Untitled

by Jackie Chanel

  Do I?

  Everyone seems to think I do. Maybe I do need to switch things up and write more popular songs. I know I can do it. I can play anything. We’ll see.

  I’ll write some songs and see what Joey thinks. If he says they’re garbage, I’ll know that I’m not that kind of artist.

  What if they’re good though?

  I laughed out loud. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

  Chapter 20

  Most people would have a hard time focusing on anything remotely creative in the madhouse that Sunny and I call our apartment. This place should have a revolving door and a front desk clerk taking cash from overnight guests. It’s crazy and loud when Sunny and her friends start drinking and talking about clothes and fashion. It’s just as loud when the guys are over and we’re working on music or playing video games. It’s even louder when everyone is here. A person who needs quiet to think would go absolutely nuts in this house.

  Quiet makes me uneasy. I can’t think properly when I can hear sounds around me like the hum of the refrigerator. It drives me crazy. I’m way more comfortable doing my thinking lying on my bed, Dee-Dee close by, and a bunch of chaos in the apartment.

  Like now.

  I have no idea what Sunny and Erica are up to in the living room. All I know is that there are fabric swatches, half finished clothes, and bottles of wine everywhere.

  “Aiden!” Sunny shouted from the living room. “Pick up the phone! It’s Aunt Kat!”

  I picked up the extension in my room. “Hey Miss K.”

  “Aiden, get your ass down here right now,” Kat ordered.

  “Why? What did I do?” I sat up in my bed, trying to remember if I’d done anything last night that would have made Kat mad at me. I don’t think I did. I came straight home after my set. I didn’t even stay to have a drink.

  “Joey’s here with his ex wife. They want to talk to you.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know, Aiden,” she sighed. “Don’t ask me, ask your girls.”

  I groaned and told Kat that I’d be there in twenty minutes. Then I went into the living room to confront the Doublemint Twins.

  “Who’s down at Rabbit’s looking for me?” I didn’t have to single out one particular girl. Both of them were sitting on the floor wearing guilty expressions.

  “It’s just my aunt,” Erica finally admitted.

  “I know,” I gritted my teeth and tried to hold back my anger. “I know that I said I don’t need a manager. Why do you always feel the need to do shit like this behind my back?”

  Sunny stood up. Her black tank top was screen printed with my name and a guitar.

  “What’s with the shirts?” I asked, almost afraid to hear to the answer.

  Sunny grinned proudly. “We’re your street team. When you get back, I’ll show you the fliers and things we’re getting printed.”

  How can I be mad at Sunny’s over zealous presumption that I need people passing out fliers to promote gigs that I don’t have and CDs that I haven’t recorded yet, especially since she’s so excited about it?

  There’s nothing to say. I shouldn’t be mad because they’re just trying to help, but I am. It’s ridiculous to think that I need a street team! I don’t even have a demo! What the hell are they going to promote?

  I snatched my car keys off the kitchen counter and slammed the door behind me. A few seconds later, Sunny ran down the steps after me.

  “Why are you mad?” she called.

  “I’m not mad, just frustrated.” I kept walking towards my car.

  “You always do shit like this without asking me,” I called over my shoulder. “Quit it!”

  Sunny pulled me to a stop in the middle of the breezeway, shadowed by the burnt out lights. Even so, she stepped closer to me so we were completely hidden from the view of our neighbors.

  “Aiden, I do this because I believe that you can be so much more.” Her hazel puppy dogs stared up at me. My breathing slowed almost completely. Her eyes…I’ve never seen her eyes so sad.

  “I only do it because I care about you so damn much. I’m just trying to help.” Her words were barely a whisper.

  “Sunny.” I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist and hugged her. “I know you’re just trying to help. Like I said, I’m not mad.”

  She rested her head against my chest. Her warm breathed swirled across my chest when she sighed.

  “But you’re always getting mad at me and I hate that. I just want you to make it, Aiden.”

  I squeezed her gently. “I know babe. I’m not mad.”

  “Promise?” she asked softly.

  I squeezed her again. “Yes. I’ll see you later, okay.”

  “Alright. Good luck. I think you’re going to love Erica’s aunt.”

  Sitting at the bar with Kat and Joey when I walked into Rabbit’s was the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. Short, like Erica, I knew right away, that her size didn’t matter. Her bone straight hair hung halfway down her back and was tied back in a severe ponytail. Even in ripped jeans and a tight t-shirt, I could tell that this woman meant business. It showed on her face and in the air around her.

  “Here’s the man of the hour,” Kat frowned. “Late as usual.”

  I squeezed Kat’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. “Blame your niece. What’s Jo-Jo got in the kitchen? I’m starving.”

  “I don’t know,” she answered. “But I’ll go fix you something while y’all chat.”

  “Hi Aiden, I’m Roxy,” the lady said and held out her hand for me to shake it. I did.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you from Erica and Sunny. They’re really big fans.”

  “They’re really annoying,” I corrected her.

  “Yeah, sometimes they are. But at least they arranged this meeting. Your life is about to change, kiddo.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I’ve heard you play,” Roxy smiled. “I’ve managed acts not half as good as you,” she glanced at Joey, “and my ex-husband here started out with me. If you want to be rich and famous, I’m your girl.”

  “A little birdie told me that you think you don’t need a manager,” Roxy continued. “You’re wrong. You need my connections and my expertise. If you follow my lead, I guarantee you’ll have a record deal by Christmas.”

  I laughed. Christmas is just six months away. I’ve been playing in Atlanta for two and a half years and this lady comes in and says that she can get me a deal in six months. Yeah right.

  “I’ll think about it,” I told her but Roxy and Joey both shook their heads.

  “There’s nothing to think about. I’ve got big plans for you. You’re about to hit the road running. No more Rabbit’s, no more Open Mics. That shit is played out like an eight-track.”

  “I don’t have a band,” was the only thing I could think to say.

  “That’s only a problem if you make it a problem, Aiden. Sounds like more of an excuse to me,” Roxy commented. “There’s not a musician in Atlanta who I can’t get to play with you.”

  “Just get prepared, kid. I’m going to make you a guitar-playing, song-writing legend.” She hopped off the barstool.

  “I’ll meet with you tomorrow at my office to sign your management deal. Be there at ten. Joey knows where it’s at.” Roxy strolled out of the club, leaving me and Joey alone at the bar.

  “She’s something else, isn’t she?” Joey chuckled.

  “Yeah,” I breathed. I stared at the door that slammed behind Roxy Steele. She was something else!

  “She’s damn good. You need her,” he said. “One thing’s for sure, Roxy won’t let you down. Biggest mistake of my career was marrying her and firing her as my manager. There’s no tellin’ where I’d be if I kept it about the business and stuck with her.”

  “I thought you liked doing what you’re doing.”

  “I do but at the end of the day, there are still opportunities to make more money doing the thing I love. Roxy knows how to find those opportunities.”

&nbs
p; “Do you really think she’ll be able to get me a deal in six months?”

  Joey nodded. “Hell yeah, boy. Roxy knows talent. She’ll bust her ass for you. She’ll be a bitch sometimes. She’ll get on your nerves. She’ll drive you nuts, but she’ll get you the best gigs, the most money from those gigs, and the best record deal out there.”

  “Don’t I need a band? I mean, I can’t play by myself, can I?”

  “A.T, when I started out it was just me and my brother on stage. You’re not going to have that problem. Trust me. Hell, I’ll even play with you.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. Aiden, I don’t think you’re listening to what people are saying about you,” Joey scolded me. “You’ve got a talent that nobody’s seen before. And now you have the best manager in the business wanting to work for you. Your career is about to go places that I’ve only dreamed about. Hell yeah, I’ll play with you.”

  “How much will I have to pay her?”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Joey said. “Whatever deal she offers you will be fair and better than you’ll get from anyone else out here. I should have introduced you to Roxy months ago.”

  Joey’s confidence in Roxy and his desire to play with me made this a quick and easy choice. I have a manager.

  Chapter 21

  Finding a band to play with me wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. When Roxy put word out that she was looking for a drummer and a keyboard player, musicians from all over Atlanta started showing up to audition for us.

  Some of them were actually very good and sounded good with me but I just didn’t feel right playing with them. I wanted to play with Wild Mike and Eddie.

  Mike was game. He quit the house band at Rabbit’s and two days later, he too, had a management deal with Roxy. Joey, Mike, and I played six shows in two weeks as a trio until Roxy announced that she had an idea for a new member of my band.

  “Aiden,” said over the phone. “Just listen. I love your music, I really do. But let’s try something different. You know you can do it, I’ve heard you do it.”

  I still don’t know what different she’s talking about. Different can mean anything and I don’t see how adding a sax player to my band is going to make me sound any different.

  Even so, on Roxy orders, Sunny, Paulie, Mike, and I sat in a jazz lounge in Buckhead waiting to hear some guy play.

  “What do you need a sax player for?” Paulie griped. “If you have to pay too many people, you won’t make any money. You saw what happened to Hammer.”

  “Roxy thinks that a sax will sound awesome when we play these shows next week. She’s been right so far.”

  The house lights dimmed and the MC took that stage to introduce the next act.

  “Ladies and gentleman, coming to the stage is one of our regulars. I like to think of this girl as a black Candy Dulfer. She’s just that bad! Please welcome back to the Sambuca stage, Miss Erica Steele!”

  What?

  Erica?

  My ears heard the MC correctly. Erica smiled at us as she hugged the MC and stepped up to the mike. She picked up a shiny alto sax and my mouth was just as wide as my eyes when she started to play.

  My mouth stayed open the entire time that Erica was playing. I’ve never been attracted to her more than I was at the moment. The passion in her eyes, the movement of her body as she played her sax was intoxicating.

  The song she was playing was just as sensual as she looked. Her voice was even huskier when she started speaking into the mic.

  “I call that one ‘Tempted’,” she said and smiled right at me.

  I glared at Sunny. “Why didn’t you tell me she could play?”

  Sunny sat down her drink and simply said, “She told me not to,”

  “Hey guys,” a familiar voice greeted us. I tore my eyes away from the stage for a split second to see Roxy pull up a chair.

  “So what do you think about my girl, Aiden?”

  “She’s pretty fucking good!”

  “I want to see how she sounds with you and Mike,” Roxy said. “Joey’s on his way so you guys can play a song or two with her.”

  “What song?” I asked.

  “Doesn’t matter. You’re professionals. Just get on stage and jam. I want to see how she sounds with you and how the crowd reacts.”

  I travel with at least one guitar so getting on stage isn’t a problem. I’m always game to play anytime and anywhere. Roxy says it’s the sign of a true musician.

  Joey arrived five minutes after Mike and I went backstage. We’ve never played Sambuca’s before so we’re all pretty excited to play for this crowd. From the stage, Erica caught my eye and smiled. My heartbeat sped up. Damn, when did she get so hot?

  “I’m going to bring a few of my good friends out here to jam with me. You might know them. If you don’t, then you will very soon. Here are my boys, Joey Clausen, Wild Mike, and Aiden Tyler.”

  We sounded better than I thought we would. Erica’s style is so different than mine but she’s fucking amazing! She’s a sultry sex kitten when she’s blowing her sax and the men in the audience were fixated on her hips and thighs swaying in the short black dress. My eyes were on her ass.

  When she started playing the melody to Empty Kisses, our relationship changed forever.

  I have to have her...and not just for my band.

  ****

  Two weeks ago, I thought that things were finally looking up. Now, I know that my life is changing in a major way.

  It’s almost time to record my new demo. Even though she hates it I had to cut the time I play here, Kat allows me, Mike, and Erica to rehearse at Rabbit’s. She’s still a little angry with Mike, but she knows how important this is for me.

  I pulled into the parking lot at Rabbit’s a little early for rehearsal. When I saw Roxy’s Mercedes in the parking lot, I started running across the parking lot.

  Kat and Roxy alone.

  Not a good thing.

  “I don’t know who you think I am!” I heard Kat yelling as soon as I opened the door. “Don’t even think you can tell me how to run my business!”

  “Aiden and Mike are my business,” Roxy yelled back.

  “Whoa! What’s going on here?” I interrupted. “What’s the problem?”

  “Your manager,” Kat spat the word in disgust, “says you want more money or you’re done here. Is that what you told her?”

  I sat down next to Kat. “Umm, we talked about it, but I didn’t say that,” I answered.

  Roxy took a deep breath and exhaled loudly...impatiently.

  “I’m saying it,” she corrected Kat. “I’m trying to get this boy a record deal, and he’s turning down gigs so he can play here three and four nights a week for the little bit of money that you pay him.”

  “He likes playing here,” Kat argued. “This bar has made more careers than you have. My brother started out here-”

  “And I got him the hell out of here as quickly as I could!” Roxy interrupted.

  “That’s because you’re a money hungry bitch!” Kat hollered back.

  “Say what you want about me, Katherine Mays, but you and I both know that Joey’s career would have never taken off if I didn’t get him away from you.”

  “This isn’t about Joey, it’s about Aiden,” Kat pointed out. “He gets paid enough. If he wants to walk, he’s free to go. Ain’t nobody making his skinny ass play here,” Kat said angrily.

  She glared at me as she stood up. “Make a choice, Aiden.”

  Kat stormed across the lounge towards her office.

  “So ghetto,” Roxy murmured. “She needs to be grateful-”

  “Stop,” I said forcefully. “Don’t talk about her. You don’t know shit about what that woman has done for me!” I looked towards Kat’s office.

  “I’ll be back.

  A few seconds later, I knocked softly on Kat’s door. She didn’t answer so I peeked my head in.

  “What the hell you want, boy?” she said without looking up from her computer.


  “Look, I’m sorry about that,” I said. “That wasn’t supposed to go that way.”

  “It went just how it was supposed to go,” was her tight lipped response.

  “Kat, I don’t need more money. I don’t care what Roxy thinks. This place is my home. I like being able to come here and play something different.”

  But Kat wasn’t buying it.

  “You need to put that stuck up bitch in check,” she replied with a sneer. “I will kick her ass next time she comes in here talking shit.”

  I burst out laughing at the thought.

  “Don’t laugh. You don’t see me laughin’, do you?” Kat fumed. “She gets on my last nerve! I really don’t like the fact that you hired her. I thought she was out of my life when Joey divorced her. But no, she’s back in my bar.” Kat shook her head.

  “I’m sorry.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at Kat’s fury. “You don’t have to worry about me and money ever again. I’d play here for free if I could afford to.”

  This time Kat smiled. “I know, baby. And soon you will be just like my brother, coming around here every once in awhile, practically causing a riot since you’re so famous. From the first time I heard you play, I knew you’d be the next one to make it.”

  “I haven’t made it yet, Miss K,” I stated.

  “Yeah, but you’re on your way. I can feel it.” She glanced out of the little square she calls a window.

  “Your band is here. Go on and rehearse. Make sure she’s gone when I come out.”

  “Okay.” I bent down to kiss her on her cheek. “You know I love you, right?”

  “You better. And Aiden,” she called. “Steal another member of my band and I really am gonna kick your ass.”

  ****

  Our truce didn’t last long...three days, that’s all. Because three days later, Eddie asked if I needed a keyboardist. No sooner than the words left his mouth, my cell phone started ringing off the hook.