Glam Metal (26 page)

Damon insisted on driving her back to London, despite Sam
’
s protests. She smiled meekly and gracefully accepted.

As she pulled the belt over her shoulder, she felt another kick. They were getting stronger now. A smug smile crossed her face. Seeing it Damon banged the door and sat in beside her, another kick. Not thinking she grabbed his hand and put it over her stomach and said excitedly.

“Do you feel it?” A kick. He pulled his hand away quickly and stared at her.

“What was that?” Sam smiled and said:

“The baby, it’
s been getting stronger for the last few days.” Damon put his hands on the steering wheel and stared ahead.

“Sam how long are you pregnant?” She looked at him and said almost in a whisper.

“Why, Damon? Why do you want to know?” He turned to her and looked at the small round stomach.

“You’
re not far along, are you?” She turned her head away and looked out the window.

“I’
m almost twenty two weeks.” She began to cry. Sam felt his arm go around her shoulder. And she didn
’
t resist as he pulled her close so she could rest her head on his shoulder.

“What really happened Sam. Tell me everything.” She did. She couldn’
t hold back. She was crying uncontrollably as she told him how she nearly lost the baby.

“I was so afraid. I needed Jay with me but he never called.” Damon handed her a tissue. “I couldn’
t tell him I was pregnant over the phone. How could I?” He hugged her.

“Sam, you have to tell him. He has a right to know.” She pulled away and sat up straight. He was right of course. But she couldn’
t bring herself to pick up the phone after the way he talked to her the last time. She could still hear his words as they cut through her heart.

“I can’
t tell him over the phone, besides he wouldn’t believe me and I can
’
t very well fly to LA.” She forced a smile.

“He’
s here in London; I
’
m having dinner with him tonight.” Sam shot him a look. Panic engulfed her.

“Damon, promise me you won’
t tell him. Promise me?” He looked at her but he saw the look of terror in her eyes.

“Sam, you have to tell him. You can’
t keep this from him. You know you can
’
t.” She nodded but she couldn’t tell him; not now, not like this.

“I’
ll tell him, in my own way. Promise me you won’t tell anyone about this! I am so terribly ashamed.” She was crying again.

“OK.” Was all that he said.

Jay arrived a few minutes late, saw Damon and waved. He smiled at several people as he passed them.

“Dude, how you doin?” He gave him a bear hug and a slap on the shoulder as he sat down. The waiter was at their table in an instant. Jay ordered a large bourbon, took the menu from him and put it on the table. Damon looked at him in surprise. But decided he wouldn’
t say anything.

They ordered steaks and were chit-chatting about everything and nothing. Damon told him that he was having another show in about six weeks and asked if he would come over for it. Jay downed the bourbon and laughed.

“Hey man, you know when you first began painting I was the first to encourage you. Of course I’
ll come, but not to the gallery.” In a single gulp he had finished the drink. He called the waiter over and ordered another drink.

“Do you see her, man?” He looked around the room, it was almost full. He had come here once with Sam, he refocused on Damon.

“Saw her recently. But you know Jay; she’
s not at the gallery anymore.” He looked at him. “Packed it in remember, she was moving in with you?” This cut Jay to the quick. Everything and everyone he knew reminded him of Sam. He hated her so much for how she played him.

“How does she look?” Damon laughed. So did Jay as he realized what he had said.

“Well, if you asked me how a guy looked, I could tell you but not how you would want to hear.” They both laughed loudly.  “She looks ok considering.” He studied Jay closely.

“Well she should have thought of that, before having a kid then!” He said a little too harshly. “Waiter, same again!” It was then that Damon realised that Jay was under the impression that Sam’s baby had been born. It was at that moment he knew the truth. Jay was the father and he needed to know but it wasn’
t up to him to tell. He had to get the two of them together and talking. He liked Sam and Jay was his best friend. And they were still very much in love with each other. The fact that they were two of the most stubborn people in the world would prove to be a challenge to him.

“Jay, I’
m having a party after the opening will you come?” A plan was beginning to formulate in his mind. “I want you to meet this guy, I
’
ve been seeing for a while.” They laughed and talked more about Damon
’
s new show and Jay
’
s forthcoming appearance on a TV talent show. Neither mentioned Sam again.

They finished their meal and went back to Jay
’
s hotel. As they walked, they passed Sam
’
s old apartment and Jay looked up, there was a light on in the lounge and there was someone walking around. He stopped; looked at the door and walked off in the direction of his hotel.

A few more drinks and a line or two and the pain would lessen, he told himself. It was getting better by the day.

Sam looked out of the window, onto the street below. It was deserted except for two guys walking rather unsteadily. They were drunk. For a moment, she thought she saw one of them look up and was sure it was Jay. But Sam knew it wasn
’
t. He wouldn
’
t be at her apartment again and tomorrow, she would have the job of loading up her few meagre possessions into her small car and move out of this apartment for ever.

She turned off the light and went to bed. She was exhausted and feeling a little queasy.

********************

The buzzing of the phone beside his bed made Jay swear and throw the pillow at it. But it wasn
’
t the phone, it was the door. He swore again and got up. He pulled on his boxers and opened the door. It was Nick and Lisa.

“Sight for sore eyes, Jay.” Lisa teased. He glared at her. Nick looked around the room, it was empty.

“Some party, dude,” he quipped, both he and Lisa laughed.

“Fuck off!” Jay growled and got back into bed. Nick saw the two empty bottles of bourbon on the floor. He went into the bathroom and ran his finger over the cistern of the toilet and on the sink. It was clear. At least it was only booze. But he was getting worse. Nick knew it was only a matter of time before Jay was back on the coke. He came back into the room. He picked up Jay’
s tee shirt and jeans and threw them at him on the bed.

“Forget why we’
re here, man?” The dark disheveled head appeared from under the quilt.

“Get the fuck out of here, Nick.” He lay back down, his head hurt like he had a swat team practising manoeuvres in there.

“Jay, you get dressed and down in the fucking lobby in five minutes or you’
re out of the band, man, fuck this shit.” He took Lisa
’
s hand and went to the door, turned to him and said. “Forget that bitch, she
’
s a gold-digger, now get dressed.” He banged the door behind him.

Jay threw one of the empty bottles across the room. Fuck! He thought.

A few minutes later he was speeding to the radio studio in the car with Nick and Lisa. There was complete silence. Jay wore dark glasses but still his eyes hurt. He knew he couldn’t keep doing this. He hadn
’
t written anything in weeks; had become very withdrawn and he was drinking a lot more. Even his friends had stopped calling round. Tammy had warned him to get his act together or he was out. And now so was Nick, as if that motherfucker could lecture him on booze.

The driver opened the door and in true, prima donna rock star style, Jay got out and was ushered into the studio, never removing the shades.

The DJ was playing some of their songs when they arrived and motioned them to sit down and put on the headphones. The producer briefed them on the content of the interview. And a young secretary came in with two large cups of coffee. Jay smiled at her and took her hand in his and began flirting with her. The girl loved it. Nick flashed him a warning look.

“Later, sexy!” Jay teased. Then the DJ turned on the mic and announced:

“OK, folks, we have a rare treat for you now, we have two of the band members of Glam Metal here today. We’
ll be taking some calls, sooooo right back after this”. He cued the commercial break. A few minutes later and the interview was in full swing.

“Now, if I can ask you Jay, we’
ve been hearing lots of rumours that you
’
re single again, is that true?” Jay took a long sip from the coffee mug. It was awful stuff. Nick was staring at him.

“Well, you know this business, never listen to rumours,” he laughed, “But the most important thing for us, anyway, is that we’
re still rockin after all these years and our fans are more important to us than ever.”

“True, we try to reach out to as many as we can.” Nick joined in. Then another commercial break and the interview was over.

Back outside, Jay was ushered through the now gathering crowds of admiring fans screaming his name. He didn
’
t bother to wave, just got into the car followed by Nick and Lisa and with a screech they sped away.

“Nick, man, I’
m going back to LA. I have a lot of writing to do.” They both looked at him. He asked the driver to drop him off at his hotel and then take him to the airport.

“Jay, you did OK Man!” They hit their fists together in unity.

At the airport, he turned to Lisa and gave her a hug. Smiled and said: