by Zuri Day
Bruno Mars’s lilting voice oozed out of the speakers and made Nicki smile.
“You remember what happened after we heard this?”
“No.”
“Liar!” Julian laughed again as he turned up the volume.
“Of course I remember,” Nicki said after a time. “That was the night we first made love.”
The night she found out twenty-one-year-old Julian was a virgin, and learned the conservative view he held when it came to sex. Not the act. Julian was a freak between the sheets. But that lovemaking was special, not something to be done with just anyone. “What’s with this trip down memory lane? You trying to tell me something?”
“Absolutely.”
“What?”
Julian pulled into the parking lot next to the hangar where private planes were stored when not in use. Looked into Nicki’s anxious eyes.
“That we’re getting ready to make more memories, even more beautiful than the ones we made that night.”
Chapter 16
Though Julian offered both a wheelchair and his arms as transporting devices, Nicki insisted on getting through the hangar to the landing strip on her own strength. It should have been a given since they hadn’t driven to a commercial airport, but Nicki didn’t realize they were taking a private plane until she saw the same sleek aircraft they’d boarded to New York a week ago. Even so, she asked the obvious.
“We’re taking the company plane?”
“We are indeed.”
“I thought you said it was only used for business.”
“This is somewhat of a business trip.”
“How so?”
“It will become clearer as the evening unfolds. Can you make it up the stairs or should I inform the attendant to convert it to a ramp so that you can use the wheelchair?”
“I can make it.” Julian reached up and placed a hand at her elbow, a move that got him reprimanded. “I’ve got it, Julian. Just give me a second.”
“I’m just offering support, Nicki. The last thing we want is for you to have a mishap that results in another injury.”
Nicki reached the top of the stairs, quietly greeted the cautious attendant and sat down in the first available seat. She watched Julian enter behind her. He chatted casually with the attendant before the pilot joined them. The three laughed at something before the pilot shook Julian’s hand and walked into the cockpit.
Nicki watched how comfortable Julian was in these luxurious surroundings, as if flying in this manner was normal. She wondered what it was like to have grown up in wealth and privilege. Nicki’s mom had done an excellent job in providing for her only child. Nicki’s father had died when she was young, tragically killed in a freak motorcycle accident. Nicki hadn’t lived in excess by any means. Her mother hadn’t spoiled her. She’d been given everything she needed and quite a few things that she wanted as well. Yet in the last few minutes, she realized, it was him who’d acted like one with stellar home training and her who’d played the spoiled brat. Julian was only trying to be helpful, obviously taking her on this trip to feel better about losing her Broadway job. She should be thanking him for being so generous. Instead she was acting like a witch.
He slowly approached her. “Is it safe for me to sit beside you or should I find my own row?”
“I’m sorry for snapping at you.” Nicki patted the seat beside her. “Sit down. Please.”
He reached for her hand, held it as he spoke but did not look at her. “I can understand you being upset. I know how much your career means to you. But I get the feeling that something else is going on, Nicki.” He looked at her then. “What is it?”
“You’re right. There is something else.”
The attendant walked up. “We’ll be taking off shortly. Can I get you something to drink?”
“We’re fine, thanks.” Julian spoke for both them.
“Actually,” Nicki said, “do you have Patrón?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Could I get a margarita?”
“Salt on the rim?”
“Um, no, thank you.”
“Coming right up.”
She felt Julian’s eyes on her. “You all right?” She nodded. “You rarely ever drink.”
“I know.”
“You shouldn’t mix alcohol with those meds.”
“I didn’t take one today.”
“But you’re not hurting?”
Not in my ankle. “No, I’m good.”
They felt the plane begin to taxi. Julian buckled his seat belt. Nicki did, too.
The attendant brought back the margarita and handed it to Nicki. “I brought you a sparkling water, Dr. Drake. I hope you don’t mind.”
Julian lifted the glass slightly. “Good choice. Thanks.”
Nicki looked out the window. Her stomach roiled with nerves. There was simply no good time to share bad news, no pretty way to dress up ugly. With steely resolve and another sip of the tasty margarita, she began speaking.
“There is someone trying to force me to repay money I don’t owe.” In the ensuing silence, Nicki imagined Julian’s sharp mind rapidly turning. Processing what she’d said, adding in what she hadn’t. “He needs money quick and—”
“He?”
“Yes.”
“He who?”
“A guy I met a couple years ago. One of his cousins directed a show I did in Atlanta. He tried to say his connection is how I got the role. It isn’t. I auditioned like everyone else. But he’s using the claim to try to get money. I think he borrowed from a loan shark or someone shady who’s pressing pretty hard to get their money back.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed as he pondered what Nicki said. He took a sip of water, then another, before turning to eye her closely. “That sounds weird, like there’s more to the story.”
“There’s a little more to it. I went out with him a couple years ago. Right after we broke up. Met him at a party, felt lonely, gave him my number. We only went out a few times. When you and I got back together, I had already blocked his number.”
“That was it?”
“Pretty much. He was a jerk, obviously. I wouldn’t have continued with him no matter what.”
“So with his number blocked, how’d he contact you? Did he come to the show?” He turned more fully. “Is that what happened the night I was there? On opening night, when you ran to the car as though someone was chasing you?”
Nicki looked out the window. The attendant started toward them but was halted by Julian’s hand.
“He was there. Waiting on the sidewalk. Didn’t approach me when he saw you. But he’d called me a couple weeks before, when I answered an unknown number thinking it was someone calling about the show. It was him. He’d seen the news that I’d gotten a role on Broadway. Guess he figured, like many others, that anyone on Broadway is making tons of money. I honestly thought it was a joke, until he started talking about the show in Atlanta and how he’d talked to the director and that’s how I got hired. I told him I didn’t have it and even if I did, I wouldn’t loan him that kind of money.”
“How much does he want?”
“Twenty thousand.”
“He thinks you owe him twenty thousand dollars?”
“I don’t owe him anything. Twenty thousand is how much he needs. He has a gambling habit. That’s one of the things I found out just before you and I got back together. He’s got to be desperate to come to me, someone he dated for a month two years ago. Anyway, the harassing phone calls have continued, and gotten worse in the last few days.”
“So this has been going on since the show opened.” Nicki nodded. “I hate that you’ve dealt with this alone all this time. It’s disappointing that you wouldn’t reach out.”
“I should have, Julian. I realize tha
t now. But I was embarrassed to even have gone out with someone like him. Honestly, I never thought it would go this far.”
“Just how far has it gone?”
Nicki hesitated. Should she tell him about the guys at her place? No, he’d definitely not want her to return home. “Threatening phone calls that I’ve recorded to turn over to the police. Coming to the show, but only that one time. Once I’m back in New York, I’ll get a restraining order. I think that will put an end to it. I don’t think he wants to go to jail.”
“I think you should consider staying here with me.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“Why not? At least for now. You can’t dance or even try out for six to eight weeks.”
“But I can meet with my agent, check out what’s available and be there if a director wants to meet.”
“You can do all of that from here and handle the initial meeting over the phone.”
“I just want to get back, that’s all. But I’ll think about it. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Still won’t tell me where we’re going?”
“You’ll know when we get there. When is the last time you heard from this guy?”
“A couple days ago. I told him the conversation was being recorded and that I was going to the police. I don’t think he’ll call again.”
“Let me know if he does.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Nicki. I’m all too familiar with your independent streak. But don’t keep me out of the loop on this. I can’t take care of you if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Okay, I will.” Nicki leaned over, kissed his cheek and then nestled against him. “I feel better having told you.” He nodded, kissed her temple. “Know something else?”
“Hmm.”
“It’s probably good I’m not a drinker. That tequila makes me horny.”
“In that case... Kim! Can we get another margarita, please?”
“Don’t, Kim!” Nicki gave Julian’s arm a playful swat. “But I’d love some sparkling water.”
“Sure, coming right up.”
A comfortable silence fell between them as Kim brought out Nicki’s drink and a tray of hot appetizers. Nicki looked out the window. Before dating Julian, she’d never been west. Was still struck at the stark difference between the East and West Coast topographies. Back east there’d be shades of green from various trees, even oranges, reds and tans from leaves changing color. The view of the west from the sky was filled with reds and browns, vast, seemingly uninhabited tracts of earth punctuated by cities that cropped up here and there. Like the one that seemed to be coming into view. Not Oakland, as she’d imagined, and another visit to the Drake condo in San Francisco. No, this city was bigger. And what was that layer of brown hovering several feet below the crowds? Was it...
“Los Angeles! You’re taking me to LA?”
“Can’t keep a secret from you forever, huh?”
“I’ve never been to Los Angeles and always wanted to go.”
“We’ll be there in about—” Julian checked his watch “—fifteen minutes.”
“This was a perfect answer for my doldrums. Thank you, Julian. Really. I love you so much.”
“You’re welcome, baby.”
The plane began its descent. Nicki craned her neck to take in the vast metropolis known as the City of Angels. Hard to believe, but in the moment she actually felt happy. Something she’d thought impossible just hours ago. Paige was right. Julian should know what was going on. Nicki felt better that she’d told him and hoped what she said was true—that Vince would heed her warning and stop the threatening phone calls and texts. If he scared her like this while she was out on the West Coast, who knew what could happen back east.
Chapter 17
There was so much to see! Julian had the driver take the streets instead of the highway so that Nicki could appreciate all the diverse and plentiful neighborhoods that made up metropolitan LA. Thirty minutes into their ride, they’d already passed more than half a dozen: Ladera Heights, Inglewood, Baldwin Hills and View Park. A native Angeleno, the driver gave exciting history about the famous Crenshaw Boulevard that ran from Wilshire Boulevard all the way into Long Beach and was once the cruising route for lowriders and hydraulic wonders, a street that rappers immortalized in catchy tunes. Who knew about Leimert Park’s rich history, where so many famous comedians honed their craft? Past West Adams and mid-Wilshire, they headed east through Koreatown and into downtown.
“What do you think?” Julian smiled broadly. Clearly, he enjoyed watching Nicki’s virginal journey through the concrete jungles of the country’s second-largest city.
“Everything’s so spread out. Looks different than I expected. Don’t know what that was, but...”
“Probably what you’ve seen on TV. Beverly Hills. Hollywood. We’ll see that, too. Tomorrow.”
The driver turned onto a street lined with shops. Nicki turned to Julian. “Is this the garment district?”
“How’d you know?”
“Worked with a girl from LA once who told me about it. Said you could get great bargains down here, designer clothing at wholesale prices. Looks like everything’s closed, though.”
“It is,” the driver interrupted. “Merchants pretty much close up when the business workday is over. Very few customers after around four o’clock. These streets change late at night. Not the safest place if most of your business is in cash.”
Nicki turned to Julian. “Will we be able to come back tomorrow?”
“If you’d like. Though I think we might be able to get what you need tonight.”
“How do you figure?”
Julian winked. “I know people.”
The driver pulled over near the end of a street.
“This is it?” Julian asked.
The driver pointed at a brick building on the corner. “Right over there.”
“Come on, babe. Here, let me help you.” Julian reached for one of the aluminum crutches, unfolded it and then went over to Nicki’s side and helped her out.
“Where are we going?”
“So many questions!”
“Because I’m not getting answers!”
They reached the door on the corner. Julian rang a doorbell. The door opened quickly. A perky blonde twentysomething stepped back as they entered. “Dr. Drake! Hello. You must be Nicki. Welcome to OTB’s LA warehouse.”
Nicki gasped. “OTB Her?” The warehouse assistant nodded and laughed at Nicki’s obvious surprise. Nicki looked at Julian. “I can get an outfit here?”
“You’re going to get several, but the clock is ticking and we’ve got a full agenda.”
“I’ve already chosen some outfits I think you’ll like, so if you come on back to the showroom and have a seat, I’ll bring them right out.”
An hour later Nicki and Julian reentered the limo, the trunk packed with originals from Julian’s sister London’s husband, model-turned-fashion-designer Ace Montgomery.
Nicki’s eyes shone like a kid at the circus. “That was so amazing, Julian! Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, baby. It’s good to see you smile.”
“Where are we going tonight? Hopefully someplace I can wear that jumpsuit.”
“That was my second favorite after the mini. Your ankle might be injured, but your ass has never looked better.”
“Obviously, since you couldn’t keep your hands off it back there while I changed.”
“Wait till later tonight and see what my hands do,” he said while trying to ease said hand under her top.
She smacked it away. “Behave! Where are we going?”
“To the hotel to shower and change, and then to dinner and...your next surprise.”
“Anot
her surprise? Something more than getting OTB originals? I could die right now and be a happy woman.”
“Don’t do that, babe. If you miss out on what’s happening next, you’ll really be mad.”
She really would have, too. After a short ride from the OTB LA warehouse, Nicki and Julian checked into a Ritz-Carlton suite, enjoyed sushi and seafood at a five-star restaurant, and then headed to the Ahmanson Theater.
“LuLu?” Nicki read the program Julian received from one usher while another escorted them to their orchestra seats. Once settled into their seats, she read about the innovative dance troupe out of Britain, creating a buzz in LA sure to sweep the nation with a fun, fast, fiery musical that absolutely embodied the title, lu, the Yoruba word for “beat.”
Nicki watched, transfixed, as the lead character mixed an intricate dance style with beats created by everything from percussion instruments to hands and feet, taking the audience on a journey of the heart. By intermission she’d fallen in love with the show and especially the intricate type of dance. By the time the performance ended, she wanted to be on stage dancing with them.
Julian pulled strings and got them backstage. Nicki met the director, a humble British talent who was also the show’s choreographer and playwright.
“The show is fantastic!”
The director acknowledged the compliment with a slight bow. “Thank you so much.”
“What type of dancing was that?”
“It’s lulu dancing, moving to and with the beat. The steps are inspired by African dance moves, a combination of steps from various countries.”
“You absolutely captured the soul of the dance. How long does it take to teach that?”
The director chuckled, with a nod to her ankle. “Well, it is not something you can learn tonight.”
“I sure want to. It’s some of the most exciting, unique, energetic dancing I’ve seen in a long time.”
“The movements are rather contagious, or so I’ve been told.”
“Absolutely. Had my foot not been in this cast, I would have been up dancing! Seriously. I don’t know how the rest of the audience stayed in their seats!”
