Chapter 88
After what happened at the Rolling Stone interview, they decided to avoid each other as much as possible without making anyone suspicious. It wasn’t too difficult, considering Lucky’s packed tour schedule. He was gone pretty much the entire day and night, and the only time they really had to spend together was while they were sleeping. They still had to share his bed, but neither had to worry about anything happening between them since Liz was usually asleep by the time Lucky got in, and he would fall asleep instantly, exhausted from that night’s show.
All that was about to change, however, now that they were in New York City. Liz had sworn not to accompany him on any more interviews, with the exception of Letterman’s show. She had always been a huge fan of his, and wasn’t about to let whatever was going on between her and Lucky stand in the way of finally attending a live taping. Besides, she would just be in the audience, what could happen to her there?
They arrived at the theater early and were let in through the back. Lucky was ushered off to the Green Room, while Liz and Charisma were given front-row seats in the auditorium before the rest of the audience was let in. While they were waiting, Charisma’s cell phone rang, startling them both as it echoed through the empty room.
“Yeah?” she answered, catching her breath.
“Partner! I haven’t heard from you lately, what’s going on?” Luke’s voice rang out cheerfully.
“Um, we’re in New York right now, at the Late Show.” Since Liz was sitting right next to her, she didn’t want to say anything that would give away who was calling.
“Then what are you doing on the phone?” Luke asked, laughing.
“Oh, no, it hasn’t started yet. They haven’t even let the rest of the audience in. It’s just Liz and me here. It’s kind of eerie, actually.”
“So she’s with you right now? Darn it, I wanted to hear the dirt on them.”
“There isn’t any, not since the last time we talked.” She had called him right after the Rolling Stone incident and filled him in, but since then, they hadn’t had much time together, so nothing else had happened. She was hoping their stay in New York would change that.
“Darn. Well, I’ll let you get back then. We’ll be watching tonight.”
“Don’t forget tomorrow, too!”
“Oh, trust me, I wouldn’t miss that for anything! Later, darlin’.”
“Ciao.” She hung up and smiled at Liz. “One of Spence’s other managers.”
“Oh.” Liz turned back to the stage, watching them set up.
A few minutes later, the audience was allowed inside, and once they were settled, the show began. Besides Lucky, the other two guests were Sarah Michelle Gellar, which for some reason, made Liz nervous, and the National Spelling Bee winner. Sarah was out first, once Dave was done with his opening monologue and comedy bits. He talked to her about Buffy for a little while and asked about an upcoming movie she was working on. Liz was starting to relax when he suddenly changed subjects.
“You know, Sarah, I’ve been told you and one of my other guests have met before,” he prompted, grinning at her.
“The Spelling Bee winner?” she asked jokingly.
“No, that rock singer-guy that’s coming on next,” he teased.
She chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, Lucky and I did a movie together once, but it was never finished.”
“Why not.? Did he stink up the place?” Dave joked.
“No, the studio ran out of funding for it. He was actually very good, he could be an actor if he wanted.”
“Yeah, cause this music thing obviously isn’t working for him.” Everyone laughed, then he continued. “So, what kind of film was it?”
“A drama. Sort of a love story,” she answered.
“Was he your love interest?”
“He was.”
Dave leaned in closer to her and wiggled his eyebrows. “How was he?”
She giggled, blushing at the insinuation. “It was just a movie. Besides, he’s married now.”
He sat back and smiled. “I heard about that. In fact, we’re going to bring him out as soon as we get back from commercial. Can you stay out here?”
“I’d love to,” she answered with a wide smile. Liz rolled her eyes and grumbled to herself, mocking her answer, oblivious to the fact that Charisma was watching her out of the corner of her eye, trying desperately not to laugh.
After a brief interlude by the band, they came back to Dave.
“All right, my next guest is only 22 years old and is already an international rock star. Lucky, get out here!”
The audience exploded in applause and screams as he sauntered onto the stage He waved quickly to everyone, then walked around the chairs, greeting Sarah first with a big hug, then kissing her on the cheek as she did the same. They talked for a few seconds, but since the audience was still cheering, it was impossible to hear them. Once he let her go, he shook Dave’s hand and took a seat. Liz was silently fuming at the way he had greeted the actress, much to Charisma’s amusement.
“So, Lucky...tell me, is that your real name?”
“It’s a nickname that my parents gave me when I was little.”
“Really? Why that name? It’s kind of odd, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “Not to me. I grew up on the run, and they say I got out of a lot of pretty sticky situations without a scratch, so they started to call me Lucky.”
“On the run? From who?”
“The mob,” he answered, chuckling as Dave looked at him in shock.
“You’re joking, right?”
Lucky shook his head. “Nope, it’s the truth.”
“Wow. They aren’t still after you, are they?” he looked around nervously, always joking.
Lucky laughed. “No, not anymore.”
“So, what did your family do to get chased by the mob?” Dave asked, too intrigued to remember the questions he was supposed to be asking.
Lucky grinned and leaned in close to him, like he was about to tell him a secret. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” Dave looked stunned for a moment, but then Lucky laughed and smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “Lighten up, Dave, I’m just messing with you!”
After composing himself, Dave launched into his other questions. “Um, anyway, what is it that brings you to New York?” Obvisouly, he knew the answer, it was just a typical set-up to plug the awards.
“The American Music Awards. I’m up for three of them, and I just got talked into doing a duet with Mariah Carey.”
Liz looked over at Charisma in surprise. This was the first she had heard of that.
“I’m actually presenting one of them,” Sarah piped in. “The one for Best Rock Album.”
Lucky turned to her and grinned. “Really? I didn’t realize you’d be there. Well, I hope I win that one, then.”
“Ugh,” Liz groaned under her breath. This just kept getting better.
“All right, Lucky, what’s this I hear about you getting hitched?” Dave asked, changing subjects again.
Lucky smiled, expecting that the topic would arise sooner or later. “Yeah, last Saturday.”
“Oh, so you’re still newlyweds?” Dave asked suggestively. “Is she in the business with you?”
“No, actually, Elizabeth’s an artist. She also runs my family’s diner.” He spotted Liz in the audience and grinned at her, knowing she was going to hit him later for that.
She groaned and covered her face. Why did he have to mention the diner?
“Did you just meet her or what?”
“No, we went to high school together, so we’ve known each other for a while, although we hadn’t seen each other since we graduated. She went to art school and I started touring. We didn’t used to get along with each other at all, so there was no reason to keep in touch. I went home recently for a vacation and ran into her again. The next thing we knew, we were married.” Well, at least he didn’t have to lie this time.
“Is she going to the awards with you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. She’s here tonight, too, out in the audience with my manager, Charisma.” Lucky pointed to them and Liz shrunk down in her seat.
Dave stood up and peered out at them as Charisma raised her hand so he’d know where to look. “They’re both gorgeous, which one’s which?”
Lucky chuckled. “The one that looks like she wants to crawl under a rock is Elizabeth.”
“Well, I think we need to bring her up here, don’t you guys?” Dave walked around his desk to the edge of the stage and motioned for Liz to get up. She glanced fearfully at Charisma, then stood up reluctantly.
“If I wasn’t already divorcing him, I would be now!” she muttered angrily under her breath as she made her way to the stage.
