Suddenly Lucky felt a kick from under the table and turned to Jordan insurprise.
"What is it?" Luckyasked.
She saw a stunned expression on her friend's face and followed her gaze to a man standing in thedoorway.
Lucky's jaw dropped as her heart flipped inside herchest.
Standing at the entrance of the dining room was Jude Morrison, a rock god. He was taller than she thought he would be in person. Confidence poured from him as he scanned the room in a pair of dark jeans and a long-sleeved distressed t-shirt with the remnants of a red eagle stretched across his muscular chest. His short choppy brown hair looked like he just rolled out of bed. To Lucky this wasn't just any rock god, Jude Morrison wastherockgod.
As Jude took off his sunglasses, he walked into the room towards Richard Black, who sat alone at a table by the door. Lucky couldn't take her eyes off him. She wasn't the only one. All eyes were on him. No one uttered a word while they wondered why such a famous drummer was in theirmidst.
Even if you didn't recognize him, you knew he was a rock star. He embodied it. Jude Morrison wasn't just any rock star though, he was the drummer to Silverlight, the biggest band of the lastgeneration.
A waitress ran up to him, her hands flapping excitedly as shespoke.
"Oh. My. Gawd! It's you! I absolutely love you. Can you sign somethingforme?"
She handed him a marker and opened her blouse for him to sign her breasts. When he was done, the waitress reached up and kissed him. He responded by dipping her dramatically, giving her a quick peck, and then lettinghergo.
"Holy shit! That's Jude Morrison," Katwhispered.
Lucky surveyed the room quickly and realized Paul was still missing. She shook her head with disbelief as she realized why Jude wasthere.
"You okay?" Jordan whispered to Lucky. "Youlookpale."
"There's no way. No freaking way is Jude joining my band. He's too big.He'stoo--"
"Hot!" Kat interrupted as she fanned herself. "Woo! I think I'll be hanging around the tour bus more if he's in the band. You know he's wild in bed. I know a girl who knows a girl who slept with him. The stories I've heard about what that man is packing! You wouldn't believe it. And the number of women he's slept with..." She shook her head in disbelief. "You know he's got skills. He's definitely had enoughpractice."
"I've heard all about him. Everybody has. Women in every town, dick the size of..." Lucky's voice trailed off as she tried to think of something large to comparehimto.
"Did he ever get married? I thought I heard he did after Silverlightbrokeup."
"No idea. I don't think so. Or itdidn'tlast."
"No biggie, I'd take him either way. Hell, she canjoinin!"
"This isn't about that, Kat. Just listen to me. He can't be in my band," Lucky said. "He'll ruin everything. No. No way. I don't care who he is! If anything, that's worse. If he's in the band, it'll suddenly be his band. This isn't how it's supposedtobe."
Richard stood up and cleared his throat then waited for the low din to subside as everyone turned their attentiontohim.
"Okay now folks. For those of you who don't know, I'm Richard Black of Black Dog Recordings. I'm going to be blunt. Last night's show was a wreck. This isn't a long tour. You don't have time to work out the kinks or even to fuck around. For many of you, this is your only chance at stardom." He looked around the room at the roadies and the band as his words sank in. "Paul is gone. You're all on my dime and I expect you to do your best. I'm sure Lucky wants only the best for her tour too, so I got her the best. I'm sure you all know Jude Morrison. He's joiningthetour."
Picking up his long trench coat and a small briefcase, Richard Black left the room. Everyone sat stunned except for Jude, who stood up and walked to the door. Kat flew after him and caught up to him as he lefttheroom.
