“Oh, Luke, I’m so sorry but that won’t work. If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have booked you, but we can’t change it now. Just before Valentine’s, you’ll be on location for a special live interview onThe Lindsey Blair Show. It’s a huge deal, and she really wants to help get your fan base built up. Several other boxing greats will be on there, too. It’ll be good exposure to have your name associated with theirs.
“I’m not supposed to tell you this, but immediately after your interview is over, Joe and Mack are sending you and Shane to a secluded spa just for celebrities to relax for a couple of days. Joe said Shane has been uptight over whatever’s happening with his girlfriend, Katie. Since they’re fighting and Andi’s on tour, they thought it would be a good time for you two guys to get away and de-stress.”
“Dammit. I wish someone had just asked me first. I’d rather de-stress with Andi locked in my room all weekend,” I blurt out. “How am I supposed to de-stress knowing I should be with her instead of at some fucking frou-frou spa?”
“I’m really sorry, Luke,” Syndi apologizes again.
“It’s not your fault. You’re just doing your job. I should’ve said something earlier. It’s already almost Valentine’s as it is,” I say dejectedly. “I need to tell Andi so she doesn’t make flight plans.”
Staying up until the concert is over, I call Andi back to break the bad news to her. I picture her being upset and crying, and I’m already trying to find a way to console her from across the country. When she picks up, I can hear the party in full swing in the background. Music is blaring, but it’s different from the sound of live concert music. It’s also not Sound Bar’s music.
It sounds like a club.
“Luke? Can you hear me?” she yells. “Hang on—I’m trying to find somewhere quieter.”
After a minute, the noise dies down and I now hear the sound of city streets. “Hey baby,” she coos. “What are you still doing up?”
“I wanted to talk to you after I talked to Syndi. Where are you?”
“We’re at a nightclub in DC,” she replies. “Who’s Syndi?”
“My public relations lady,” I remind her. “What club?”
“Umm, I don’t even know the name. It’s supposedlytheplace to be for nightlife around here. What did Syndi say?”
“Syndi said…I won’t have time to see you during your break over Valentine’s.”
I’m met with dead silence on the line for an uncomfortable amount of time.
“Andi?”
“Why does Syndi get to decide if you have time for me?” Andi asks pointedly.
“Babe, she set up an interview on Lindsey’s show with a few other big names in boxing. After that, Joe and Mack have a surprise for Shane and me. Apparently Shane and Katie are having problems, and they didn’t know you had a break in the tour at that time,” I explain. “I can’t get out of it.”
“Andi, it’s time for more dirty dancing. Get in here!”a male voice calls from the background.
“What the hell is that about, Andi?” I snarl.
“It’s Travis. He’s pretty drunk from celebrating tonight. They just got word they’ve been nominated for Grammy Awards in several categories. The whole entourage is here to congratulate them,” she explains.
“He saidmoredirty dancing. What have you been doing exactly?” I ask forcefully.
“We went to a salsa bar in Miami a couple of weeks ago before the Grammy nominations were announced. We all danced and had fun. The guys asked the DJ to play some salsa music tonight as a good luck charm to help them win,” she says with a laugh.
And now, my blood pressure is shooting through the roof, along with my temper.
