Fearless (12 page)

“Well, the gods must be happy with me today. Actually, Niki and I were planning on going to New York around that time, anyway.”

Manny’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline and he and Jeff gave each other a look. “Niki? Sounds like you’ve met one of these hot California girls to call your own,” he teased.

“Well, she’s something special and I want you to meet her…you and everyone back home. I want to show her where I grew up, where I went to high school, have her meet Jimmy and my mom. You’re gonna love her…what?” I stopped talking as I noticed the two of them laughing at me. Then Manny made a gesture in the air like he was cracking a whip and accented it with the sound one makes as it snaps.

“Pussy whipped!” He chortled, his face wrinkled up in laughter and he tipped in Jeff’s direction like he was telling him a secret about me, but out loud for everyone to hear.

I scowled. “Bite me.” I quickly rubbed the bar top with a rag.

Still snickering, Manny slid off his bar stool and Jeff followed suit. “Well, I’m glad for you, man. Hit me up when you are back in Thunder Ridge. Bring your girl around. I’m sure we’ll all scare her off when she meets us. Make sure you bring her to the Oxford Tap, I’m still working there. I’ll throw you out again, just for shits and grins…not her, just you.” He knocked back the last ounce of his beer and slammed his third empty glass down on the bar top, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He turned to Jeff, “You finished?” He nodded. “Let’s roll.” I came around from behind the bar to say goodbye.

“Jeff and I are heading to the beach to check out some of those skinny bitches you have around here. Wanna come?”

“Nah, I gotta help out here. Catch you later.”

“Your loss. Stay safe, bro.”

“You too, Manny. And thanks for the heads up about my mom.”

We all gave each other hugs, with accompanying manly back slaps, and I walked them to the door of Rookies. As I stood there, watching them walk away, Niki’s face appeared in my head. It was unexpected and I focused on it for a while. I thought of her eyes, her smile, her soft voice. What the fuck? I thought of Niki every minute of the day. And for the life of me, I couldn’t remember a time when I’d ever felt this way about a girl before. There was something about Niki that made me think of things I normally wouldn’t. Things that were authentic and honest. Shit, Manny was right, I’ve got it bad. I can’t believe a guy like me, a roving, injured, motocross rider, with a therapist named Jack Daniels, would even catch her eye for a second, let alone that she would agree to go to New York with me.

I walked back behind the bar and thought of her again, how her long dark hair fell around her bare shoulders when we were alone and she pulls off her top for me. Then when she opens her bra and her tits bounce out…fuck, I just want to put them in my mouth.

Damn, I had to adjust myself again.

Chapter 12

Niki

“Hey, hun, are you sure your dad is going to transfer your part of the rent this month? I don’t see anything in the account.” Kat looked up from her laptop screen with a worried look on her face. Her bare, tan legs dangled from the stool she sat in at the kitchen breakfast bar, wearing shorts and tank top.

“That figures. I knew he would use his money, and my lack of it, to gain control and show that he’s in charge. I’ll give him a call right now.” I was gathering up my large, canvas, tote bag that I used as a book bag and my notebooks to take to class at the Fashion Institute. I retrieved my phone and brought up my dad’s cell number from the contact list, but as soon as the call connected it went straight to voice mail.

 “Hey Dad. Give me a call back. It’s important.”

I scowled at my phone before shoving it in my bag. I needed to get to class soon or I would be late again. I had been ditching class and going in late because of spending time with Jesse. I couldn’t help myself. He had me wrapped around his little finger. I didn’t know if that was a good thing, but I didn’t care.

The more I learned about Jesse, the more I wanted to be with him, to spend every second with him. Jesse was the kind of guy who had swag, that spark, that indescribable thing, whatever it’s called, that’s absolutely perfect. It made him appealing and sexy as hell, just being the person he was put on this Earth to be. He had no question about how he fit into the world; I suppose that’s what gave him his incredible confidence. Some people are expert shoppers, and Jesse was good at being his charming self.

I acted like a star-struck teenager around him. Lost all of my rational thoughts. I knew I would have to fight my dad to keep him. But how? My dad seemed to hold all the cards right now: he paid my rent, bought my food, paid for my car
and
car insurance; not to mention he funded my tuition for fashion classes, which he finally conceded to. I didn’t know what my dad feared most, losing control or Jesse. All I knew was Jesse made me feel so secure. He made everything seem so clear. I couldn’t resist. I just needed to convince my dad of how I felt.

“You know, Niki, if he doesn’t pay, I can lend you the money this month, but one month is all I can cover you for. I’m trying to save up money for studio time.”

Anxiety twirled in my stomach. I would feel like a real heel if she had to do that. It was Kat’s dream to make it as a singer and songwriter. What the hell was Dad up to now? It wasn’t unlike him to pull some crazy shit on me to regain control.

I’d like to think that I had made good decisions in my short life, and this one, choosing Jesse, was one of the good ones, although my dad was chipping away at my self-confidence. That’s his strategy and I really hate it; he chips away from underneath until I feel like the whole world will fall out from under my feet and, of course, he’ll be the only one there to save me. Well, save me with his money, that is. His moral support hasn’t been the type to earn him the ‘World’s Best Dad’ coffee mug for Father’s Day.

“I promise I’ll get the money, hun. When are you going to record your songs?”

“I saved up two grand but I was told I needed five. It’ll pay for five days in the studio. I just hope it will be enough time to record and mix my CD. Pete seems to think so, and wants us to start now. He says he can do it for two grand.”

“Who is Pete?”

“Some guy I met after my gig at Key Club. He said he could give me a good deal at West Side Studios.”

I turned around from searching the clutter on the coffee table for my favorite note-taking pen. “That sounds almost too good to be true. Are you are sure he wasn’t just trying to hit on you?”

“Ha, who knows? He gave me his card.” Kat dug in her oversized Coach purse. It was so large it nearly swallowed her head as she poked around inside of it. “I know it’s in here somewhere.”

It didn’t do Kat any good that purses were designed with all those extra pockets on the inside for things such as business cards. Kat always threw anything and everything into the bottomless pit of the largest compartment, like it was some kind of expensive, leather covered, junk drawer.

“Let me look.” I grabbed her bag and emptied the contents on the table. “Is this it? Pete Brannon, Music Producer.” I handed her a flashy business card.

“Yep, that’s him. What do you think?”

“It looks real enough. Give him a call and get it rolling. I promise I’ll get the money for the rent from my dad. I just have to do a little more sucking up to him.”

“Thank you, hun. Making this CD is one way I can get to the next step in my career. Having a professionally produced showreel will help me get better gigs. Plus, I can sell copies of the CDs after my performance.”

“That sounds awesome.” I glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Oh shit, I need to be in class… like twenty minutes ago. Let me know when you need me to design some, ‘I heart Kat’ T-shirts to sell at your gigs.” I laughed and twirled my car keys as I headed for the door.

“Absolutely.” I left Kat with a huge grin on her face.

~*~*~*~

My phone was on silent but I could still hear the buzzing. “Hello?”

“Niki, there you are. Have you calmed down since our last face to face?”

“Dad, what’s going on? Why didn’t you transfer the rent money? I thought we had an agreement?”

“What about that boy, Jesse? Is he still around?”

“Da-ad…” I said with exasperation. I heard him snort with a ‘humph’ in response.

“You know, Niki, I really didn’t appreciate the way you behaved at the house at Cinnamon’s birthday party. I was very disappointed and you upset Cinnamon. It was her special day and you ruined it with your little tantrum.”

“Well, you weren’t exactly being very nice to Jesse or me. How could you say those things?”

“Look, a father has to be protective of his daughter against any suitor. It’s an unwritten law and you know me, I take the law seriously. Promise me that you’ll listen to me. Jesse is trouble. A father can tell. It’s not your job to solve everything.”

“Well, Dad, you’re wrong about him. I’m not fifteen years old anymore. I can decide for myself if a guy is trouble or not. Once you get to know Jesse you’ll see that he’s a really nice guy.”

“I have my doubts, but let’s talk about it soon. I’ll pay the rent this time.”

“Thank you, dad. See you soon.”

I quickly hung up and texted Kat::

“
Okay, he’s not gonna cut me off…yet,
” to let her know that my dad would pay the rent today and that she should go ahead and book the recording studio.

I immediately got a reply:

“Already booked! J We start recording Monday. Sooo excited.”

~*~*~*~

“Niki, you’re driving,” Kat said and threw me her key fob.

“Sure,” I replied and cranked the engine. Kat was nervous. It was her first time recording, in a professional studio, with a seasoned music producer. With two thousand dollars of her savings invested, it had better go well.

When we arrived at West Side Studios in Hollywood, we found ourselves in front of a large gray metal gate. I pushed a black intercom button and announced to a squawking voiced fellow that we were here for Studio C. The gate slowly swung open and we parked at the back.

From the outside, the building didn’t look like anything special; smooth gray concrete walls and unobtrusive rectangular windows were certainly not very glamorous, considering it was supposed to be a world class recording studio. But as soon as we entered the lobby, the difference was like night and day; we could tell this was a classy place. The décor was all minimalist and sleek, with fluid designs that popped with touches of bright colors throughout the reception area. The floor was polished cement and I couldn’t help but admire the wooden ‘floating stairs’ leading up to who knows where. It all looked very stunning and spacious.

“I can’t believe you get to record your first album in a studio like this,” I whispered, as we walked in, as if the echo of my voice might disturb the serenity of the room design. I was as excited as a stage mom for Kat at her first professional recording session. I hovered around her, primping her hair, pushing a stray strand into place. She swatted my hand away, nervously scanning the lobby for the reception desk.

“What can I help you girls with?” a young and gorgeously handsome man asked from behind the desk. His smile was so bright he could have lighted the entire northern half of the hemisphere with it. Hollywood was probably the only place where waitresses and desk clerks looked drop dead gorgeous.

Kat squared her shoulders, stepped up and announced, “I’m here to work with Pete Brannon,” like she did this every day of her life.

“Who? Pete Branon? Are you sure? We don’t have a Pete Brannon working here.” He very authoritatively checked a computer screen behind the counter, as if it might reveal some secret information he didn’t already know.

Kat’s head swiveled towards mine then back to the cute guy. “Maybe he’s just freelancing. He said he works here all the time,” Kat said, her voice cracking as her spirit sank.

The cute guy’s smile disappeared and it seemed like the lights dimmed. “Sorry, I know everybody who comes here and I’ve never heard of him. Are you sure it was here at West Side you were supposed to work?”

Kat’s shoulders hunched forward and her face was pale as a corpse. I stepped up next to her and interjected, “Kat, give me his business card and I’ll give him a call right now.”

I entered the number as Kat read it off to me but all I got was a recording saying the number was out of service.

“Bad news, hun. The number’s no good.” I cringed and wrinkled my nose as I delivered the bad news. “Kat, hun, I think you’ve been scammed.” We turned away from the desk and stepped over near one of the sleek black designer couches in the waiting area. “Good thing you didn’t pay him anything yet.”

“Fuck! I
did
pay him. He told me the studio needed the money up front in order to get the cheap rate of $2,000 instead of $5,000. Shit!” Kat dropped down on the couch, defeated. “Niki, what the hell am I going to do? It took me six months to save up that money. ”

The cute guy from behind the desk came up from behind and addressed Kat. “Sorry about what happened. Are you okay?” He handed Kat a paper cup of water. He seemed genuinely concerned and I was heartened to see that not everyone in Hollywood was an aspiring douchebag.

“It’s not the first time I’ve heard of a scam like that,” he said.

Kat looked up at him with embarrassment in her eyes and took the cup. “Thanks. I can’t believe I fell for it. I guess when you get desperate enough you tend to believe what you want to hear.” She snort laughed. “Sucks to be me.”

“No, hun. Don’t beat yourself up about it. That son of a bitch needs his ass kicked for taking advantage of you. And our new friend here…” I had to read the desk clerk’s name badge, since I didn’t know his name. “Our friend…
Elvis
? …here is gonna report that guy for you.”

I turned to the desk clerk with a puzzled look. “Elvis? Really?”

He shrugged and laughed. “The guys and I get a little bored here sometimes and make up fake name tags, you know, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe… any name from the stars on the Hollywood sidewalk.”