“Yeah, you know, good exercise, and you can’t beat the view.”
“Where’d you go?”
“Temescal Canyon.”
“Ah nice, that’s one of my favorite spots. We’ll have to go together sometime when I get back.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely a favorite of mine as well. Do you have a show tonight?”
“Yep, just on my dinner break before I have to start getting ready. But listen, there’s a reason I called.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I have a little proposition for you.”
“Hmm, sounds interesting. Tell me more.”
“Well, we have a show in San Francisco in a couple of weeks…”
He paused and cleared his throat, making Annie smile into the phone at his hesitation.
“So yeah if maybe you haven’t already made plans for that weekend… I was kind of wondering if you might, you know… like, might be interested in coming.”
Annie was silent for a moment, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. Casey continued to ramble on nervously.
“Yeah, I was thinking that you could fly up after you get off work on Friday and check in at my hotel. I can upgrade my room to a suite using some of my AMEX reward points, so there would be a couch I can sleep on if you would prefer, or you can cuddle with me. I swear I’ll be a perfect gentleman and won’t try anything. We can grab a late night dinner and drinks after the show, and then spend the day together on Saturday until my call time. I’ll have a backstage pass for you for Saturday night’s performance, and then you can fly back on Sunday a little after lunch time. What do you think?”
“Um, wow, I uh… hmm… well, that sounds like it could be fun.”
“Look, I know you don’t know me that well, and I feel bad that I had to leave town just as we were starting to get acquainted. I’d love to see you as soon as possible, but it’s going to be a while before I’m back in L.A.”
“I understand… I just wasn’t really expecting this.”
“I’ll pay for the ticket and if you feel uncomfortable at any time, I’m happy to fly you back home right away, no questions asked.”
“No, it’s not that.” Annie bit her lip and stared at the ceiling. “I just don’t know if I should.” The last thing she wanted was a repeat of the Phoenix trip when she had let herself be romanced and duped into thinking everything was perfect and wonderful, just to have her world come crashing down around her when she returned home and found out that Gabe had gotten his ex-girlfriend pregnant and that they were going to give their relationship another go.
“Please? I promise—it’ll be totally innocent. I might want to cuddle with you a little bit, but I swear we’ll keep our clothes on.”
Laughing, Annie felt a warm feeling grow in her belly as she let herself think about cuddling with Casey… without clothes. “Um, it is a very tempting offer, sir, and I’d love to see you dance, and well, I guess it wouldn’t be so bad to hang out with you.”
“Hey now.”
“I’m kidding. It’d be great to spend some time with you, but let me sleep on it, okay? Can I let you know in the morning?”
“Yeah, of course. You won’t regret it,” he promised, sounding sincere.
“Hmm, I would hope not. I’ll give it serious consideration.”
“That’s all I can ask for. Well, it’s almost call time so I gotta get going. I’ll wait to hear from you tomorrow.”
“I promise I’ll call you first thing.”
“Cool. Talk to you then.”
After they said their good-byes and hung up, Annie remained lying on the bed. She texted Alex to update him on Casey’s invitation.
Annie: Casey just invited me to join him for a romantic weekend in San Francisco.
Alex: Phoenix, Part Two?
Annie: Ugh, I know, but I sure hope not! He swears he won’t try anything… just wants to spend some time with me.
Alex: Oh honey, that’s what they ALL say, but go with your gut and do what you gotta do.
Annie: Do you think I’m stupid for wanting to go?
Alex: Of course not! Like I said, go with your gut, but just be careful!
Annie: I will. When am I not careful??
Annie: On second thought, don’t answer that. :p
Alex: Heh, I was gonna say…
Annie: Alright, well I told him I’d sleep on it, but I think I’m probably going to say yes.
Alex: Cool, I’m sure you’ll have a good time. :)
Annie: I think I will, too. I’m a little paranoid… but I have a good feeling around him.
Alex: Totally understandable for you to feel paranoid right now, but try to let your guard down and relax and enjoy yourself.
Annie: Okay, I’ll try.
Alex: o.O
Annie giggled at the emoticon he sent her—the one that told her he had one eyebrow raised and would be looking at her pointedly if he was physically in front of her.
Annie: Lol, okay I WILL.
Alex: Make me proud, honey.
Annie: Oh I almost forgot… I went hiking with Nate today and told him I couldn’t see him right now.
Alex: How’d he take it?
Annie: Okay, I guess. He wasn’t too happy about it, but he wasn’t angry or anything, other than at himself maybe.
Alex: Well, I liked him, but it’s probably for the better.
Annie: Yeah… anyway, he also told me about this new talent competition that is holding auditions next weekend.
Alex: Oh yeah? Are you going to give it a shot?
Annie: Thinkin’ about it…
Alex: You should totally do it! I’ll even come with you and stand in line for hours and hours. We can sing our favorite songs and everyone in line can join in with us. It’ll be like our own episode of Glee.
Annie: Lol, okay, if I decide to go, I will definitely take you up on that offer. I could use the moral support.
Alex: You got it, just let me know.
Annie: Okay, I will. Thank you for being supportive.
Alex: Like you wouldn’t do the same for me.
Annie: True, but I probably don’t tell you enuf. Thanks for being a great friend.
Alex: Likewise, sweetie! Loves!
Annie: :) I’ll see you at dinner.
Excited now that she had made her decision, Annie called Casey as soon as she started the coffeemaker the next morning.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said, answering on the first ring.
“Good morning… you sound really awake.”
“Well, I’ve been up for four hours, and I’ve had plenty of coffee.”
“I just started mine a minute ago, so I’m still waking up. Anyways, I’ve thought about your… proposition… and I decided—” she trailed off, drawing the suspense out.
“Mmmhmm?”
“Okay,” she said as she smiled into the phone.
“Okay? Okay as in yes?”
Annie laughed and agreed. “Okay as in yes.”
“That’s great, Annie. I can’t wait to see you. Text me your details so I can book your flight.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I can pay for my own flight,” she assured him.
“No way, I insist. You’re coming at my invitation—I should pay for your ticket.”
“No arguments. I pay or I don’t come.”
“Ugh, you are one stubborn woman.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“Alright, well, everything else is on me while you’re here, okay? And no arguments. You pay for your flight only.”
“Deal. Well, I have to start getting ready for work… just wanted to call and give you my answer.”
“Yeah, I’ve got a pick-up rehearsal starting soon anyway. Have a great day at work and maybe I’ll talk to you later tonight.”
“Okay, sounds good. Talk to you later.”
As she hung up the phone, Annie couldn’t help grinning as she practically danced her way into the bathroom. For some reason, she had Man, I Feel Like a Woman by Shania Twa
in stuck in her head, so she sang loudly as she hurried through her shower.
Life was finally starting to look up for Annie. She had a possible audition coming up and then she was going to San Francisco the following weekend to see Casey perform and spend some time with him. He’d mentioned cuddling and she was thoroughly looking forward to that. If she judged by his hugging skills, then she was in for quite the cuddle treat.
It wasn’t until Tuesday night when Annie remembered to tell Casey about the upcoming auditions for the talent show. She was talking to him on the phone after she got home from work, thankful that he had a night off, allowing them to finally have a longer conversation than usual. It had actually been Casey who jogged her memory when he mentioned that his friend had called him that morning to see if he could manage a quick day trip back to L.A. to audition with a dance crew he used to perform with.
“Yeah, there’s some new talent show on TV called The Next American Superstar, so they want to audition for that this coming weekend.”
“Oh yeah, I heard about that. I’m actually thinking about auditioning myself.”
“Really? That’s awesome! You should totally go.” Casey sounded excited for her.
“Are you going to come back to audition with them?”
“Eh, I don’t think I’m going to be able to. I’d love to, but I’ve got a show on Friday night and on Saturday night. I doubt there’d be any way I can squeeze it in, but I’ve still gotta look into flights and see if I can make something happen. What time does the line start on Saturday morning?”
Annie pulled her laptop over to look it up online. “Hold on a minute. I’m checking the website.” She browsed the page for a minute before finding what she was looking for. “Um… I think it starts at five a.m.”
“Ouch… so yeah, I’d have to take a red-eye flight out right after the concert and would have to join the guys in line and hope that I get there before it’s their turn. And then I’d have to jump back on the first flight back after we were done and hope I got back in time or I could lose my spot on the tour.”
“What about rehearsing?” she asked curiously. “Wouldn’t you need to practice with them before auditioning?”
“We have several pieces that we’ve worked on for years, so no, it wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Wouldn’t it be exciting if you were able to come back and you made it through? What if we both made it through and got into the finals?”
“Yeah, that would be pretty dope. So what are you going to sing?”
“Well, I didn’t say I was going to audition for sure.”
Casey laughed. “Come on, what—you too chicken?”
“No, shut up. I’m not chicken. I just… I don’t know.” Annie stood up from the couch and started pacing nervously around her living room.
“What have you got to lose?”
“Nothing, I just—”
“Yeah, I think you like making excuses. I see how it is.”
Rolling her eyes, she waved her free hand in frustration. “Argh, I’m not making excuses. I’m seriously considering it, but I just haven’t made up my mind, yet.”
“Nothing to lose,” Casey said matter-of-factly.
“Geez, you are persistent. Look, I’m probably going to. I think.”
“Okay fine. Let’s just say that hypothetically, you decide to audition. What would you sing?”
“Well, I’m kind of digging this Gin Wigmore chick I’ve been listening to lately. I was thinking of doing something by her… or maybe Duffy. I definitely don’t want to do Adele because everybody does her.” Annie returned to her laptop to look up the lyrics to Black Sheep by Gin Wigmore.
“Yeah, all of those would be good, but I agree. I think both Adele and Duffy have been overdone… I like the Gin Wigmore idea. You should stick with that. I love her voice.”
“Me too! It’s very sexy.”
“You’re very sexy.”
“What?” Annie laughed, her cheeks beginning to burn a little when she realized what Casey had just blurted out.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Yes, you did. You said I’m very sexy.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Okay, maybe I did.”
“Heh, well thanks. So are you.” Annie was sure that the grin she was wearing was about ready to split her face in two.
“Aw, come on now. You just said it because I said it first,” Casey said in a pouting tone.
She laughed. “No, no, really. You’re actually pretty damn sexy.”
“Sexy like Usher sexy?”
“Sexy like Magic Mike sexy.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“I’ve gotten that before.”
“Yeah? You seriously could almost be his double, especially with that red baseball cap you wear.”
Chuckling, Casey paused and cleared his throat. “Aw, man. Now I don’t know if I’ll ever wear that hat again. And it’s my favorite, too.”
“Why not? I love you in that hat.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. It makes you Casey sexy, which is ten times better than Magic Mike sexy.”
“Now you’re just trying to make me blush.”
Annie giggled as she rolled her eyes, twisting around on the couch to get into a better position with a throw pillow stuffed under her neck. “Is it working?”
“Well, wouldn’t you like to know? So why don’t you sing me a bit of the song you want to use?”
“What? Right now?”
“Yes, right now.”
“Ahh… um… seriously? Like just start singing right now?” Feeling put on the spot, Annie hemmed and hawed and tried to think of an excuse to get out of singing to Casey.
“Yup, just start singing. Come on, how are you going to be able to audition this weekend if you can’t even sing to me on the phone?”
Biting her lip, she groaned and stuffed the pillow in her face. She knew he was right, but he made her feel so nervous. What if he hated her voice? Even if he did, she figured he probably wouldn’t say anything so he wouldn’t hurt her feelings.
“Okay, okay. Just give me a minute here.” Jumping up from the bed, Annie made a beeline for the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.
“I’m waiting…”
“Patience! I had to get some water.”
“Man, you are the queen of excuses, aren’t you?”
“Shush.” After taking a swig of water, she placed her phone on the counter and put it on speakerphone. Taking a deep breath, Annie began to sing the first verse of Black Sheep by Gin Wigmore. She winced as she heard her voice crack a tiny bit, but by the time she got into the chorus, she loosened up and really started to belt it out. When she finished, Annie gingerly picked the phone back up and turned off the speakerphone.
“Okay, there. You happy now?”
“Annie… that was amazing.”
“Shut up.”
“No, seriously. That was really good.”
“Right… my voice totally cracked in the first verse.”
“Doesn’t matter. You have a very sexy singing voice. I love that gravelly sound.”
Blushing, Annie couldn’t help but smile. “Well, thank you.”
“Yeah, that was great… just keep practicing that song and I think you’re going to knock their socks off.”
“You really think so?”
“I’m no expert when it comes to female vocalists, but I’ve danced back-up for quite a few, and I can appreciate quality, and you definitely have a quality voice. Now, the only thing is that I would suggest having a back-up song—maybe even two—prepared by this weekend.”
“That’s a good idea… thanks for the tip.”
“No worries. Aight, well, some of the other dancers want to grab drinks, so I’m going to let you go, but I’ll call you tomorrow night. Think about some other songs you like for your back-ups. I want you to sing them to me.”
“Ugh, r
eally? I have to sing more?”
“Yes, really.”
“Okay, I guess if you’re gonna twist my arm.”
“Great. Oh, hang on a sec. Someone’s at the door.”
There was a moment of silence, and Annie assumed Casey was answering the door. Just then, she heard a girl in the background.
“Everybody’s waiting for us,” the voice whined petulantly, making Annie’s eyebrows shoot up. “Will you put some clothes on so we can go?”
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” Casey promised the girl before returning to the phone call. “Alright, I’m so sorry, but I’ve gotta go.”
“Uh… who was that?”
“Oh, Kelli—she’s one of the dancers going out with us tonight.”
“And she just saw you naked?”
Casey laughed. “No, I’m not naked. I just got out of the shower right before I called you and I haven’t put a shirt on, yet.” The image his words conjured to her mind were more than massively appealing, and she shivered as she imagined what she’d do if she were there with him. But that didn’t distract her entirely from thinking about the fact that this Kelli had just seen him like that in person and not her. All of a sudden, the fact that he was going to be gone on tour for the next several weeks took on a whole new meaning.
“Hmm, okay, well… have fun, and I guess I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thanks, and remember, I’ll be waiting for those extra songs.”
“Right. Well, goodnight.”
“Night, princess.”
The line went dead and Annie stood there staring stupidly at her phone. What had she just gotten herself into? She didn’t want to be feeling insecure and worrying about what he might do with other girls he met while on tour. They weren’t together in a committed relationship. Even if he had expressed interest in taking her on a date when he got back into town, he had no obligation to stay loyal to her. Her gut told her that he wasn’t the type of guy who would do that, but experience told her that in the end, he could end up doing whatever he damn well pleased. Fuck my life! The next few weeks were going to be hell.
When Annie got home from work on Wednesday evening, she jumped on YouTube and started looking up different songs that she thought might make good audition pieces. After careful and lengthy deliberation, she finally settled on Stay by Rihanna and Free by Haley Reinhart.
All the Right Things (Love in LA) Page 4
