The Bet (2 page)

The
sell-out crowd loved Knight’s Armor as much as the band loved performing for
them. They were an enthusiastic and spirited crowd to say the least.

In
the band’s eye line, they noticed that this evening, the women were looking especially
beautiful. The audience hung on Chris’ every word as he walked along a
custom-built circular ramp with its steel path weaved around the circumference
of the theatre.

Gabrielle
admired her boyfriend’s performance as Chris made memories for his fans by
holding hands and dancing with the girls..

During
one fan interaction of the Knight’s Armor classic ballad ‘Night Moves’, Chris
made his way over to the left side of the stage ramp where lead guitarist Tate Masterson
played. He noticed out of the corner of his eye, a young woman in her early
twenties taking photos of him as he went past his band mate and around the ramp.
Slapping the hands of fans along with way, he decided to shock the young woman
by stopping right in front of her.

Paralyzed,
the young lady stopped taking photos and stared at the lead singer.

“Wait
a minute! Wait a minute!” He told the crowd as the band went into an
instrumental version of the song. The crowd erupted at hearing him speak.

Chris
smiled with kindness at the petite young woman in front of him. Still
motionless, he pulled her up on stage and the audience roared. Nervous, the
young photographer toyed with her long, brown hair. Her olive skin complimented
the gold Knight’s Armor tank top and blue jeans she wore. To subdue her
uneasiness, he placed one arm around her and pointed at the camera she had in
her hand.

“Hi,
how are you. What do we have here?” he asked

The
woman was speechless. Her only actions were to nod in acknowledgement, wave,
smile, and give him the camera.

The
crowd thundered with laughter. “Mmmm. Okay? I take it there are some pics of me
in here?” Chris asked her.

Feeling
her face grow hot from embarrassment, she told him. “Yes. And of Tate.”

The
crowd screamed loudly for Tate, who saluted the young woman and rest of the
crowd with a wave.

Chris
looked up at his good friend and lead guitarist, then pointed at him. “Look at
Masterson with the fans! I suppose there’s some pictures in here of Rychert,
Osborn and Cage too?” he asked

The
fan snickered and replied, “No.”

“No?
There’s no pics of them in here, baby?” The woman’s breath became shallow as
she listened to the lead singer’s husky voice. Her large brown eyes were as
wide as saucers when she glanced into Chris’ eyes. It took everything in her to
open her mouth to answer his question. “No, you and Tate are my favorites.” She
looked over at the other guys and flashed a weak smile at the three. “Sorry
guys.”

The
screams continued followed by a lone, but audible marriage proposal for Redmond
Cage.

Chris
laughed at the marriage proposal while he tried to figure out how to work the
camera. “While Cage mulls over his wedding proposal, are you taking at least
good pictures of me?”

Still
speechless, the woman nodded yes.

Despite
the screams, Chris kept trying to figure out how to advance the camera frames.

“Let
me see now... How do you advance this thing?” he asked

With
playful interest, Chris watched her instruct him on using the advance button on
the camera’s playback menu.

Chris
was definitely having fun with his young fan. The fact that she was easy on the
eyes didn’t hurt either. Out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but to
admire the woman’s slender body and voluptuous breasts that seemed as if they
were going to spill out and over her tank top.

Although
he was very much in love with Gabrielle, the singer had to remind myself for a
second that he was no longer able to act as if he were a kid in a candy store.

Enjoying
the pictures of both he and Tate, he leaned over and gave her peck on the
cheek. “Thanks. babe. I wish there were a way to show these to everyone. These
are good. Hey, do you mind if I take a couple of pics?”

“No,
go ahead,” she replied.

When
he pointed the camera at the audience, the crowd went wild. “Say cheese!” he said
as he pressed the shoot button. As the flash went off, he looked back at the
photo, which didn’t turn out so well. “Whoa, should I have used that flash?” he
asked her.

“No
Chris. With the lights on from this vantage point, it’ll make the pictures
darker,” she said.

“Well,
now. Let’s try this again.” Pressing the non-flash button as the crowd erupted,
Chris pointed the camera at the audience and band members, snapping frame after
frame for several seconds.

While
the band continued to play instrumentally, Chris continued his flirtations with
the girl.

“Okay.
Let’s see if it worked this time,” he told her.

On
the jumbo screen, the crowd followed as Chris advanced the camera into the next
frame. He smiled in approval. “All right. I did okay with this thing. How do
you think I did?”

“Your
pics are great Chris,” she said in disbelief over what was occurring.

Chris
gave the camera back to her. “Your pics are good. Very good. Thanks for showing
them to me.”

He
slowly began to walk back up toward the stage but then unexpectedly, he turned
and walked over to her again. “Wait a minute, you know what? Can you do me a
favor?” he asked.

“Sure,”
she said.

“Can
you take a picture of me and my girlfriend? She’s never been up here before and
she loves this shirt I’m wearing. So, I thought that since she was backstage
tonight, it’d be nice to get a picture of us together doing what I do best.” He
propped another kiss on the woman’s forehead and winked at her.

The
girl nodded in approval.

“Okay.”

The
crowd erupted with thunderous applause. From the corner of the stage, Gabrielle
looked at Chris in horror. Chris snickered. He motioned for Gabrielle to come out.
“C’mon, babe.” Standing on the side of the stage, Gabrielle folded her arms and
yelled, “No!”

“Oh
c’mon, they’re not gonna bite. Everyone, this is my girl Gabrielle. C’mon,” he
said with a wink of his eye.

She
mouthed the words, “Ass!”

Chris
laughed. “Here she comes.”

Petrified,
she walked onstage. The thought of so many eyes on her, scared her senseless. Meeting
her halfway up the stage, Chris met her with security in tow as fans were
beginning to tug at his every body part while he walked the ramp.

“Unreal!”
Gabrielle told him in his ear as the two of them both made their way back down
the steps and toward the woman

“Baby,
say hi to everyone,” He told her.

All
Gabrielle could do was wave to the audience. She also waved to the band that
continued to play despite their lead singer’s shenanigans.

“Okay,
now that we got that all out the way. This young woman is nice enough to take
our picture.”

Gabrielle
nodded and smiled at the young woman.

“Great!
Okay, ready?” Chris asked the girl.

The
girl enthusiastically nodded yes.

Chris
put his arm around Gabrielle and propped a quick kiss on top of her head. The
couple flashed a smile as the girl took one photo after another of the two of
them. When the girl finished, Chris walked over to her. “Okay. How do they
look?” he asked.

He
noticed that Gabrielle had quickly followed him and was looking over his
shoulder. The audience and the band began to laugh hysterically. Chris turned
to Gabrielle and smiled. “You know for someone who didn’t want to come out here,
you suddenly are all interested in what’s going on out here,” he snickered.

Gabrielle
nodded. “Yep. May I see those, hon?”she asked the woman.

Giving
Gabrielle the camera, the woman let her and Chris see the photos. “Nice” He
told the photographer as he looked through the camera images with pride. Showing
Gabrielle the photos he took, she appeared impressed. “See babe. I took these,”
he told her.

“These
are nice, Chris. You know, photography is a good hobby to look into when you go
on break.” Gabrielle said with a wink. Chris rolled his eyes at her statement.
“Think of all the sights you can take photos of while we’re on vacation.” She
teased as she continued to look through the photos.

“Your
photos are great too, hon,” Gabrielle told the young woman.

Chris
smiled at the photographer. “We’ll take all of them.”

The
young woman squealed with joy.

“Sure
Chris, I’ll give them to you!”

“Thanks!”
Chris said.

“Thank
you. They’re great,” Gabrielle told her giving the woman a kiss smack dead on
the lips.

Chris
raised his eyebrows with surprise.

Gabrielle
walked up the stage and waved goodbye to the audience. The crowd applauded
enthusiastically
and security brought the young woman back to her seat. Chris shook his head in amusement.
He turned to Tate. “Man, did my woman just upstage me?”

His
lead guitarist laughed. “She sure as hell did!”

“Tate,
if this had been on TV, I’d be out of a freakin’ job,” he told him and the
crowd.

“You?
All of us would,” Tate said.

Chris
laughed. “Then again, that’s my girl.”

After
a couple of nights of realizing that his efforts thus far had been fruitless,
Chris was impressed with Gabby’s ability to say no.

He
was so passionate when it came to her. He loved every part of her. Her smell,
her taste, and the way she moved beneath him. To make love, all it would
usually take would be a wink, nod or the slightest touch. In the middle of one
of their Vegas shows, Chris went to change his shirt backstage when a short-of-breath
Sam ran over to him.

“Hey
Sam, what’s up? Changing quickly while Tate’s doing a solo,” Chris said drying
himself off with a towel and gulping through half a bottle of water.

Winded,
Sam asked, “Hey you remember that girl from the other night, the one that you
were taking pictures with? “

Putting
on a new tank top, Chris nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well
she’s here. She has those photos that you wanted of you and Gabby.”

Chris
grinned as he sprinted toward the stage.

“Oh
cool. Why don’t you just get them from her and let her watch the show
backstage? I’ll be back to talk to her after the show.”

“Want
me to call Gabby?”

As
Chris went by the woman, he not only remembered how Gabrielle kissed her on the
lips, but he could not help but to still notice how beautiful, the young woman
was. Wearing an outfit similar to what she had on a couple of nights prior, his
thoughts turned to the woman, then to Gabby...and suddenly back to himself. Gabrielle’s
kiss with the young photographer began to play out in his quick daydream with a
result that he was grateful for wearing a long tank covering his swelling
member.
Would Gabby be into a threesome? Would she do it for me
?

Chris
acknowledged the woman by nodding his head and smiling. She grinned back from
ear to ear.

“No.
Don’t call her. I’ll take care of this myself. Make sure this girl stays
backstage ok?” Chris told Sam as he sprinted to the stage. He couldn’t help but
wonder for the rest of the night how Gabby would react to a threesome.

***

As
the band continued their show at the MGM Grand, Gabrielle decided skip the
evening’s show to talk with her older brother, Tyler, via phone.

Tyler,
who was also one of Chris’ best friends, asked his sister on the other end of
the phone, “You only saw Chris play once since you’ve been there?”

Looking
at the calendar, she realized that her time was running out quickly.

“I
guess so Tyler. I’ve been here for a week now and had no clue. I’ve been
hanging out with my old friends at Rockline and or doing other stuff. We’re
here for another show so I’ll probably go to that. I’ll make sure to have Chris
and Tate call you. You’re missing some great gambling. this time out.”

“Are
you breaking even? I have to go anyway. I have a date. It is Valentine’s Day, you
know.”

“Shit!
It is? “Gabrielle’s eyes opened wide. “Oh God. I totally forgot it was
Valentine’s Day. And this bet thing? I don’t know. Well, I’m actually ahead
money wise at the tables. I won a few hands of Blackjack,” she said as she
placed her hand over her mouth.

“Bet?
What bet?” Tyler asked.

“I
thought I’d told you. Trust me, it’s probably better that you don’t know. You’d
laugh,” she told him as she began to play with her hair.

She
could hear laughter on the other end of the phone. “Oh, this must be good…
spill, sis,” her brother pleaded.

“Chris
bet me that he could get me into bed with one of his trademark maneuvers.”

Tyler
laughed hysterically on the other end. “Oh my God. He must be hornier than a
goat. He sucks at hitting on women. No disrespect, sis.”

Gabby
looked at the phone receiver and rolled her eyes at her brother. “He’s sweet
when he’s himself, not when he’s the rock persona everyone else knows. Maybe
it’s funny because you and I both know him. I can’t believe I forgot it was
Valentine’s Day. I have no idea what we’re going to do. I’m going to lose this
bet. I know it, if he has something planned for tonight.”

“What
happens when you lose?” Tyler asked.

“I
have to go to every Giants home game when football is back on this fall.”

Several
seconds of silence went by before Tyler simply said, “Wow.”

“Wow?
That’s all you have to say, Tyler?”

“You
hate football. This is going to be rough for you,” Tyler said with a giggle.

“You’re
not even going to support me? I’m your little sister. What am I going to do? I
can’t say no to him on Valentine’s Day!”

“Ok,
what happens if he loses?” her brother asked on the other end.

“He
stays home for a while. No touring, no music, nothing. He becomes Mr. Stay-at-home
boyfriend. He even said he hoped to be…a future husband.” She revealed.

“What?
He’s a workaholic. How did you manage to get him to do that?” Tyler asked

“I
didn’t. He offered to,” she said.

“Gabby,
he loves you. Maybe this is his way of saying that he is ready for that next
step. He really said future husband?”

Gabby
paused before she answered. “Yes. He did.”

“I
don’t know, hon. He threw down a heavy commitment there.”

“He
did that because he was confident he’d win Tyler, that’s why. He’d never stop working
for that long.”

“Then
why did he come up with that? Out of all of the crazy things he could have
picked, he chose the one thing that part of him most likely wanted to do.
Something to think about, sis. I gotta get going. I have to pick up my date. Talk
to you tomorrow?” Tyler asked her.

Gabby
took a deep breath, inhaling all that her brother that told her. Maybe Chris
did want to stop for a bit and take a break. Maybe Tyler was right. “Ok. Love
you, bro. Have fun,” she said.

“Love
you too. Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said and ended the call.

Putting
down the receiver, she decided to unwind a bit before Chris came in after the
show.

Pouring
some wine in a glass that was on her nightstand, Gabrielle leafed through some
old photographs of her and Chris that the two of them took long before he
became famous. Sprawled on top of the bed in disorganized chaos, Gabrielle
picked up an old performance photo of Chris from his time playing at the Bowery
Club in their hometown of Bedford, New York.

Gabrielle’s
heart filled with joy at the sight of the picture. That time seemed so long ago
now. She turned the photograph over and recognized her own scribbled
handwriting. It read, ‘Chris-2001, Bowery Club VIP showcase, Meteor Records.’

It
was from the first night she saw him perform. Great in a lot of ways, but in
fact for Chris it was a horrible night. Chris’ old girlfriend and backup singer
showed up to sing stoned out of her mind and messed up their showcase
performance. Gabrielle, just an intern, was late; Chris was horrible to not
only her but to everyone that night.

She
remembered that, although he was upset and angry about how the night went, he
wound up apologizing the next day and eventually being one of the most charismatic
and loving people she had ever met.

His
looks were smoldering, those gray eyes, the long brown hair, the athletic
build. His moves were so catlike and intoxicatingly sensual that few men could
replicate them.

Their
relationship had always been such a physical one from the time they told one
another they loved each other. She was impressed she had fought it for as long
as she had.

She
chuckled at the thought of the young woman in the audience a few nights ago. She’d
forgotten what it was like to see him up close. He was breathtaking.

Like
he promised, each night, Chris tried to seduce her without result. At least
that’s what she wanted him to think.

Walking
into the bathroom to take a shower, she took off her sweater to reveal her
round curves and porcelain skin.

As
she walked to the mirror, Gabrielle began to free her long mass of blonde curls
from the ponytail. Chris loved how her hair cascaded down the small of her back
in different shades of blonde. The curls, as she brushed them, they transformed
into a sea of waves.

Gabrielle
set the brush down. She looked at herself in the mirror once more. Turning toward
her side, she noticed that her tummy was becoming a little round.

Surprised,
she raised an eyebrow. She had been eating a lot lately and not exercising as
much as she should due to work and moving into Chris’ new home. She told
herself that trips to the gym were definitely in order when she got home.

As
she undressed, her mind couldn’t help but think of her Chris once more and the
fact that it was Valentine’s Day. As she unzipped her jeans, her mind raced
with thoughts of him helping her out of them.

The
heat slowly crept up her thighs as thoughts of her boyfriend’s protective hands
around her small waist consumed her.

With
her clothes already off, she went over to the water running warm in the shower,
and jumped right in.

Little
by little, Gabrielle’s muscles relaxed under the water’s veil. She reached for
the body wash that was in the shower caddy next to her. Pouring it onto her
washcloth, its lather was rich, relaxing and full of lush scent. She smoothed
the washcloth all over her, continuing to inhale its essence.

Suddenly,
she felt two large hands wrap themselves around her waist…
For real this
time
.

“Mind
if I help?” Chris whispered. Gabrielle rolled her eyes at yet another attempt
of seduction.

“Yes.
But, I’m sure that you’re going to whether I want you to or not,” she said with
a wink.

Giving
him the washcloth, Chris continued to massage the lather into her back and
shoulders. “Mm mm. Feels nice,” Gabrielle moaned.

Walking
in front of her, he put his head underneath the running water raking his hands
through his long brown locks.

He
asked her, “Doesn’t it, babe?”

Gabrielle
couldn’t help but watch the water run over him. Droplets glistened over his
toned muscles and down his perfectly tanned six-pack abs. With every fiber of
her being, she begged herself not to give in to him. She had been holding up
perfectly. She had to stay strong.

Chris
slowly turned around to reveal his corded backside. With impish intent, he
seductively took the body wash and poured it all over his body. The suds
outlined every muscle to precision.

She
was so amused at the attempt, she began to clap wildly.

Chris
turned toward her, looking surprised.

“Well
done,” she said.

“Huh?”
Chris said.

“A
good try dear. Especially when you turned around just now,” Gabrielle added.

“Gabrielle,
I came in here because I knew you’ve been stressed out lately. We’ve haven’t
been spending a lot of time together either…I’m just trying-” Gabrielle
interrupted him.

“To
win this little bet,” she continued. “Chris, I’m all set. The shower is all
yours. Happy Valentine’s Day, babe.”

Taking
the towel from the rack behind her,, she draped it over her, waltzing out of
the bathroom.

***

Chris
turned his back again to the shower. He let the water rinse his thoughts away. He
had now become afraid of losing. He wasn’t ready to stay home and do nothing.

Knight’s
Armor had just gotten back together after a brief hiatus before this tour. He
and Tate, both as songwriters and as friends, had never been closer. In fact,
the whole band was never tighter as a unit. The more he thought about the
future of the band, the more he was having second thoughts on this bet.

When
they became a couple, Chris made a promise to her that everyone important to
him would come first. Since the band loved him, they had indulged him in those long
songwriting sessions and the occasional afternoon wake up call. Would it kill
him to stay home a bit more? In several years, he had never been home for more
than a month at a stretch. Maybe a long break wouldn’t be bad. But, there was
‘the pull.’ It was always driving him, wanting him to write something, play
something, and fix something. Lately, it was stronger than ever before. Afraid
that he would lose the most creative part of him because he would be at home,
the bet now bothered him.

He
did have one last thing that he could try and that was in the lobby. Rinsing
off one last time, he couldn’t help but wonder how all of this would go over.

It
could make things better, or his relationship could be over. Gabrielle was
open-minded about many things; maybe this last-minute Valentine’s Day gift
would do the trick.

Taking
a couple of towels from the caddy, he decided to give it a go.

Wrapping
one towel around him and drying his hair with the other, he sped out of the
bathroom and quickly put on jeans and a t-shirt.