Front & Center (Book 2 of the Back-Up Series) (12 page)

After our show last night, J
en had arranged for a small after-party. She invited about a dozen of our fans, as well as the band, Patti, Mandy, Krista from the label, our roadies, our drivers, Dylan, Will, our equipment manager, and some arbitrary chick that Trey picked up. This is the first time we’ve met Krista face to face, and I adore her. She is sweet and funny. I love that she has been assigned to Devil’s Lair.

J
en had the brilliant idea of presenting backstage passes to random people in the audience. She really is a good agent. She had drinks and food set up for us and turned it into an intimate meet-and-greet. They took photos and autographs. Jen gifted them with Devil’s Lair t-shirts and CD’s.

It was really fun interacting with our fans so c
asually. They became real to us, to me. No longer the faceless people who did nothing but spew lies on the Internet. These fans were truly into Devil’s Lair and loved everything we presented to them.

A few of the girls in the bunc
h flirted shamelessly with Jack and not being able to help himself, he flirted back. He would watch me give him the evil eye from across the room and wink. It was truly harmless and I was really just busting his chops, but it did leave me wondering which one of them he would have ended up with if we weren’t together. That is one dangerous game to play in your mind, especially when a little tipsy.

Jack left the room for a few minutes. While he was gone, my cell phone buzzed with a new text. My
sexpot of a boyfriend took a picture of his family jewels and sent it to me with the message -
you own this
…
find me
.

And find him I did.

We had a quickie in one of the empty dressing rooms.

Overall it was a really great night.
The drinking until the wee hours when we had to be at the radio station by six-thirty in the morning was not so smart. So now we are all hurting. The upside is once the interview is over, we are free for the rest of the day and night. Even Jack conceded sleep is definitely in our plans today.

S
hocker
.

As we all sit and wait while
yawning repetitively, Gregory, the station’s morning producer, herds us into a large studio. I’ve never been to a radio station before. We are immediately fitted with headphones, given instructions on the
red light
, and a quick rundown of how the interview would flow.

Dean and Diane are chatting with Jen and Krista in the adjoining studio
. I Googled the DJ’s on WXLP, and I’m a bit star-struck. Diane and Dean are a team who have controlled the Chicago airways for years and are well respected in the Rock and Roll world. Dean looks like a well-aged rocker himself. He is extremely handsome and emanates a total
coolness
. Diane is a pretty woman with a trendy haircut and nerdy black-framed glasses. Except for the nose piercing, she looks more like a librarian.

They’ve interviewed everyone from up and coming artists like us, t
o The Stones and Springsteen. I now have six degrees of separation to Springsteen. The thought makes me downright giddy. A small giggle escapes, and Jack looks over amused.

“What’s so funny?”

“I wonder if Springsteen’s ass sat in this chair.”

Smiling
, he leans in. “His ass would be lucky to sit in your chair.” Then he licks my neck.

I’ll never get used to this man charming me. As I squirm my ass in the said chair, he smiles
even wider and winks at me.

“Unbelievable.”

He shrugs and says, “What?”

“This is fucking awesome,
” Hunter whispers loudly. “I am so excited, I could shit myself.”

“
Scott, switch seats with me,” Trey mumbles.

The studio door opens and Dean, Diane, Jen and Krista enter. “Hi guys!” Diane boisterously says, like it’s six-thirty at night and not in the morning.

Jack speaks first. “Hi. It’s such an honor being here.”

Dean comes up behind Diane. “We love interviewing new talent. We love to gloat once success is met and
tell the world we were there in the beginning. We’re not ashamed to say we also love to exploit your greenness.”

We all laugh at his admi
ssion, while Diane says, “Shut it, Dean. You can’t keep telling everyone how calculating we are.”

Dean
admits while shrugging, “Why the fuck not? Which reminds me…get all your fucks and shits and douche-bags out now. We only run on a ten second delay, but sometimes the guys on the dump button fall asleep.”

Diane dramatically rolls her eyes.
“You can see who the classier one is in this team?” She moves over to her side of the control desk. Once she’s seated with earphones in position, she starts flipping some switches and my nerves start the stomach flutters and the leg jiggles to begin. Jack reaches under the counter and uses his hand to stop my jiggling knee.

Diane looks over and smiles warmly. “
I’m sure you are all nervous, and there really is no reason to be. So what if hoards and hoards will be hearing you? Pretend it’s just us. I know Shelly ran through the drill with you guys. We’ll start off with a casual chat. Then we’ll open the phone lines up to the fans. Finally, we’ll end the segment with your live performance of
Committed
. Sound good?”

We all
nod mechanically and Diane laughs. “Just like good little soldiers, right Dean?”

“Naïve, trusting good little soldiers.” He smiles manically
from his side of the control panel.

I love these two.

Jen and Krista sit in the corner talking quietly. I feel a bit better they are here and they are on our side. Correction, I feel better Krista is here and on our side. In the few hours I got to know her, I already trust and like her a hell of a lot more than Jen.

After the DJ’
s talk to us for a few minutes trying to loosen us up, the Producer’s voice comes over the speakers announcing sixty seconds to air. Jack takes my hand and squeezes it, running his thumb over mine. Looking over he smiles warmly and I return my own. This is a significant moment for all of us.

The timer on the wall counts down
from five and then the red light glows from the
On Air
sign.

“Good morning Chicago. How are we today?
I’m Dean Ratner here with Diane Jones, and you are privileged to be listening to the
Dean and Diane Morning Show
.”

“
Diane and Dean Morning Show
.”

“Whatever. Diane
how was your dinner last night?”

“I’m lucky
to be alive. I think he tried to kill me.”

Laughing
out loud, Dean then asks, “Finally? I mean, how?”

“Ha ha.
He accidentally left the twine on the chicken and served me a piece that was wrapped in it. The Heimlich maneuver was required.”

Dean
laughs again and adds, “He meant well. You were the one who complained he never cooks for you.”

“True. But I
didn’t want it to be my last meal. I still have a lot to live for. I could see the headlines.
CHICAGO DJ CHOKES ON CHICKEN TWINE
.”

“That would be classic. The only thing to shut Diane Jones up is chicken twine.”

“Hilarious, Dean. Besides, talking is my job.”

“And thank God you have the gift of gab.”

“Why don’t you come over tonight and Luke will cook for you?”

“No, thanks. I like my life.”

“What life?”

“
Come to think of it, he did call me yesterday asking if I’d entertain changing the show to
Dean and Luke
.”

“Great. I always knew my husband was jeal
ous of my career. You all heard. If I turn up dead, Luke Jones for attempted murder and Dean Ratner as his accomplice.”

“Whoa.
I had nothing to do with the attempted murder this time.”

This easy banter goes on between them for a few minutes as
I silently sit wide-eyed, still awe-struck and nervous as hell.

Diane is the first to r
eveal our presence. “Listen up, Chicago. We have very special guests here with us today. Jack Lair, Hunter Amatto, Scott Malone, Trey Taylor and Leila Marino from Devil’s Lair are in the studio. Welcome guys.”

We all say a quick hello.
Jack, as our nominated voice for most of this interview adds smoothly, “It’s an absolute honor to be here.” His sexy voice coming over my headphones is doing things to me. I’ve never seen him get nervous, not on stage, not now. Looking over at my calm boyfriend, I am in awe at how cool he is.

“You are quite a good looking bunch. Yum.”

“Settle down, Diane.”

“Just sayin’. So, what’s new?” Diane asks in a singsong voice.

We all chuckle a
nd Dean says, “Spill it, Diane. Just get it out, because we all know what you want to know.”

“Ok,
I’m not shy. Let’s cut to the chase, then we can move on. Jack? Leila? What’s the story?”

Jack
laughs at her candor and looks over at me as my nerves go into overdrive. Jen watches like a hawk from the corner.

“What story?” Jack responds candidly.

“Funny. Did you take Dean’s smart-ass pills today? What’s going on with you two?”

“
Diane, please leave the kids alone.”

“Oh p
uhleezee. You were the one in the hall asking, ‘
So, how are you going to ask them? Huh? Huh?’
You’re such a gossip whore.”

“I am not. I am asking for the listeners.
You know, inquiring minds want to know and all that crap.”

“Whatever
, Dean. So, no one leaves here until you come clean. Spill it, you two.”

Jack hesitates for a few seconds
looking directly at me. “Um…well…Leila and I…um…yeah, it’s true.” He admits, smiling at me.

“
If the viewers could see these two right now. Oh my God, so adorable.”

“Calm down
, Diane. How do you guys feel about these two?” Dean asks.

Hunter speaks first. “It’s annoying.”

Laughter fills the studio. “In what way?”

“I’ll paint a picture.
Cramped messy bus, two horny…wait, can I say horny?”

“Um
, yes.”

“
Oh, good. Two horny rockers and a couple in love on a cramped bus. So much
fun
.”

“We get the picture.
Besides Jack, you boys aren’t getting lucky? Wait, there are three of you.”

Scott, Hunter
both respond. “Trey is getting some.” Trey shrugs.

“Lucky
, Trey. What’s his secret?”

“He’s single. O
ur girlfriends haven’t been able to join us until yesterday.” Hunter admits.

“Ah,
so now the horniness problem is solved?” Dean says.

“
Yep, for now.”

“Leila, how does it feel being the only woman on this bus?”
Diane asks.

“Annoying.”

Diane laughs and Dean asks, “And why is that? Don’t tell me you are horny too? Jack, do we need to have a chat?”

“Really
, Dean?” Diane chastises.

“What?”

“Ugh…anyway, why is it annoying?”

“
No, Dean. I’m not annoyed for the same reasons as Hunter. I’m annoyed because they are all a bunch of slobs.” My voice sounds a bit shaky through my headphones.

“I’m not.” Jack admits.

“You are the worst of all of us. Don’t lie.” Scott says defensively.

“Well
, I’m trying to change that.” Looking over, he winks at me and Diane lets out a loud sigh.

Jack bestows Diane with his dimples and her eyes roll back in her head.
“Oh my God! He has dimples. Jack, I’ll leave Luke if things don’t work out for you two.”

“Diane…” Dean scolds.

“What…he’s gorgeous. Sorry, Leila.”

“I’m used to it.”

Diane focuses on Trey in the corner. “Trey, how do you like traveling with this crew?”

“Annoying. No offense
, Leila.”

“No worries
, Trey.” I respond.

“So the gist of Devil’
s Lair tour is some of you are horny and most are annoying?” Dean asks.

“Pretty much.” Hunter says arrogantly.

“Except, Leila…on both counts.” Jack brags, smiling wide.

“Jack
.”

“Sorry
, baby.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet.” Diane says. “You two are just adorable together.”