Glam Metal (19 page)

“You had a busy night then?” Steve laughed and introduced him to the black haired girl.

“This is Barbie!” Jay winked at her and asked where Pete and Nick were. “Pete had a bit of a bust up with Nick over two groupies. It ended up that Nick left with the two of them.” Jay took another swig from the can.

“Where’
s Pete now?” He asked. Steve shook his head. Just then the door of the bus opened and in walked Nick and Pete. They were laughing.

“We’
re ready to rock and roll dudes.” It was obvious that Steve was finished with Barbie because he took her hand and led her to the door of the bus.

He kissed her then opened the door and she was gone. The door closed and the bus drove off to the next venue.

Jay sat back on the seat and closed his eyes. He was getting too old for this shit. He was beginning to think that perhaps it was time he called it a day. Or maybe he was just missing the warmth of having Sam with him.

The construction crew already had the stage set up and the sound crews were checking the audio systems. Jay was on the stage tuning his guitars. He had decided that he would use four guitars for tonight
’
s show. He was doing a riff of a new song he had been working on. So far it was going very well.

Nick walked up to him and slapped him on the back.

“Dude, that sounds good!” Jay smiled and continued to strum away on the guitar. “You been working on it long?” He shook his head.

“Man, I’
m totally burnt out from this.” He was saying as he changed the chords. “Need a serious break when this is over.” Nick patted him on the back.

“You should have played this morning then.” Jay laughed and put down his guitar. Picked up another one and began tuning it up.

“Man, I can’
t get this chick out of my head. She
’
s special you know.” Jay said.

“We have it all. We’
re famous; we are hot property right now. Dude you go and want to settle down. Man there
’
s no hope for you!” They both laughed.

“So were they good?” Jay asked as he took up another guitar to tune. Nick laughed:

“Should have tried them with me and you’
d have known.” Jay put the guitar back onto the stand. In all the years he and Nick were friends, this was probably the most difficult time between them. During his rock bottom years of addiction, Nick supported him and Jay knew if it hadn
’
t been for the support of the band, he
’
d have died of an overdose. It almost destroyed the band. But this past two years, he had got his shit together and he was totally focused. His song writing had taken off to a new height. Every song they released became a hit.

There was nothing that Glam Metal couldn’t do at the minute. Their popularity seemed to be reaching new levels and audiences. Jay
’
s personal life was running smooth except he wanted Sam with him but that too would fall into place.

Convincing the band that he was doing the right thing was proving tougher than he expected. Particularly Nick. For some reason, known only to himself he didn’t want Jay to settle down.

“I’ll
do the solo in the final section of songs. That
’
s OK?” Jay was saying. Nick nodded. “Do you want me to cover just before the interval?”

“Sure man, two plus a solo. Tomorrow night’s our last date for a few months!” There was almost a sense of relief in Nick’
s voice. “Jay, you heard from Sam?” He nodded.

“Did she mention Li?” Jay put down his other guitar and looked at Nick. Could the old man be getting soft?

“Hey man, you like her?” There was part teasing, part seriousness in Jay’
s tone.

“Dude, I don’
t get those Brit men, why they don
’
t do their women.” He sat on the amp. “She
’
s a fine assed girl but her old man just doesn’t bang her.”

“That’
s why they like to be fucked by us Americans.” Jay laughed as he patted Nick on the shoulder and walked off the stage.

Sam was in her office, she had a mountain of work to get through. Barbara
’
s show didn’t do as well as they had expected. They only sold three paintings and the Edinburgh show had been cancelled.

Remarkably, Barbara had been very upbeat about it. It was heartbreaking for Sam to have to tell her that they would be cutting short the exhibition. She was very fond of Barbara and she felt they could have given her an extra few days but Edmund was determined that because she wasn
’
t a good seller then they wouldn’t be representing her.

The businesswoman in Sam had to agree. They weren’t a charity and for the most part their artists did sell, some better than others but they did sell. Poor Barbara just didn’t cut it in the modern world of art. And it was up to Sam to tell her that they wouldn’t be representing her in the future.

The phone rang and briefly Sam wanted it to be Jay. But she knew it wouldn’t. He was on his way back to California after what seemed to be a terrific sell out tour of Canada, in which they had to add extra dates. It was very much to Jay
’
s disapproval.

“Sam, Damon is here. And Barbara is waiting.” Announced her secretary in a confident voice. Sam told her to get Barbara some tea and to send in Damon.

She stood up as Damon came in; he was smiling and kissed her outstretched hand.

“Samantha, it’
s a pleasure to see you this morning.” He let go of her hand and sat down on the seat.

“Damon, how are you? It has been too long.” He laughed and told her he had just returned from LA.

“Jay is causing quite a stir out there”, she knew of course what he was referring to. “Maybe I should change careers.” He said in a rather serious note. Sam raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“Become a matchmaker. I brought you two together.” She laughed. Damon had been away when Jay went public with their romance. She hadn’
t had a chance to tell him. “So, you
’
re leaving us then?” He asked her.

“Damon, I never thought in a million years something like this could happen to me.” She got up and went over and poured out two cups of coffee. She handed one to him. “You probably won’
t believe this but I love him so very much, not because he
’
s a rock star.” She put down her cup and looked Damon flush in the eyes.

“He’
s an amazing man.” Sam walked over to the window. She wanted to ask Damon if he would consider letting her be his agent in the US but she would do that later, she would be having dinner with him tonight.

They chatted some more then Sam remembered that she had two other appointments before lunch and she still had to tell Barbara about Edmund
’
s decision.

“Is dinner still on tonight then?” She asked as she kissed him on both cheeks. He said yes and she walked him to the door.

A few minutes later, Barbara was sitting on the chair in front of Sam
’
s desk. She was clutching her bag close to her chest. She looked very nervous.

“Whatever is the matter Barbara?” Sam asked as she closed the door behind her. The old lady looked at her and said softly.

“My dear, you are a beautiful young lady and I like you very much.” She paused and looked at Sam. “But this art lark is not for me deary. I’
m an old woman not a young thing.

“I wonder my dear, would you be very disappointed in me if I stopped painting for show.” A wave of relief swept through Sam. She didn’t
want to have to tell the old lady what Edmund had said and now, it seemed she didn’t have to.

“Barbara, you don’
t have to do what you don
’
t want to do. If you don
’
t want to show then don
’
t.” She covered the old woman
’
s hand with hers and smiled warmly at her. “Barbara, I have something to tell you also.” Barbara looked at her.
“I’
m leaving the gallery. I
’
m moving to LA.” Sam smiled broadly. The old woman broke into a giggle.

“I hope it’
s to be with that handsome young man I met here at the gallery.” She said.

“It is. His name is Jay and he plays in a band. He’
s a wonderful man Barb.” Sam answered.

“Deary, I could tell the way he looked at you, how much he loves you. You don’
t let this boy get away.” The two women hugged and chatted a bit longer before Barbara glanced at the clock on the wall. It was gone eleven. “I better be on my way, I
’
m meeting Peggy for coffee.” Sam walked her out into the gallery. The old lady turned and held Sam
’
s hand tightly and said:

“A love like that doesn’t
come around that often but when it does, it hits like a freight train. He
’
s a very handsome man, Sam, he loves you but don
’
t forget women will do anything to get a man like him away from a woman like you. Cherish him.” She left Sam watching her go down the street and out of view around the corner.

She wondered what she meant by that. Barbara almost always spoke in riddles. She turned and went back to her office.

The remainder of the day passed slowly. She still hadn
’
t heard anything from Jay. It had been a few days since she called him and he asked her to come out to LA and they would spend time alone together on his yacht.

Over dinner, Damon told her more about his trip to LA. He had had a great time and it was good to catch up with some old friends. Sam wondered why he never joined the group. She asked:

“How come you didn’t
join Glam Metal?” Damon looked at her and laughed. He was a nice guy with soft dark eyes and very soft spoken.

“Samantha, look at me and look at the guys.” She smiled. He was cute. “Jay, is probably the most talented of them, he’
s also the best looking. He
’
s had more women than the Prince of Prussia.” They both laughed. A tingling swept through Sam as she thought of Jay.