by Imani King
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The Quartet arrives in LA
“Is this the right place?” Kerry said, eyes wide with astonishment. “This is nicer than any place I have ever been! I mean –“ she said, looking quickly at Jasmine, “the castle was amazing, but this is nice in a totally different way!”
“A totally American way,” Jessa smiled. “This is how we do it!” They let their eyes trail over the luxurious surroundings, waterfalls, enormous flower arrangements, and marble everywhere that made the hotel lobby what it was.
“It’s amazing, all right,” Jasmine said, unsuccessfully trying to muster up some enthusiasm. “Bling central.”
“Awl, come on Jasmine, it’s going to be all right,” Robyn grinned, putting her arm around her friend and squeezing.
“You’re gonna knock over my cello,” Jasmine grumbled back. But something inside her was still glad to get the hug. If she just didn’t feel as if she was going to fall over or throw up when anyone got close to her, it would be easier. But she had to admit that the extreme air conditioning was helping her nausea subside.
“OK, well let’s check in.” Noticing the newsstand in the corner, which featured not only the best of journalism but also the tabloids, Kerry figured she would go over to the front desk before Jasmine could get a look at them. She had already noticed Leo’s face across two and didn’t want Jasmine to be thrown off and with a barely perceptible look at Robyn, she was off. Robyn escorted Jasmine to one of the couches while they waited, tabloids out of sight. But Roxanne had done all the preliminary work for them and before long there were four porters grabbing their suitcases and ushering them to their rooms, which were just as lush and well appointed as the lobby. Their suites were adjacent and adjoining so that they could open all the doors and share, which would make it easier for practicing. It also included a beautiful terrace where the girls could enjoy a view of the city for breakfast, before the sun began beating down.
Kerry’s game face was in full effect, her irritation at Jasmine remaining under the surface. She didn’t want to do anything to further jeopardize their concert beyond what Jasmine’s situation had done. She suggested a nap and then possibly a practice.
Jasmine wondered if Leo was in the same hotel. She wasn’t stupid – she noticed his face splashed across the magazines on the newsstand, and knew the quartet was protecting her, but had wanted to keep quiet, to not make a fuss. The story was going strong – another woman had surfaced and her face was across the covers, and it wasn’t something that she could easily forget, especially when everyone was off in their own room, and she was alone with her thoughts.
After closing her eyes for a while, and laying back on the plush thick mattress, Jasmine decided to bide some time playing on her phone. She intended something innocuous, but found herself instead looking up the lyrics to Reckless Love. Telling herself that since they were going to be playing together, she figured she’d better learn the song properly, but she knew she just wanted to finally see what the fuss was about, to feel connected again to Leo. But as she began to read them, her breath stopped.
Reckless Love by Leo Wellington-Kerr
You came out of nowhere
You came from across the sea
Hunting me down
To save me
Don’t be scared, just do it
Just fall, go through it
Nothing is as reckless, so scary
As love
They said I would never be
Said it was wrong
To love forever
Was a dream, a scam
And I a complete charlatan…
They’ll never understand you and me
(Take my hand)
They’ll never know how it feels
(I’m your man)
If you’ll have me
Don’t be scared, just do it
Just fall, go through it
There’s nothing as reckless
As love
My love for you
Will you love me?
Was it about her? From across the sea? They’ll never understand… His family wouldn’t. The society wouldn’t. His band wouldn’t.
Especially now. Her hand cupped her belly. Even if it hadn’t started to swell yet, she knew there was a presence in there.
The tears began to seep out of the sides of her face, pooling in her ears. She felt too tired to try to wipe them away. How am I going to get through this? This show? This pregnancy? This relationship? Is it over?
She felt something shift, and opened her eyes, realizing she had fallen asleep, and had probably been so for a long time, from the way the light had changed in the room, falling into night. It was the quartet sitting on her bed.
“Hey,” said Kerry. “We need to talk.”
“Yeah,” Robyn said. Her voice was steady. “Look, we think that all this stuff about Leo is a lie.”
She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Why is that?” She asked, looking from one to the next.
“You were still sleeping, and you looked so peaceful, we didn’t want to wake you, but we were all ready to eat. So we went downstairs to figure out where to grab a bite. We were in the lobby, when this woman approached us. She had a camera, and she was a journalist from one of these LA rags. Anyway she offered us some money if we’d look like we slept with Leo.”
“What?” The fog of sleep still lingering, Jasmine didn’t know what she was hearing. Her tongue was thick. “What are you talking about?”
“She wanted to pay us if she could get pictures of us leaving his room, hugging him, or kissing him or something like that.”
“I guess we looked the part, and like we needed the money,” said Jessa. “Because she said she could offer us a cool thou each.” She looked at the others. “What? I almost took it. A thousand ain’t nothing!”
The realization that the whole thing had probably been completely cooked up by the media was dawning on Jasmine. “Oh my Lord,” she said softly. “When he asked me to trust him, and said he was being faithful, maybe he was telling the truth.”
“And if he was telling the truth, you should talk to him about the baby,” prompted Kerry.
“But the rehearsal and show is coming up this weekend,” Jasmine said. “We only have a day or two. I don’t want to tell him before that. It might be really upsetting for him.”
Kerry’s eyes flashed in indignation. “Well he’s just going to have to get over it, isn’t he!?He’s the one who impregnated you!”
Jasmine couldn’t help but laugh at Kerry’s fierceness. Nothing like a good friend.
“It’s true,” she conceded. “But I don’t have to tell him that before the biggest night of his life!”
“Sure, okay. But now we can go on with the show?” Kerry asked, mouth twisted into a half grin. “I know we still have the pregnancy thing to deal with, but at least there’s a chance you guys will get through this?”
Hope bloomed through Jasmine’s heart. “I guess so. I guess there is a chance?” The other girls could see her whole countenance change, and they began to hope too. “So, did you guys figure out a place to eat?” She said suddenly. “I’m starved. And I am eating for two now you know!”
They erupted in giggles. “Nah, after that went down we came straight up here and had to tell you. So let’s get some burritos or something! On Roxanne!”
“Let’s do it!”
The day of the show finally came. They were surprised that they still hadn’t gotten a chance to rehearse with the band or even see Leo for that matter, but thanking their lucky stars for their training, which meant that they would be able to sail through the musical material with no errors, no problems, as long as the band stayed on the straight and narrow. The Grammy people were working with Roxanne scheduling them for all manner of styling, which was followed by filming promos, getting the staging set. It was a lot of ‘hurry up and wait,’ but their excitement was growing nonetheless.
“Can you believe we are playing the
freaking Grammies?” Kerry cried out the morning of. “It’s finally hitting me! This is so exciting!”
“I know,” Jessa said, sipping her coffee. “It’s like a dream. I can’t wait to put on the dresses.”
“Do you know what I just realized? In all the fuss, Jasmine hasn’t even seen hers!” Kerry mused. “She’s never even tried it on!”
“Oh God I hope it fits,” Jasmine said, hand rushing to her mouth. She looked around. “Where is it?”
Kerry went to the closet and retrieved the garment bag. “I hope you like it,” she said doubtfully. “I picked what I thought would be the best for you, you know, your body type, and how it would look with the cello and everything, and go with the rest of our outfits.”
“Thank you so much for doing that,” Jasmine said, suddenly touched. “I’m sorry I couldn’t share that experience with you guys.”
“Us too,” Robyn said simply. “But I can’t wait. You have to try it on.”
Unzipping the bag, the full effect of the gown was revealed. Jasmine pushed the edges of the garment bag away, showing an off the shoulder, white beaded dress with different color applique streaming away from it, unfinished edges contributing to both a rock and roll kind of look and an airy quality.
“Oh I almost forgot the shoes!” Kerry said, happy with the look on Jasmine’s face – both shocked and in love. She produced a large box with lace up high-heeled boot sandals featuring snake-embossed heels, which would look killer on either side of the cello. “Did I do good?” Kerry grinned.
“You did freaking amazing!” Jasmine cried. “I love this!”
“Try it on, girl!” Robyn yelled, coming in from the terrace. “We want to see!”
Mere moments later, Jasmine appeared in the dress and boot sandals, a doubtful look on her face.
“Do I look ok?” she asked. “It’s a little tight, no?”
“Not at all,” Jessa raved. “You look super sexy, oh my god! The way it hugs your curves –”
“And your waist! It’s perfect,” Kerry breathed. “Just perfect.”
They all hugged. “I can’t wait to see us all together! And a photo shoot!”
“And Jasmine-“ started Kerry.
“Yeah?”
“Just wait until Leo sees you. He’s going to go wild.”
A smile blossomed on her face. “Well I should take it off before it gets wrinkled or we spill coffee or something.” She was imagining Leo’s reaction.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Roxanne, the Quartet and Origin of Species at the Grammy Awards
Due to some kind of glitch, the practice time they were intended to have was somehow lost in the schedule.
“Sorry girls,” Roxanne, their new promoter, said. “You’re just going to have to go on and do it live.”
“Without rehearsal?”
A grimace appeared on Roxanne’s face. “That’s what it looks like. You know there are thousands of moving parts in these kinds of shows, and somehow you four were overlooked. You were meant to go to a rehearsal –“ she checked her notes. “Last night at the Art Warehouse, but we were never informed. So you’ve just got to go on. You’ll have about ten minutes with the band backstage, during which you can discuss whatever you need to, and sort out any questions you might have, but that’s going to be it.”
Jasmine could see from the look on her face that Kerry was fuming, but she put her hand on Kerry’s shoulder and stepped in.
“Thank you Roxanne, we’re pros – we’ll handle it.” She nodded to the others. “Let’s make this happen, girls,” she said, steel in her voice. They turned to practice for the last hour they had, before hair and makeup and the show.
“Oh, and I did mention, that it’s nominated for song of the year?” Roxanne added. “Just in case you missed that. The whole country will be watching!”
“Thanks Roxanne,” Jasmine said, a bit wryly. She was striding purposefully toward the door.
“You have two hours before hair and makeup!” Roxanne called after them. It would be two hours that they spent practicing, setting up safeguards for every possible thing that could go wrong. Jasmine felt better than she had in ages, ready to pour herself into this challenge, this opportunity to show everyone what they could do, and make Leo’s song Reckless Love the most beautiful thing the Grammy audiences had ever heard.
Before they knew it, rehearsal was over and they were swept off to hair and makeup, and then dressing for the show. When they stood in the dressing room, they were all in awe of how incredible they looked. Each had her own style, but all were coordinated. Jasmine’s asymmetrical off-the-shoulder gown was mostly white, with panels of color, Kerry’s a bandeau with panels, Jessa’s a modified mermaid and Robyn’s a halter, but they shared a similar riot of materials. The boots were all lace-up sandals that added at least 4 inches to their statures. Hair was gorgeous, different on each girl, but a variation of piled on top of their heads, with tendrils hanging down in just the right places.
Makeup was edgy brows, dramatic eyes, set off by glowing skin and glossed lips.
“We are freakin’ off the chain!” said Kerry, taking in their appearance. “Doesn’t really matter how you play when you look like this!”
The other girls doubled over in laughter. “If anybody makes a mistake, someone pop a boob out,” joked Jessa, and they cracked up even more.
“You guys are the best,” Jasmine said. “I am so excited to go through this whole thing with you. I love you all and thank you for carrying me through all this drama.”
“Aw, anything for you girl,” said Kerry, instantly mollified.
“We love you too!” Jessa said, going for a careful hug that didn’t smudge makeup or wrinkle anything, barely touching, but with the loving intent still clear as a bell.
“You bet,” Robyn said. “Now don’t you girls make me cry.”
A handler came in to usher them out on stage.
“But we were supposed to meet with the band?” Kerry said, biting her lip.
“Yes, sorry about that girls, but things have changed. You’ll have thirty seconds during the commercial break, then you do your number, and after that we announce the nominees for best song. You’ll still be onstage but the cameras will be on the presenters, then the winner, and then the next commercial break.”
“It’s showtime,” said Kerry, looking at Jasmine. “I guess this is the way they do it in the big leagues.”
Along with her excitement, Jasmine was feeling nervous that the first time she was going to see Leo was going to be on stage, but at the same time, she knew that the quartet would be able to handle anything the band might throw at them. They were completely prepared, and they would give their all. And, she reminded herself, they looked incredible.
She couldn’t wait for Leo to see her in her dress.
Her hand closed around the familiar wood of the neck of the cello, and they took their places on stage. But Leo and the band weren’t there! Where were they? The commercial break was ending. Her heart was in her chest, for more reasons than one. But the excitement running through her veins made it all worth it, when the lights came up and the announcement rang through the room introducing the band, calling out Leo’s name. The crowd roared, and Jasmine almost jumped back at the sound, but was able to keep her cool.
She felt a breeze go by her head, and a guitar chord rang out. It was Nigel – sliding across the stage and ending on his knees, leaning back, head and guitar neck held up in a dramatic pose, before he began. The first notes of Reckless Love, played perfectly, rang through the room. She lifted her bow, meeting the eyes of her quartet. They nodded, and entered smoothly at just the right time. Her hand felt steadier than ever.
And then she saw him, leonine Leo, stalking into the room, wearing a white jacket, tight black leather pants, and black boots, his tie undone around his neck, collar open revealing the angular definition of his chest.
He had never looked so perfectly insouciant, gorgeous, cool, sinewy and strong. He open
ed his mouth and began to sing
“You came out of nowhere/You came from across the sea/Hunting me down/To save me…” Jasmine drew the sounds from her bow to match his voice, raspy, beautiful vibrations, seamlessly intertwining with his vocal line. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him, and every millimeter of movement from his mouth as he sang, she echoed in her strings, perfectly miming and mixing with his expression. He turned his eyes to her as he sang. Every moment she first knew him was going through her mind – when they first met, the haughty look on his face combined with the sadness in his eyes, the weary crinkles in the corners…the way he kissed her in the Pagani… his hands on her in his room… his face on the moors as he finally told her how he felt about her.
She could feel the strength of the other girls’ sounds all around them, complimented by Nigel’s guitar. It was going perfectly, perfectly, the light flashing around them, the crowd rapt, and then Leo turned to her, and strode over to her, singing, He was seeing visions of her as well, her lips, full and soft and open in their first kiss… the curve of her breasts, her ass. The way she looked at him, so open and trusting.
