Page 14 of Step By Step

All that matters is I give them a good time and I hope to.

Heading inside, I almost go out of my way to Tape Deck, hoping to get a moment with my girl before the show. Thinking better of it—I am here for work, not pleasure—I don’t. Going straight to the center court, the stage is already alive with the band and sound guys getting things going.

“Here comes the man behind the magic,” Terrie calls as she sees me coming, our station manager and the band’s manager there with her.

“Oh, no, all the magic is up there,” I say with a wave at the stage.

Terrie laughs, handing me the VIP sticker I will need to come and go. As we check the setup one last time before soundcheck starts, she lets me know who won the contest to be my guest today.

“You can’t be serious? Why would she enter?”

Donna, my girlfriend’s best friend, will be my guest. We met the same day I met Jenna. It was awkward as hell because I was working when she came up, shoving her band’s cassette at me and demanding a chance to open at the show.

Having dealt with enough overzealous performers, I gave her the benefit of the doubt, letting her state her case. To my utter shock, she let me know she did not care about the gig—she just wanted a chance to get me alone. Donna made it clear she was interested in me, despite her having plenty of male admirers who loved her and her band.

When I met Jenna that day, I almost forgot about the show, let alone the strange moment with her friend. I told Jenna I met her friend, and her request to open the show. I left out how flirty her friend was because it made me uncomfortable and felt phony, like the many other artists had come to me as a guise to get what they wanted.

“You know this girl?”

“Yeah,” I sigh, running a hand through the hair I spent so long perfecting, ruining it. “Know her band, too. And I am dating her best friend. It’s so weird she would enter, I told my girlfriend the staff at Tape Deck had passes. Why couldn’t she just bring her best friend?”

“Maybe the rock star wants you to herself? And how am I just hearing you have a girlfriend? Go, you, stud.”

Rolling my eyes as I flush, I nod. “Yeah, we’ve just started seeing one another. Is this something should tell her? I’m no good at this stuff.”

“Uh, yeah, I would tell her stud. Your new girlfriend finds out her friend might want some alone time with you, it could cause trouble.”

Nodding, I head back towards the store. I need her to know I don’t have any interest in anyone else. I don’t think I ever will. I said she is the girl for me, and I meant it. It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been seeing one another.

Before I can get too far, the band manager and station manager call me over for some questions. From there, we have to set up for the meet and greet. We let the fans who bought passes in, their excitement with their favorite band making me proud of the event before it even gets started.

By the time I remember I will host a contest winner, Donna is there. In a tiny skirt and midriff top with knee-high boots, she is dolled up for a club, not a little show at a mall. I sigh and greet her with a smile, doing my best to turn itonso I can do my job.

“I thought you were hiding on me,” she calls, fluffing her blonde hair as she saunters my way.

I wish, I think. Turning up my smile, I shake my head. “Course not. I am just excited about my first event. Come on, I will introduce you to the team from the radio station, and the band,” I tell her reluctantly.

“You don’t need to,” she tells me as she comes too close for my comfort. “I entered for a chance to see you again. I ran you off the other day.”

Stepping back, I clear my throat, pushing gently at her hands as they reach for me. I glance over her shoulder at Terrie, almost silently asking for help. To my annoyance, she just chuckles and tells me to handle it. I let out a calming sigh and put on my biggest smile.

“No, no, I just had a lot going on with the show. My girlfriend just started a new job, so I was rushing to see her.”

It is a tiny lie, but it hopefully serves its purpose. Donna’s face falls, her hands dropping as she steps back on her chunky boots. I glance past her again, this time towards the wing of the mall where Tape Deck is. I am hoping Jenna comes with Tina after all, I need to be saved here.

“A girlfriend, huh? That’s cute. What she doesn’t know...”

“Oh, no, she knows you very well. One of your best friends. Jenna. If I had known you were her friend that day, I might not have been so short.”

Donna’s pretty features twist in shock once I name drop her best friends’ name. Fixing her hair, she backs away more, putting a safe distance between us. Sighing my relief, I keep my smile on my face.

“You and Jenna? Since when?”

“Just a little while. We just made it official,” this is no lie and as I say it, my genuine smile comes through. “I am hoping she will come see the show. I gave her and the staff at Tape Deck passes. Would be cool for both of you to get the VIP treatment, yeah?”

“No way. She took that job? I told her she did not need to work. Jenna writes our music, that is her job. Anyway, she won’t come. Not her scene.”

Shrugging, I show her to the stage, let her get some time with the band and their managers, doing my job. Terrie calls me away for a moment, so I leave the boisterous blond with the band. Coming back to find her flirting with the bass player, I am relieved.

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