Dreams Do Come True (9 page)

Shontell picked up her cell phone and read Nico’s message out loud.
Hey beautiful, just letting you know I was thinking about you. Getting ready to hit the stage.

She typed a reply to him. She and Sandy laughed because she couldn’t wait to see his face. They made it to their seats right as the group hit the stage. She hoped that he wouldn’t notice her in the crowd. When they were singing her favorite song, he looked dead at her. She wanted to wave but didn’t. She wondered if he had seen her. She couldn’t tell with his glasses on and the lights shining on him. When he stepped to the back of the stage area for a drink, Martin got her attention. He signaled for her and Sandy to come to where he was. He said that they could watch the rest of the concert with him.

While she was backstage, Martin introduced her to David’s wife Felecia. There were others back there that she briefly spoke to, whom she assumed they knew from back in the city. She had a clear view of the performance from where she was sitting. She was so excited, like she was every time she watched them in concert. It was always fun. The energy they brought to the stage was phenomenal. They gave the fans what they wanted. They were clearly great entertainers. When they were on the last song, Martin took her by the hand and down to Nico’s dressing room. Sandy wanted to watch the end. She decided to stay with Felecia, whom she had instantly liked.

Shontell was nervous, but she sat completely still in a chair off to the side. She wanted him to be surprised, so she made sure he wouldn’t be able to see her when he walked in. She could hear them saying goodnight to the crowd. Then the hallway became noisy as the guys were speaking loudly. She heard someone at the door. Nico walked in. He headed straight to his cell phone. That action alone impressed her. He really did like her. She watched him read her reply. Shontell paid attention to his body language. She always thought it showed a lot about a person’s true emotions. She sometimes thought that if she would have paid more attention to Jesse, she never would have gotten hurt. He was now water under the bridge, as far as she was concerned. She continued to watch Nico and heard him say, “Wow,” as he shook his head. He ran his hand over his head and smiled. Nico looked up towards the ceiling and spoke aloud, “Thank you. I think we got it right this time.” Shontell was so touched by his words that she instantly became emotional and had to keep from making a sound. She quickly got herself together. She stood, but stayed hidden. He began undressing, taking off his soaked shirt. She hesitated as she watched him wipe off with a towel. She was still overwhelmed by what she witnessed. He grabbed some cologne, and she saw her moment. She quietly walked up behind him and placed her hands over his eyes. He almost dropped the bottle.

  “Guess who?” she whispered. Nico could smell the coconut and berries, and he knew it was her. He grabbed her hands and brought her around to him. 

“I knew it. I knew I saw you in the audience,” he said as he leaned in and kissed her deeply. They kissed until someone opened his door and said his name. 

“Nico, are you ready?” Dennis asked him. He noticed Shontell standing there with him. His facial expression clearly showed his surprise and disappointment at her being with him. Shontell wondered what she did to him for his actions to be the way they were. He tried to cover it up, but it was too late. They both saw it.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Shontell. When did you get here?” he asked her. 

Before she could answer, Nico spoke. “Can you guys give me ten minutes, please?” Shontell took notice that Nico never let her go the entire time. It was his way of letting him know she was around to stay.  She felt overwhelmed with emotions again.

Dennis

Dennis stood there watching the look on his friend’s face. This was the first time he had seen Nico like that since they were younger. That time it wasn’t even about a girl. It was about passion. He never saw that look on his face with Tina. They all knew that he was head over heels for her, but it never came across like that. He had seen that look another time within their group. It was when David fell for Felecia. He nodded his head and was about to close the door when he heard Shontell call his name.

“Dennis, my best friend, Sandy, is out there. She may be near Felecia. Can you let her know I will be out in a few minutes? She has on orange and white. Thank you.”

“Sure,” he told her, nodding as he was getting ready to close the door. Dennis looked at them once more as they hugged. She laughed at something Nico said to her. He had a fleeting thought that maybe he was wrong in his assumption about them hooking up. He knew that he didn’t want to lose his friend like he had with David. He never got time with his brother anymore. It was different before he was with Felecia. Things were sometimes strained because he tried to break them up, although he apologized for it. The end damage was done. It seemed like he was doing the same thing now. He was about to look for Shontell’s friend when his cell phone beeped. He checked the message and saw that it was Tina, telling him that everything was in place for the cruise. He typed in some words and then paused before hitting send. He looked at his words, and he felt conflicted by his own plan. In the end, he knew he had too much invested He closed his phone without sending the message. He continued down the hall to look for her friend, and then he made his way to her. She was gorgeous but, for some reason, he immediately knew she was probably not in his league. She was talking to a couple of the band members. They were cracking jokes as he approached her. “Sandy?”

“Yes, Dennis, right?” she asked.

“Correct. Shontell wanted me to tell you that she will be out in a few minutes.”

“Okay, thank you for letting me know. I enjoyed the concert. I can’t wait for the cruise at the end of the week.” She moved her hands as she was talking. He thought that was different. Dennis watched her mouth move, and again it amused him. She wore a very red lipstick, which brought out her dimples.

“Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the concert. Oh, you’re going on the cruise?” he asked, surprised. Leaning against the wall to get more comfortable, he awaited her response.

“Yes, Shon is treating me. It’s my birthday week.”

“Oh wow, nice gift. Well let me go meet the others. I’m sure I will see you in a few,” Dennis told her. He headed to the meet and greet area. He could feel her watching him.  She might not be out of his league as he had originally thought. He pulled out his phone and sent the now drafted message.
It may be a good thing to have them on the cruise.
He laughed to himself. He peeped out at the meet and greet line. He saw two women who would be perfect to cap his evening off with. He sent his usual person to do what was needed. He looked back at Sandy, who was talking to Felecia. They were in deep conversation. He couldn’t wait until they were on the water.

In their rehearsal earlier, they were told the cruise had sold out. This cruise was Nico’s baby. He was the one who approached them about it. As it always turned out, he brought them another notch of success to their twenty-five years in this business. He spotted John and David as they were coming out of their dressing rooms. He stopped and waited for them to reach him. They were almost to where the meet and greet was being held. John looked back, noticing that Nico wasn’t out there.

“Where’s Nico?” he asked Dennis.

“Seems as if Shontell surprised him. They are in the dressing room. Her friend Sandy is over there talking to Felecia,” he responded. He was hoping that his tone wouldn’t change to show his irritation of the whole thing, again.

“Oh, that was sweet of her. I am sure Nico loved that,” David said, not even looking at Dennis. “I bet he did
,”
Dennis mumbled. Both of the men looked at him strangely, but neither said anything. Dennis knew he was failing at trying to be nonchalant, and he decided he needed to just shut up. He grabbed a glass and had the bartender add some liquor. He swallowed it quickly before Martin saw him, but when Martin walked up behind him, he knew he was busted. “Dennis, I don’t know what you are up to, but please, know that I am on to you. I am sure you haven’t forgotten what happened the last time you thought it was your place to interfere in someone’s love life. You almost ended this group,” Martin told him. He spoke in a low tone so no one else heard their conversation. Dennis was about to say something when Martin put his hand up to stop him. “Let me finish. I want you to think very long and hard. You all deserve a life outside of this group. I say if love is that renewal of life, then go for it. Hear me clearly when I say this. If you pull what you did before, you won’t have to worry about the group ending. That won’t happen. But you will be out,” he told him firmly and walked away.

Dennis never turned around but finished off his drink.

He observed Nico and Shontell as they walked into the room. She let go of his hand. She joined her friend, and they went and sat with Felecia and a few others. He quickly thought back to what he saw in Nico’s dressing room. He could see his happiness. Whatever Shontell was giving him, it must be good.  He couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen Nico into anything outside of music and his parents. He had to admit though, Nico was different…including towards him. 

Shontell

“Shontell, I want to ask you how you got here, but it doesn’t even matter. I am just glad that you are. Let me get changed,” he told her as he stepped over to his clothes rack and grabbed some jeans and a shirt. Shontell walked over to his table and picked up his mic, which was blinged out with green glitter and rhinestones. She knew green was his favorite color. They all had their personal microphones. She had always loved that. She glanced back at Nico, and he had his back to her. Was this real? It had to be. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and started to pinch herself. She was doing too much. She almost laughed out loud at her antics. What was wrong with her? She kept reminding herself that he was a regular person. It didn’t matter what he did for a living. That’s the way she looked at Jesse, like he was a regular guy.  She wanted to give Nico that same image…of him being a regular guy. But her heart was telling her it was something totally different.

Once he was dressed, he took her by the hand and they left the room. She introduced him to Sandy as they all walked down to the meet and greet area. Martin had them go over to where Felecia and a few other people were. She watched as the backstage excitement started. The group greeted women and men for the next hour and a half. She noticed how a few women boldly tried to come at him, but Nico paid them no mind. He looked in her direction more than once to reassure her. His actions made her feel even better. She and Sandy were brought food and drinks by staff as they waited. 

“Remind me to tell you something later. But I did want to ask, what’s up with, Dennis? He seems like he’s really distracted tonight,” Sandy said, as she motioned toward Dennis who was looking in their direction but then turned away.

“If I knew, I would surely tell you. I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t have to worry about him and his behavior,” Shontell told her best friend. She watched how he openly flirted with two women in particular. He was single, so it wasn’t like what he was doing was wrong. Maybe they were just used to how he behaved. She made a mental note to ask Nico about it later.

“Girl, I can’t believe we are here…sitting in the corner and getting special treatment,” Sandy said. 

“Neither can I.”

Felecia turned to them and began asking questions.

“Shontell, do you have a business card? David told me how good you were this weekend. I could use your services soon. I have decided to launch my business nationwide, and I am thinking of having a launch party. Do you travel with your services?” she inquired.

“Yes, we do. Here is my card…and yes…we should definitely talk,” she told her as she answered a few more questions. Soon they were down to the last few people. Nico waved them over, and they were introduced to the other people that were there. 

“So now does this mean I can’t get a meet and greet picture anymore?” she asked him in a voice that only he could hear. He laughed.

“You can have whatever you want, pretty lady.”

“Be careful what you say, I just may take you up on that.”

“I hope you do!” he said. He gave her a serious look. 

She smiled and blushed. They asked the rest of the guys if they could all take some pictures together. She and Sandy took two with the group.  Nico had the guy take a few of just him and Shontell. They finished with the pictures, and she turned to him. She looked at the guy who had been taking the pictures. He looked so much like Nico that she did a double take. The only real difference was that he was older.

“Is that your brother?” she asked Nico. He didn’t respond quickly, but both of them started to laugh. “I guess you get that a lot. You two could pass for twins. But I can see the older distinction of…Nathan, am I right? She recalled reading about him having a brother in a magazine article.

“Yes, I’m Nathan. It is a pleasure to meet you, Shontell. I have heard a lot about you.”

“Have you? I hope it was all good.”

“Yes, all good.”

“Whew. Okay, now I feel better. It is nice to put a name with a face. I didn’t know you worked with the group. I don’t remember seeing you with them before,” she said as they made small talk.

“I do from time to time. But Nico has asked me to come on-board full-time. So, I am sure you will see a lot more of me.” He started putting the cameras away, and she stepped over some photography equipment to get out his way. Nico approached Nathan, and she watched how they interacted. She could see the love between them. She felt envious. Sometimes it was hard being an only child. Sandy was the closest she had ever come to having a sister. Nathan waved to her when he was done, and Nico held out his hand for her. She took it.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am. What’s that?” she asked, pointing to what he had in his hand. He handed her the envelope. It was the pictures that were just taken.

“Now, we both will have two different sets of us to look at when we are apart,” he told her. She watched as he put his own set in his back pocket. She held on to hers. They all went to the bar in the casino for a drink.  She didn’t realize how tired she was, or the hour, until she yawned. 

“Tired?” Nico asked as he pushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

“A little. I have been up since you left the hotel.  I had a meeting, then I had to run errands before I came to surprise you. I have been going all day.”

“Do you want to go upstairs?” he asked. He never even asked if they were staying the night.  He hoped they were not going to try and drive back to Detroit at such a late hour. 

“Only if you promise to be good.” They both laughed at the continuous joke between the two of them. He leaned over to her and kissed her shoulder. The sensations that went through her almost rocked her soul. She was glad her back was to him. She was blushing hard, and she could feel her face getting warm. She knew her face was telling all of her emotions.

She needed to focus on something else and remembered her question about Dennis. She was about to ask Nico, when she noticed he was sitting at a table nearby. He was with the two women that she saw him flirting with at the meet and greet.  She cocked her head to the side slightly.

“Is this the norm?” she asked, motioning with her eyes toward Dennis.

“No. Please believe me that none of us do the things he does. He is definitely in a class all by himself.”

“Okay,” was all she said. She turned her attention away from Dennis and then looked over at Nico. He stood up from his barstool and leaned up against her.

“To answer your other question before the distraction, I promise,” he said, trying to make sure that their mood stayed the same. Shontell took his hand and squeezed. Their road was going to be hard, and she was hoping that her past wouldn’t make it harder. She still had some demons that she thought had vanished. She excused herself and got up to head over to Sandy. She was talking to a guy at the far end of the bar. She told her where she was going, and then she gave her friend the room key. She added that if she didn’t come back to the room, she would see her in the morning. Shontell thanked her for coming with her, and they hugged. She would be lost without her best friend. Sandy always had her back. She couldn’t and wouldn’t trade her for anything. 

She watched as her friend had the full attention of the guy she had just met. She never had the knack for meeting men like Sandy did. That was something she was always envious of. Shontell said good night to Martin and his wife. She had recently joined him and they were talking to Nico. She took his arm and put it around her as he finished his conversation.  A few moments later, she found herself looking up at him a little. They both realized how much shorter than him she was. He playfully called her shorty.

“Ready?” he asked her as he finished off his drink. She touched his face and nodded. They walked to the elevators, hand in hand.