2
The most frustrating part of being a music sensation wasn’t the obnoxious fans, the getting up early in the morning to do promotions, or even answering banal questions from interviewers who knew nothing about him until five minutes ago. No, for Rick Rodriguez, the most annoying thing about being a music star was the recording process.
He was considered a nobody in the production game, so that meant he had to have everyone, from the arranger to the producer, tell him what to do in the studio. Didn’t matter that Rick wrote the lyrics and music by himself. People took one look at his rocket to fame and decided he needed his hand held in the studio. To be fair, Rick didn’t know much about arranging. He preferred to leave that up to the professionals anyway. He hated being treated like a dumb child who didn’t know his ass from his elbow.
“Okay, Rick,” the producer said from inside his heat controlled studio. “We’re going to start again from the second bridge. This time be sure to enunciate the words. Last time it sounded like you were saying something about somebody’s mother.”
“Uh huh.” He took another drink from his water bottle and cleared his throat. As soon as the music started in his headphones he would have to be careful about making erroneous sounds around the mic. Those things picked up everything. “Let’s do it.”
They were recording “Starlight Samba,” which the label finally approved after Rick made a few tweaks to the lyrics. Apparently they were a little too raunchy, even for the modern American public. Worked for him. The old lyrics made me think of Olivia anyway. The label loved the idea of a sequel to “Midnight Tango” but not if it was going to get them censored on the radio and streaming sites. Like I said, they made me think of Olivia anyway.
He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the day he effectively dumped her. It had happened so suddenly, and he barely knew what he had done until Olivia stormed out and it was over. He thought about calling her sometimes. Apologize, suck up, and attempt to see her again. What was the point, when his situation hadn’t changed? He was still probably going to be a father, and Olivia was none the wiser. Better that way. Last thing he wanted was to try starting a new romantic relationship while he watched Fiona’s stomach grow bigger through the various photo updates she sent him.
Pretty soon he would be submitting a DNA sample to see if it really was his. It is. Rick knew it, like he knew his heart beat in his chest and the air held just enough oxygen for him. Maybe it was a fatherly instinct kicking in. Did my dad know I had been born? Probably not. Angelina hadn’t come off as the sort of woman who would share that news.
“Rick! Damnit, you missed your cue!”
“Sorry.” He took off his headphones. “My mind is elsewhere.”
“Well, come back to Earth. We want to get this song done by the end of the day.”
Everything always had to be done by the end of the day. It was a phrase Rick got sick of hearing. The whole reason he met Olivia to begin with was because he needed to get that video filmed by the end of the day. Once, he thought that was a blessing. Getting to know Olivia like that gave him one of the best tour experiences possible. A partner on the stage and in bed! Even if he became more famous, he doubted he would have an experience like that again. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to.
A man could only hurt himself so much. What he went through with Olivia? That had hurt him. A lot. He could still see the look of surprise and disappointment on her face when he said it was best for them to cool off for a while. Or break up. He couldn’t remember the exact words now.
“Rick.” It was Thomas’s voice, breaking through the line from the control room. “You okay in there? Need to take a break and get some air?”
Yes, air. Rick was always taking breaks for air lately. He told Thomas he thought he might be claustrophobic. When his manager suggested he go to a doctor to find out what was really going on, Rick suddenly felt better. Not because he really did feel better, but because he knew what was causing him to feel this way. Women. Always women.
Next time the music started in his headphones, Rick was ready to sing. Only problem was that his heart was not into his amorous lyrics at all. Sure, he could fake it. It was easy to fake it during performances when he didn’t feel his hottest. Then again, for a performance they could always use a backing track. Couldn’t use a backing track for the real thing.
Thomas was the first one to tell him that he needed to get more sleep after they finished for the day. “Sure you don’t want me to take you to the doctor?” He clapped a hand on Rick’s shoulder as they waited for the elevator. “Might need some help going to sleep. If you’re going to be recording and promoting, it’s a good idea to be rested.”
The elevator dinged open. Rick couldn’t get in it fast enough. “I’m fine. Just have a lot on my mind. That’s all.”
No look sent chills down his spine faster than that look from Thomas. Rick had no idea what he had done, but his manager was looking at him like his mother used to whenever he came home from school sick. “You say you’re fine, but you look a bit pale. You sure you’re doing okay?”
How many times was he going to ask? “I don’t want to talk about it,” Rick finally said.
“Fine. Next time you make yourself heartsick, though, try to do it in your off time. It’s work time now.”
The elevator started to make Rick sick. “What makes you say that? I’m seeing nobody.”
“Not now. I couldn’t help but notice that Olivia disappeared shortly after the tour finished. Thought I would see her hanging around your place for at least a few weeks after.”
“I see.”
“What happened with her?” Thomas opened his briefcase and pulled out some official documents from the office. Boring stuff. “You two seemed pretty heavy. She break it off?” Now the look Thomas gave him was disbelieving. Because not even he believes it. “Or did you do something stupid?”
Rick knew how Olivia must have felt in that Miami hotel elevator that one night… because it was not moving fast enough, and freakin’ Thomas had the captive audience of his life. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. She was a tour fling. We agreed to end it after the tour was over.”
“Uh huh. You might as well tell me that the sky is green and you’re quitting rock to become a priest. You were smitten with her, and she was quite fond of you. You don’t want to record that song because it’s making you think of her and whatever stupid thing you did.”
“Why does it have to be me who did something?”
Rick had no words for the look he got this time.
“I’m not lovesick. I didn’t do something stupid. Who are you, my father?”
They reached their floor and the door opened. Thomas stepped out first, the edges of his mouth twitching. Apparently Rick had struck a nerve.
Does he even have kids? As far as he knew, Thomas had never married. Probably would’ve been good for him if he did. God knew that man could use some love in his life. That’s why he gives me such a hard time. He’s jealous!
They climbed into the van in the parking garage, Thomas clicking his seatbelt into place while Rick gazed out the window en route to his apartment. His phone buzzed the moment they pulled out of the garage.
“Hey.” Fiona. “Did you get the DNA kit yet? I sent it straight to your place. If anyone asks, you’re having your ancestry checked. Anyway, need you to send it to the doctor. I left the address inside the package. Make sure you do it right!”
Rick couldn’t look at the message anymore. It only reminded him that he needed to send Fiona more money so she could go to the doctor. Even if it weren’t his kid, he had made the decision to pay for the pregnancy costs. Least he could do. Too bad every time he paid a doctor bill here or a pharmacy tab there he was reminded of what was going on in his personal life.
“Do you have any kids?” he asked Thomas.
It seemed that his manager slammed on the brakes a bit too hard when they got to a red light. “Told you I never married.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t have kids. I don’t believe for a second you’re as pure as Mother Mary would have me believe.”
Thomas kept his eyes on the road as the lights turned green again. “Keeping track of you is close enough to having a kid for me.”
“So I’ll take it as a no.”
“Take it however you want.”
Between Thomas’s mood and the message on his phone, Rick was ready to take a nap. Maybe when he woke up… nah, he knew things would be exactly the same as they were before. Fiona would still be pregnant, and Thomas would still be sour over Rick’s invasive, personal questions.
Rick stared at his phone for another minute. His fingers took him to his contact list. Industry people. Talent he often worked with. A few actual friends. Somewhere down in the middle of the list, beneath the big round O, was Olivia’s number. Rick hovered over it for much too long. One day he might have the will to call her again and try to smooth things over, but it was not the day.