of her employment. She wasn’t due to start work there until after the New Year. She took the receiver from Sully and sat up. “Hey, Lew, what’s up?” She tried not to laugh while attempting to fend off Sully who kept kissing her and touching her.

  “Congratulations, Kit!”

  She gave Sully a look of warning while she struggled to focus. “For what?”

  He chuckled. “You’re on the road, so you probably didn’t hear the announcement that hit the wire twenty minutes go.”

  Simultaneously someone started pounding on the hotel room door. Sully jumped up, threw on a pair of jeans, and opened the door to find Sean standing there. He spoke almost completely in sync with Lew’s voice on the phone.

  “Grammy noms came out. Gypsy Tango was nominated for best new artist.”

  Kit pulled the phone away from her, hastily wrapped the sheet around her body, and started jumping up and down on the bed like an excited little girl, screaming loudly with joy while Sully stood there in shock.

  She finally composed herself, let out a deep breath, and grabbed the receiver again. “Thanks for the news, Lew. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go tell the guys but it looks like they found out too. Our tour manager just told Sully.”

  “Tell the guys congratulations from me too. Fantastic work, Kit. We’re proud to have those guys in the Diamond family. We knew they were marked for success the moment we saw them.”

  “And we’re very happy to be a part of the Diamond family, Lew.”

  By the time Kit hung up the phone, the band and a few groupies had surfaced in their hotel room. They were all staring at Kit, who was still standing on the bed wrapped in a sheet.

  She smiled. “Congratulations, gentlemen! You have a Grammy nomination for best new artist.”

  They all started cheering. Sully jumped up onto the bed, stood in front of Kit, and kissed her. He gazed into her eyes. “This is so crazy. Am I dreaming?”

  She giggled. “No, baby. We are out of the jungle and it’s all beginning. Welcome to paradise.” They both screamed out with joy and started jumping on the bed again, laughing.

  As the limousine pulled past the gates and up the long driveway, Sully breathed a sigh of relief. He was home. He hadn’t seen the house since they left on tour back in June. He got out of the limousine and noticed Kit walking out to greet him. He smiled and held his arms open. They quickly got lost in each other, neither one of them wanting to let go. They would have stayed there for an eternity if it weren’t for the driver who snapped them back to reality.

  “Mr. Foxx, where would you like your bags and guitars?”

  Sully released Kit from his embrace and looked at him. “You can drop ‘em in the foyer. That’s fine. Thanks, man.”

  Kit threw her arms around his neck and gazed into his eyes. “Welcome home, baby.”

  He gave her a long kiss and then hugged her again tightly. “I have missed you so much.” He gazed into her emerald eyes and stroked her cheek. “God, you’re beautiful.”

  She gave him another kiss. “Thank you, baby. I’ve missed you too.” She took his hand. “C’mon, let’s go in. You look exhausted.”

  He threw his arm around her. “That’s a serious understatement.”

  Sully slowly got out of bed and threw on his robe. He strolled over to the French doors and stepped out onto the large balcony that overlooked the grounds and the city. He took a deep breath and grinned with contentment. The Santa Ana conditions had blessed Los Angeles with a clear, warm, December day. Days like these made Sully love living in Southern California.

  He slowly closed his eyes and pressed his face up in the direction of the morning sun, taking in a few rays. This was the first time he had left the bed in two days. The rest of the time was spent in deep sleep or mid-snooze, occasionally eating a bite or two that Kit brought to him.

  His doctor had stopped by and encouraged him to stay in bed and get rest. He was suffering from severe dehydration and exhaustion. His body felt weak still, but his spirit felt stronger than ever. He loved being back home knowing that Kit was in close proximity and that they could spend some time together without wild parties, clingy entourages, or probing press hounds.

  He braced himself on the balcony railing with both hands and slowly stretched out his back, letting his neck hang down for a moment. He looked back up and looked again at the backyard. His attention was suddenly drawn to the guesthouse. He frowned. It looked taller and slightly different in a way he couldn’t seem to pinpoint. He shrugged it off, thinking he had been gone way too long and his imagination was playing tricks on him. He took a seat at the small table on the balcony and enjoyed the view.

  Kit walked into the bedroom. She noticed the French doors open and walked out to the balcony where Sully was sitting in his robe. She smiled. “You’re up early.”

  “Mmm, it’s such a beautiful day.” He reached for her. She walked over to him and he pulled her into his lap.

  She gazed into his eyes and stroked his cheek. “How you feeling, sweetie?”

  He grinned. “A lot better now with you sitting in my lap.” He chuckled. “Actually, I am feeling more rested. Still a little weak, but better than yesterday.”

  She gave him a kiss on the lips. “Good.”

  “I think I’m ready to get up and around today, for real.”

  She chuckled. “For real, huh? You go ahead and do that, love. I need to get some work done. Come down and find me later when you’re up to it.”

  She was about to get up when he gent
ly pulled her back onto his lap. He chuckled. “Don’t go leaving just yet. Gimme some more of that lovin’.” Moments later they were back in the bedroom on the bed, wrapped up in each other, and making up for lost time.

  Sully padded down the stairs hours later, freshly showered, and more alive than he had felt in months. He heard Kit’s voice coming from her office. He headed into the room and plopped himself into one of the chairs in front of her large desk. She smiled at him and continued her conversation, holding one finger up as a signal to wait a moment while she wrapped up the call.

  She hung up the phone and looked at him. “You look good.”

  He grinned. “Thanks. I feel good. You made me feel really good.”

  She giggled. “That was a fun romp in the middle of the morning, wasn’t it?”

  He nodded. “I definitely want to do more of that while we have this time off.”

  “Oh yeah, you can plan on that.”

  He looked around the office. “Things look different. Like it’s bigger or something.”

  She nodded. “I knocked out the wall and took the space from the bedroom next to it for expansion. Really, we don’t need eight rooms when it’s just you and me.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Maxine moved?”

  “Yep. She moved in with her boyfriend, Brad. They got a condo up off the Strip on Larrabee.”

  “Cool.”

  Kit got up and went over to Sully, taking his hand to pull him out of the chair. “C’mon. There are some changes to the place that I’ve made over the last six months. I want you to see ‘em.”

  She showed him the new weight room that was now next to her office and an expanded entertainment room. There were no changes to the second floor—there were still five large bedrooms and one enormous master bedroom. Kit saved the biggest change for last knowing Sully would love it.

  She led him out to the backyard. He followed her lead. When they approached the guesthouse, he realized that his earlier suspicion had been correct. It was slightly larger and had a double-door entrance.

  He looked at Kit. “Did this get taller and wider?”

  “Yep. We got a permit to go up and we expanded out into the side yard.”

  He frowned. “Why? Is someone going to be moving in here?”

  She chuckled. “Not exactly, but someone may spend so much time out here that they’ll practically live here.” He stared at her in anticipation, not following the cue. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a key. She handed it to him. “Here, why don’t you do the honors?”

  He took the key from her and put it into the lock hearing a click. The knob turned easily. He stepped in and gasped looking at what lay before him. Kit squeezed by him and off to the side to type in an alarm code. She had an alarm system installed for this building alone. It was on a separate grid from the main house, on purpose.

  He looked at Kit. “Is this what I think it is?”

  She smiled. “We’ve got our very own studio, babe. Welcome to 14,400 cubic feet of acoustically sound recording. The live room has walnut floors and the highest ceiling is twenty five feet.” The control room has twelve-foot ceilings, forty-eight track boards, and all kinds of other goodies that you can’t even imagine. There’s a lounge with a bar and TV too.

  Sully stared in complete awe, a smile forming on his face. He headed into the control room, looked around, and took in every inch of it with his eyes. He reached out to touch the boards briefly as he looked up through the glass and into the live room. “Is that a grand piano?”

  Kit nodded. “It’s a brand new, mic’d semi-grand piano.” She smiled as she watched him survey not only the glorious Steinway piano, but the other instruments from afar. He turned around and smiled looking like a little boy on Christmas morning that realized Santa Claus had made due. “Can I try it?”

  “Sure. Let’s get everything turned on.” Kit started flipping switches and directing Sully to do the same. She was thankful she remembered everything Fred had taught her. He had walked her through it several times.

  Once they were at full power, Sully rushed into the live room, took a seat at the black semi-grand piano, grabbed the set of headphones laying on top of the piano, put them on, and started playing. When he hit his first chord, a huge smile appeared on his face and Kit giggled in the control room as the mics picked it up, pumping sound through the speakers and registering it on the EQ.

  Sully sang the song he wrote for her. She watched him for a moment and then started playing with the boards a bit, changing a level or two and watching the EQ lights as his voice and the piano came through loud and clear on the speakers. She wasn’t nearly as proficient as Fred, but it still sounded amazing. She squealed with delight and returned her attention to Sully who was halfway through the song at the bridge.

  When he finished the song, she found the button to turn on the mic in the control room that projected effortlessly into his headphones. “Great work, Mr. Foxx. That’s a wrap.”

  He looked at her and laughed. He took the headphones off and got up to return to the control room. He took her into his arms and kissed her. He pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

  She smiled. “I think you’ve told me that a time or two before, but I never get sick of hearing it.”

  He looked around again and then took a seat in one of the chairs in front of the boards. He playfully pushed a few faders and then looked up at Kit, grinning from ear to ear. “How did you do this?”

  “With a whole lot of help.”

  He smiled. “Thank you. This is awesome. I love it.”

  She stroked his back. “You’re welcome. It’s for you and the rest of the band, but I’m not the only one you need to thank. Fred has spent almost every day here for the last six months overseeing the construction and the installation.”

  Sully’s eyes widened. “Wow! That’s a lot of work. Is he going to come by today?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I doubt it, now that the work’s finished and you’re home. His work is done. By the way, I let him take care of your Ferrari as a bonus to what I was paying him.”

  Sully chuckled. “Really?”

  “Yep. He took it out to lunch everyday. Drove it around Hollywood, took it on the freeway. Nothing crazy, just enough to keep the engine running well. He did the same with my BMW while I was out on the road with you. He used to tell me it was lunch with the Italian and dinner with the German.”

  “Get him over here if you can. Let’s take him to dinner. Do you know what he drinks? I’d like to get him a gift or something as a thank you.”

  Kit wracked her mind to recall any hint that Fred had mentioned in the past. “From what I can remember, he loves fancy tequila.”

  Sully laughed loudly. “Fancy tequila? What the hell is that? What kind?”

  She shrugged her shoulders and chuckled. “I dunno, but he did mention that he likes expensive tequila.”

  He nodded. “Ok. I’ll go find him some fancy tequila. I think I’m gonna take my Italian Stallion out for a spin. It’s been a long while. Wanna join me, babe?”

  She shook her head. “Would love to, but I’ve got a conference call in five minutes. I’ll call Fred while you’re out.”

  He stood up and kissed her. “Great. Can we order the food in tonight when we have Fred over? The last thing I want to do is go to another restaurant. A private dinner at home is more my speed.”

  She nodded. “You got it. I’ll get take out from Spago.”

  Sully raised his eyebrows. “Spago does take out?”

  Kit shook her head. “No, but Lex knows Wolfgang because she’s gone there so much over the last three years and he catered her engagement party months ago, remember? I’ll have her put in a call. What do you want?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever. Pick something for me. You’re a good decision maker. You know what I like.” He winked and patted his jeans pocket feeling for his keys out of habit. He looked momentarily perplexed and then searched
Kit’s eyes. “Where are my keys, babe?”

  She chuckled and took his hand. “C’mon, let’s go back in the house and get ‘em.” She walked into her office, reached into the top drawer of her desk, and grabbed them. She threw them to Sully. “You’ve been gone way to long.” She playfully teased him. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to find your way back home?”

  He laughed. “I sure hope so, but don’t be surprised if you get a call from me lost on Sunset Boulevard.”

  She giggled as she took a seat behind her desk, fumbling around for her notepad and pen to be ready for the conference call that was due at any minute.

  Sully walked into the garages, past Kit’s silver BMW, and smiled when he saw his car parked in the second stall, sparkling like it had been freshly waxed. He hit the button for the second door to open. As a beam of sunlight entered the garage, it hit the side of the car and gleamed more brilliantly. The car was spotless and shinier than Sully had remembered and wondered what Fred had done to it. He took his hand and ran it gently along the side of the car, admiring it. He felt grateful Fred had taken such great care with it.

  He got in the car, revved the engine, cranked up ZZ Top on the stereo, and rolled down the windows. As he headed down Sunset Plaza Drive toward the Sunset Strip, he grinned feeling the breeze blow through his hair. He decided to drive over to Gil Turner’s, the best liquor store in the area, in hopes of finding a fine bottle of tequila that Fred would enjoy.

  Sully cranked up the stereo and enjoyed violating the speed limit as he raced along Sunset Boulevard wondering if he had been temporarily possessed by Joe’s spirit, remembering his fondness for speeding and reckless driving. He took in the sites and was entertained with the Strip during the day, enchanted that it carried an entirely different vibe. He enjoyed the memories that came to mind as he shifted gears and sped along.

  When he got to the red light at the corner of Clark Street and Sunset, he smiled looking up at the Whisky-a-Go-Go—the venue where it all started for him and the band three years prior. He was slipping into a self-induced nostalgic daze when the sounds of girls screaming jarred him back to reality. A high pitched voice screamed “Oh my God, it’s Sully Foxx from Gypsy Tango!”