Page 24 of Legendary Rock Star
Her eyes welled up with tears. She wiped her eyes with her napkin and then said, “Thank you for waiting. The meeting with the judges and production made me feel like I was wasting everyone’s time.”
I should have demanded to be there with her. Practice had been a waste of time. My shoulders squared. I wanted to argue with the judges now.
“What do you mean?” I asked. “You’re a star in the making.”
She curled her hand on my fist and unwound my fingers until our palms met as she said, “Thank you. I wanted to be discovered as a solo artist. So that’s why I came here, and why I listened to them lecture me on my figure today.”
Solo. She didn’t want me. My back felt like it had a fresh stab wound, but I ignored the pain and said, “You’re beautiful as you are.”
“Thanks.” She ate her banana and stirred her tea. Once she finished her fruit snack that subbed for lunch she said, “I’m excited to have a shot at a solo act, and to show them that singing matters more than looks.”
That wasn’t how this city worked. Yes, she wanted to be famous on her own terms, but L.A. only cared about the superficial. Maybe that was what I was drawn to about her. Maggie was real. I massaged my scalp as I said, “You’ll have to beat me, and I know how to play to the cameras.”
She sipped her green tea and then stopped to add lemon while I said, “Look, I’ve been Mark’s client for years. But the truth is, I think he feels sorry for me. I’m his charity case.”
She sucked in her lips and then met my gaze. I waited for another attack as she asked, “Phoenix, why did you get kicked out of Indigo 5? The real story and not what I read in the magazines.”
Yeah, this was it. The reason she’d leave me. I was a horrible person who should be in prison. I said quietly, “You won’t like me anymore if I tell you.”
She squeezed my hand and said, “I think you need to tell someone who’s willing to be impartial.”
Now that was something new. I’d not talked about this in years. No one ever asked. They assumed they knew the truth, and I’d lived in silence on the topic.
But was I an idiot to tell her? The second I did, we’d be done. My body tightened but then cameras came running toward us, along with the host, who asked, “How are the lovebirds?”
They focused on our hands and she took hers away as I said, “We’re doing fine. Thanks.”
“We’re just friends,” Maggie said. “Nothing more.”
“Sure,” the host said, as he sat across from us like he’d been invited. “What are you and Phoenix talking about right now?”
My lips curled. I guess I should have expected to be interrupted. And I probably should be happy for the reprieve. But adrenaline coursed through me. It was better to just get through this. I patted my stomach like I’d just eaten and said, “Nothing that exciting.”
He turned toward Maggie and gave her a gaze that made me stiffen when he asked, “Spill a little for the cameras. How is kissing Phoenix Steel?”
Her face turned red and I held her hand tightly under the table as she said, “I’m here to show the world my singing voice.”
The host laughed like he didn’t believe her and said, “Come on. The fans want to know.”
Wait. Did they think last night was an act?
My heart beat harder. This wasn’t good.
Maggie then stared at the camera and waved as she said, “Look, Phoenix is a sweetheart of a guy who’s here for his second chance. But I’m here to show the world who I am and let America hear my voice. That’s all that’s happening.”
The host had a “yeah, right” expression. They really did think this was all a lie. Part of me was wound up as the host asked, “So are you worried your parents might think he’s a bad boy?”
Maggie shook her head and said, “I’m over eighteen. My father might be a minister, but I’m here to follow my own path and my own heart, and sing.”
“We’ll leave you two alone for now,” the host said.
I watched the cameras go away. I needed to hit a gym to calm down.
Or maybe do one of those acrobatic dance numbers that made me not think.
Maggie shook her head and said, “I wasn’t expecting that.”
My eyes followed the cameras and I swore I still saw a red light on. “We should have,” I said.
