Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.
I feel a shiver from head to toe. The audience begins to applaud. The music carries on and suddenly I realize that the bar is in complete silence. I open my eyes and realize that most of those present are staring at me. They're not booing or throwing cans on to the stage. It's got to be a good sign, right?
I break into a half-dull smile, and close my eyes again, dipping into the verses of the song. When I utter the last words, the audience bursts into applause, taking me by surprise and making Alan and the boys proud.
We continue, mixing up slow songs and more lively ones, and the audience doesn’t stop dancing. After we play She will be loved, Alan announces a twenty-minute break, which is super welcome, as I'm dying of thirst and heat.
Away from the public eye, the three of them just embrace me, happily.
"Julie, it was amazing! Our show never had such energy!” Brian, the drummer, says as he hugs me.
"Congratulations." I thought you wouldn't handle it, but you caught me by surprise” Levi, the bassist, throws me a wink.
"You were amazing on stage... and your voice drove all the guys crazy at the bar. Even me”, Alan whispers in my ear and blows a kiss to my neck.
I feel a chill. It strikes a chord why women keep screaming when he shows up. If I wasn't in love with Danny and wasn't 100% sure that Alan would shred my heart after devouring me, I'd melt at his feet and take my place in the line - pretty long, by the way - of Alan Hunt's conquests.
"Thank you," I speak to everyone, moving away from Alan's seductive touch. “It was great.” I fail to speak out the words to demonstrate how thrilled and happy I am. I smile at them and ask permission to speak to Rafe, who is coming to meet us.
"Julie, what a show! People are crazy about you. Danny's going to kill me, but I'm sure it was the best decision I've ever made.” He laughs and gives me a very tight bear hug. Rafe's cute, even in his somewhat serious way.
"Thank you! Coming from you, that's a top-compliment. Thank you so much for letting me do this. I need a drink of water and I wanted to talk to George and Jo before I get back on stage.”
“Of course. They're there by the bar. I'm going to go talk to the boys.”
I give a kiss to Rafe and go straight to the bar. On the way, people smile at me and I give it back happily.
I look around and I see George waving like crazy at me. I start laughing. He is hilarious when he does that, he seems like a little girl who just got a new Barbie.
"Little girl! You were dazz-ling! Beautiful! Diva! Everything!” I can’t stop laughing as he hugs me very tightly.
"Thank you, George. Where's Jo? Tell me everything! Did you like it? Did I go out of tune? I was so nervous…”
“Jo went outside to answer her phone. She's a little mysterious with this phone, see? She said it was work.” “Work on a Saturday, almost at midnight?” “I know... but you were stun! You sang perfectly.” They were all thrilled, praising her voice. “Little girl, if I wasn't gay, I'd get you. I never thought you'd be so sexy.”
I smile, thinking about how good it is to realize one of my dreams, until a little dark cloud crosses my mind.
"I hope Danny won't forbid me to carry on singing here. I'd be devastated.”
"He may even try, but after tonight, if you don't sing here, you'll sing wherever you want. I'm sure your performance will be making waves for a long time.”
I nod my head. George is absolutely right. If Daniel doesn't want me to keep singing here, he’ll be the one losing out.
"By the way," he continues, “Alan couldn’t keep his eyes off you. If I were you, I'd take advantage of that hot, tattooed body to get rid of the backlog. I've heard quite a few stories about the way he “plays guitar”, if you know what I mean.”
Damn it! That comment almost makes me spit out the water I was drinking.
"George! Wait for me to finish drinking before you say those things”, I complain, though with a laugh, while trying to get myself together. It's very hard to be a lady around George.
"I shouldn't have even started drinking.” “I told you, drinking without toasting, twenty years without getting. You've been on a drought, who knows since when. Just hold on, I'm going to get some water to save you from this curse.”
He rolls his eyes and goes to the bartender, like he's doing me a huge favor.
I laugh so much that my eyes fill with tears. I need to shake myself to avoid crying and smudge my makeup.
Jo arrives at this moment, her face half red. Is she blushing? Seriously? I've never seen her look embarrassed like this before. Before I open my mouth to talk, she jumps on me.
"Bestieeee! You were beautiful! I even cried when you sang the first song!”, she says, and we happily embrace each other. George approaches and hugs us too. I'm sure we look like three needy freaks in front of the bar.
"Okay, one water for each one, because our pop diva can't drink alcohol so as not to affect her performance.”
We lift our bottles and toast.
I drink the water quickly, before George makes me laugh with some other insane commentary. When I look backstage, Alan makes a sign that it's time to come back.
“I have to go.”
"Little girl, can I order a song? George asks, pulling his really needy face. I can't say “no” when he does this to me.
“Of course. What do you want me to sing?”
"Fever, a classic.”
"Jeez, George. You're so predictable. You could only want me to sing something from Madonna.”
"I Adooooore her! My favorite diva.” He winks at me. "After you, of course.”
I leave them, laughing, and I go back on stage with my bandmates. Before the show resumes, I let Alan know about George's request.
"Perfect, Julie. Are we going to sing like a duet?”
“That’s fine.”
They begin to play Fever, with a more acoustic feel. I stand in front of the microphone and Alan begins to sing the first verses:
You give me
You give me fever
Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
Wow! That’s one sexy song! Automatically my thoughts wonder to Danny and his deep green eyes. Alan gives the cue for me to start. With my eyes closed, I imagine myself singing to Danny alone. My voice comes out somewhat huskier, and I’m in awe of my own sensuality.
As I end my section, I tag it out to Alan, and he carries the song looking at me as if he was having indecent thoughts. I look down, embarrassed as I feel my face turn red.
Romeo loved Juliet
Juliet, she felt the same
When he put his arms around her
He said Julie, baby, you’re my flame
He gave her fever
Oh, damn it! I’m going to kill George. I totally forgot that this song mentioned my name! When Alan sings “Julie, baby, you’re my flame”, he winks at me, as if I was his inspiring muse, and the audience goes into a frenzy.
I turn forward and follow the song, holding fingers it may end soon because, with Alan’s excitement as the seductive pop star which he seems to embody so well, he will end up pulling me into his arms and kiss me on stage, in front of this crowd. Then yes, Danny would forbid me to sing!
Just let him try, my rebellious side reacts within me.
We keep on with the song and sing the last lines together. As we finish, we receive a standing ovation. I hear shouts of “handsome” for Alan and “sexy” for me. That may have been George.
Bastard!
The show carries on with no further issues. I’m not used to having a handsome and tattooed man looking at me as if I was a large and appetizing dessert.
At the end of the night, after we close the show, I say goodbye to the band while they disassemble the equipment and I go down to the hall, where I find Rafe.
“Julie, you were perfect. I don’t think we ever had such a lively audience! I made a preliminary survey and we have already broken our billing record. Congratulations! I will close the bills before I go home and tomorrow you can take your fee, OK?
“Oh, do I get that?” The question comes out of my mouth before I could prevent it. “Come on Julie, of course you had to earn something for singing tonight. They always pay the musicians.”
Rafe’s reply just reinforces my naivety
“Of course. Did you think you were going to sing for free?”
I let out a laugh and hug him, thanking him once again for the opportunity.
I go to the bar to find my two best friends, who seem to be very “cheerful”.
“Have a prosecco whit us, Julie Fever”, George let’s out with a silly smile.
“No prosecco whatsoever! I’m finished. I need to go home, have a bath and put my feet up. By the way, you owe me one for picking that song! I thought Alan was going to jump on top of me!”
George and Jo laugh out loud, and he hugs the two of us.
“We all thought so, little girl. Time to go.”
We follow our way home, laughing and talking about the best moments of the evening.
I get home, take a bath and dress a Garfield t-shirt. Then I get into bed and realize that tonight I’ll have a peaceful and happy sleep, as the house next door is in absolute silence.
Chapter five
Daniel
I cannot believe it. After spending long hours visiting properties, having meetings with owners, brokers and investors, and still a business dinner too long for my liking, I finally get to the hotel bedroom to take a bath and rest.
I had to be really focused, as Zach was in and out all the time taking calls or sending text messages. I roll my eyes as I remember the number of times this went on. The guy comes to help me but his mind is elsewhere. I should have brought Rafe along as he is a better planner.
I open into a big yawn, while I stretch, feeling tired. I always worked better at night. That’s why waking up early to travel and go through the day taking care of all those bureaucratic activities knocks me down harder than spending the night at the bar.
I must confess that being far away from After Dark really hurts me. The bar is my life. I don’t have kids and I’m not married (thank God!). My daily focus is my business, which has been growing steadily, and a serious relationship is certainly not in my plans.
Not at all.
Hey, don’t point your finger or roll your eyes to me. My mother’s roasting this morning was sufficient:
“Mother? I’m coming in”, I spoke after knocking on the kitchen door and turning the door knob. As always, it was open.
“Hi, my son! Up so early?” My mother hugged me in the middle of the kitchen and pushed me down a chair, ready to fill me up with morning coffee.
“I only came by to give you a kiss. I’m going on a trip with Zach to see a property. I think we might have found what we were looking for to expand After Dark.
“That’s excellent, love. Drink your coffee and eat that warm sandwich combo.” She pushed the dish with the sandwich and placed the cup full of black coffee right in front of me. “You don’t eat properly and stay awake all night long...My son, you need to look after yourself. To look after yourself, grow up, start a family...”
“Mother...”
“Don’t “mother” me. You’re almost twenty eight years old. Don’t you think you are running late to find a good girl? Marry and give me grandchildren? You’re not getting any younger.”
“Mother, I already told you that I don’t want to get marri...”
“Daniel, it’s time you think your life over.” “Oh, damn it.” “That’s my full name. Sit down and listen. Those girls that hang on to you at the bar will not be around when you turn fifty. Listen carefully to what your mother is telling you. Now, you better eat as I know you are going to spend the day running around and you’re not going to feed yourself.”
Even with all her allegations that I'm getting old —at twenty-seven, for God's sake—I’m still not looking for a serious relationship. After Dark is my life and I'm not willing to share my time with anyone in pursuit of success.
I'd rather leave this grandchildren and wedding chat to my sisters, Jo and Julie.
Yes, I know, Ju's not really my sister, but she grew up with me and was raised by my parents since hers passed away. Ever since, she became as much my responsibility as my own sister. I must confess that when we were younger, I had a special feeling for her, until John, my best friend from high school, caught me looking at her like a dog that looks at a roasted chicken, and told me it was disgusting what I was doing, that I should protect her from guys like me, and stop drooling over her. After all, she was my sister. He was very persuasive. In the end, I felt like a pervert as I was attracted to the girl who lived under the protection of my parents. I had to choke my wish and did what any older brother would do: I protected Julie as much as I could.
So far, it's been working.
I turn on the computer while I take off my shirt and shoe. I really need a good bath. I go through the suitcase looking for underwear when I hear the e-mail sound letting me know I have unread messages. I get a fright when I see the amount of notifications from the bar's Facebook page. Oh, boy! Did some sort of a bomb go off in there?
I open Facebook, already anticipating a headache. I'm rolling the screen as I go into a state of shock. The amount of check-ins made at the bar is infinitely higher than any other night.
I keep scrolling the screen and read the comments:
Lucy Smith:Wonderful night with the gals! After Dark rocked with the handsome Alan.
Michael Lewis: Today's show was excellent! Congratulations, AD gang!
Anne McCarty: Best night ever!
Luc Robs:What's with the voice of this hot chick who's singing in AD?
Hold on. Hot? There's something wrong. Snash and The Band don't have any hot chicks on the front line. Would they have invited anyone to play with them tonight?
I go down the page a little more and find a publication of the vocalist:
Snash: Friends, I’m saying goodbye to AD. On my way to India to find my inner balance and peace.
Oh, fuck! We lost the band’s lead singer and Rafe didn't even call me? And who's the hot chick who was singing instead? I immediately take the phone to call Rafe and see five unread text messages:
Rafe: Dude, call me. Problems.
Rafe: Danny, I'm going to have to take extreme action. Snash pulled out of the show at the last minute. Call me!
Rafe: Call me, DAMN IT!!
Rafe: Fuck it. When you guys come back we level it up. You’re going to lose it but I had no other option. I found a replacement for that SOB, Snash.
Rafe: I’m the man. Full house. What an achievement. You guys should stay there because I manage this place better if you keep away. :D
Now I’m curious. I wonder who he booked.
There’s a link in the bar timeline that draws my attention. “Juliette & The Band singing Fever at After Dark.” Excellent, someone recorded the new band’s show.
The video is not that good, it seems to have been done with a smartphone. The person that made the footage was very close to the stage. It zooms on that idiot Alan who’s the first to sing. He is unfortunately an idiot I have to bear with, despite acting like an asshole, constantly throwing charm at the fans and always taking one of them to the dressing room. How can someone believe that an asshole with such hair has fans?
The video carries on until a female, hoarse and sensual voice begins to sing. The camera turns towards her and... Holy shit! A beautiful, hot and sensual blond is (with) her eyes closed, swaying her body to the rhythm of the song as she sings.
I feel a shiver go through my spine and the excitement taking over. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I don't even know if I've ever felt this way. Actually, yes, but I had to smother it. It would never work. Of course I've had many liaisons, I go out with a lot of beautiful women, but this kind of lust, one that leaves a knot in the stomach and seems to have knocked me right in the chest, is rarer. The feeling I have is that she's singing just for me. I'm sure every man at the bar tonight felt the same way. The song carries on and while the blond sings the sensual song in a duet with that jerk Alan, I can't help myself and imagine the things that mouth should be able to do.
I keep staring at the screen and frown. She seems vaguely familiar to me. Would she have been at the bar before? I don't think so. I would never forget seeing a woman like her. The blond continues to sing, with her eyes closed and a little smirk on her face, pouring her sensuality in a subtle way, almost as if unaware of what she can arouse in men.
The music comes to a close and so does the video. Now, besides being tired, I'm excited and bothered. I get up from the chair, take off my pants and go to the bathroom. Now, more than ever, I need a bath. Cold, preferably.
Chapter six
Julie
Sunday arrives and I wake up feeling happy in a way I haven’t been in a long time. There’s a mix of excitement for the epic show and the feeling of a real good night sleep, in spite of missing the naughty boy from the house next door.
I sit on the bed, stretch my body, and hear the message tone on my mobile.
Daniel: Good morning, Ju. Did things go well last night at AD?
Oh, damn it! And now? I’ll have to act silly so that he doesn’t suspect anything.
I:Hi, Danny. All good and you? The venue was pretty full. When are you coming back? Kiss
Daniel: Saturday. Kiss
Men are so thrifty with words... Phew! Fortunately! I got away with this one!
Just in tandem another message comes through. Oh, God!
George: Little girl, I’ll be there in 15 to take you shopping. Be ready. You’re not allowed to wear leggings. XXXX (Kisses) from your personal stylist, best friend and producer.
All men are thrifty with words, not George. I stand up and run to the bathroom as I type the answer.
I:Okay. Can I put on the yoga pants? ;D
George: Nooooooooooooooooooo :@ :@
I:What are those :@?
George: My angry face for your lack of style, sweetheart. MOVE OOOON!
I laugh and get in the shower fast, because I know he's probably knocking on the door in a little while.
***
"At last you dropped those hideous clothes you used to wear, huh?”
George speaks, glancing at me from head to toe with contempt.
He's absolutely right, but I can't help but pick on him.
"Friend, but it's so comfortable...”
George seems to shoot me with his eyes.
"If you went through one of those transformation programs, like a Fashion Squad, you'd be humiliated on national television in all those horrible clothes.
"Julie, how do you want to make out with Hot Alan dressed like that?” Jo asks me, very serious.
I let go of a laugh in the middle of the mall.
"Does he go by a new nickname now? Who says I want to make out with Alan?”
"Little girl, if you don't go for him, I'll slap your face! He's going mad, freaking crazy to play guitar on your seductive body.”
George moves his hands, as if describing a body in the form of a musical instrument. I roll my eyes.
"For God's sake, George! You sometimes vent out such goofy stuff! He doesn't want to touch anything. That was just a stage scene!”
George's mouth opens like I told him there's no Santa Claus.
"What?! You really think that was a stage scene? My dear, I know the look of a male very well when he’s getting ready to take his prey. Hot Alan wants you bad and you should want him too, because he's soooo hot!”
"But, George...”
"If you come up with the story that you love Danny Boy, I won't listen anymore.
Little girl, you know that I love you. I really wish, from the bottom of my heart, that you would come right with that idiot.” He turns to Jo with an expression of sorrow and squeezes her hand lightly. "No offense, dear.” Jo nods, as if she agreed that her brother is really an idiot. Geoge turns to me and proceeds with his enthusiastic speech. "He's hot, I’ll give you that. But, as an idiot, he scores top marks on a scale of one to five. You've been in love with him for yeaaarss and he doesn't give a damn about you. He can't even see how much you've grown. You need to get someone. Hit the road before you get old, crazy and surrounded by cats!”
"Not full of cats, full of books," I answer, sulking.
"Girlfriend, George is right. You deserve to find someone to love you. I really wanted it to be my brother, but after all this time...”
I hear the words of my two best friends and my eyes fill up with tears.
I know they're right. I just think it's so unfair. My life was anything but easy... As much as the Stewarts may have given me all the love in the world, losing both parents at the same time is a pain that will never heal in my heart. Though I never complained, moaned or played a victim. I accepted my fate and tried to do everything I could to be happy. The only thing I wanted was the opportunity to show Danny how much I love him.
I keep thinking about last night. I fulfilled my dream of singing. I felt great on stage. I felt alive. Beautiful. Wanted. I remember the rules I set for myself. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and make a decision.
"George? Jo?”
"Yes, little girl.”
"Let's go shopping. It’s time I become a new woman. If, with my new look, I can't get Danny to wake up, at least I’ll get a boyfriend. I don't want to become a crazy old woman, alone and full of cats.”
“Now you’re talking!” George claps while he speaks. "Are you going to play with Alan's guitar?”
Jo and I burst into laughter. George knows how to cheer us up.
***
The day goes by and George takes us to several different stores. I can't take it anymore. We've bought shorts, blouses and dresses —lots of dresses. He decided that my show look will consist exclusively of items that leave my legs out. Now I have an astonishing amount of ballad dresses, glittering skirts and low-cut blouses. They match shoes so high that if I lose balance and fall, I run the risk of breaking my neck.
"Come on, pussycats. Let's go into this one”, he says, pulling me toward a store. I look up and get stunned to see the sign of a famous lingerie store.
"Friend, what are we going to buy here?”
"Definitely not bread! You need a lingerie that will pick you up.”
Jo looks scared. She's been acting weird. She’s always distracted, and spends all the time exchanging text I just don't know who with.
“Guys, I'm going to pop in quickly to the leather bag store on the second floor. I need to buy a new briefcase.”
"Go, my darling. Anything, just call.”
"But, George...” I am interrupted by the saleswoman who comes close and offers help.
Obviously, George takes over and parts the sexiest pieces from the store. I frown on every item he picks up. I'm not used to so much lace.
An attendant serves us candy and prosecco. We make our toast, and I take my mind off and eat while George seems to be on a war mission.
Forty minutes and a few glasses later, I'm pushed into a fitting room with a pile of panties, bras, corsets and other pieces I don't even know what they're for.
I start trying them out, and the prosecco gets to me, leading me to do a parade in the fitting room. George goes on indicating to the saleswoman the pieces he approves so she can separate them. If we were at Victoria's Secret, I'd say I felt like an Angel so much that I shook my butt back and forth.
While I take a look at a corset, George mutters something to the saleswoman, who returns a few minutes later with a pile of sweaters and babydolls.
“I don’t need pajamas, George!”
“Of course not.” That’s not pajamas. You're going to throw away those garbage you sleep with and start sleeping like a diva.
Immediately, I remember the countless times Daniel showed up at the house first thing in the morning for coffee and I was wearing one of my cartoon T-shirts.
I break into a smile as I picture his face when he sees me in a black sweater like that.
I tried all the pieces and bought things that, if it wasn't for prosecco, I would never have agreed to try. I'm not much of a drinker because, with my size, anything knocks me down. However, the drink makes my head lighter and, apparently, my hand much more open as my credit card can tell!
"George?”
"What is it, little girl?”
“I'm drunk. I need to eat something.”
George laughs and takes me to a restaurant in the food court. As we sit down, he calls Jo.
“Where did this girl end up? We spent two hours buying lingerie, long enough for you to get drunk, and she's still picking out a briefcase?”
"She's been weird...”, I say it with a little smile on my face.
"She’s not picking up. I'm going to text her.”
I stretch my neck to see George type:
George: Beloved, where are you? We're at that restaurant you love. Julie's drunk on prosecco and needs to eat something before she devours the hot waiter attending us. <3 ;)
Damn it! Did he notice I'm drooling over the waiter who came to serve us water? I look again at the cellphone screen and smile at the many happy faces in the message. I love getting messages from George. They're always full of fun stickers and emojis.
A shadow draws close to me. I look up and I see the hot waiter. Yummy yummy.
We're almost halfway through lunch - and I'm already much less affected by the drink - when Jo arrives with a guilty face.
"Friend, where were you? You missed all the fun!”
"I went to the bank," she looks away as she speaks, as if she were... embarrassed. George doesn't let go.
"Jo, my angel, three and a half hours to go to the bank? You walked out the door of the lingerie store saying you were going to buy a briefcase and you come back saying you were at the bank. You went to dance the Macarena on the manager's desk?”
I spit some of the soda on George. It's really funny to imagine Jo, a very serious lawyer, dancing like Psy on a table.
"Argh, Julie. Not again!
"I'm sorry," I say, wiping it with the napkin. "But it's your fault, you say these things while I'm drinking.
Jo's still quiet, looking at the menu. George and I exchange glances.
"Aren't you going to tell us what's going on, Jo?” George sniffs. "I thought we were best friends. I really feel so devastated by your attitude. Julie and I tell you everything, and what do you give back in return?” He looks at me and takes his hand to his chest before looking back at her. "You ignore us and push us away from your life. It's too much for a poor heart, you know?”
I support his words, holding George's hand and patting it lightly. Jo looks at us, raises an eyebrow holding a look on her face like she can’t believe what she’s seeing, and becomes the lawyer in the courtroom.
