Nick usually waited in the van while his Assistant, Beth Martin, checked him into the hotel. She had only been in there for five minutes, but he was unusually impatient with the delay. He stayed up half the night working on a new song with his band and he needed to crash. He slipped his headphones on, rested his head back against the cool leather seat and closed his eyes – nothing like a Linkin Park lullaby to send him into dreamland.
Fifteen minutes later, there was a sharp tap on the passenger side window and the driver unlocked the doors. “Okay Nick, we’re all checked in.” Beth slipped into the seat next to him, the doors locking automatically behind her.
She started to explain the reason for the delay, but realized Nick wasn’t listening. He was snoring softly, his arms crossed over his waist and his head tilted against the window frame. She wished she could let him sleep, he needed the rest, but a comfortable bed would be better.
“Nick?” She nudged his bare shoulder. When he didn’t respond, she reached over and lifted the headphones away from his ears. She didn’t know how he could sleep with the music so loud. The silence woke him up and he rubbed his eyes. “We need to head inside now.”
Nick didn’t know how long he had been dozing, but he felt groggy from his catnap. He stuffed his CD player into his backpack and reached for one of the key cards she clutched in her hand. She playfully slapped his hand away. “Hey, I’m not sure I trust you with one of these.”
“I won’t lose it.” He yawned.
“Uh huh.” She teased. “That’s what you said last week and then I had to let you in at three in the morning.”
She reluctantly handed over the card and looked over her shoulder. “There aren’t too many fans out there. You want to sign a few or head inside? It’s your call.”
“I’m really tired, Beth. Can you make excuses for me? Tell them I’ll be down later?”
“Sure, no problem.” Beth didn’t say anymore as she took one last look around to make she they didn’t leave anything. “Hey Nick,” she pointed out the window, “isn’t that girl with the red hair and freckles cute?”
“Yeah,” he peeked over her shoulder, “she’s cute.”
“Do you believe she’s been waiting to see you since 5:00am.”
Nick shook his head and smiled. “You’re good.” He checked his reflection in the rear view mirror and ran his fingers through his blond hair. “Let’s do it. Fifteen minutes, okay?”
Beth patted him on the shoulder. “You’re the boss.”
The driver held the door open and Beth followed a few steps behind as Nick strolled over to greet his excited fans. There were no barricades or ropes, so the crowd immediately surrounded him from all sides.
“Girls,” Beth raised her voice and slipped directly behind Nick, “please move around to the front.”
“Who the hell is she?” One of the girls muttered as she stepped to the back of the line. “What a bitch.”
“Hey guys,” Nick stopped signing and reached behind him to pull Beth front and center. “This is my new Assistant, Beth and she’s just watching my back. You treat her with respect and she’ll treat you the same.”
“Sorry, Nick.” The girl with the attitude stepped closer. “My name is Carly.”
“Don’t apologize to me, Carly.” He pointed a thumb towards Beth and continued signing.
“Sorry, Beth.”
“Apology accepted.” Beth looked at her watch. “You have five more minutes, guys and then Nick has to get inside.”
~~*~~*~~*~~~
Ten minutes later, Beth and Nick made it upstairs to their suite. Nick mumbled something about a shower and sleep and kicked his duffle bag towards one of the empty bedrooms. Beth would have loved a nap, too, but there were things she needed to get done before they left for the benefit that night.
She grabbed a Diet Coke from the mini-bar and set up her laptop on the desk in the living room. She wanted to check her emails and peek into a few websites and message boards. Nick liked knowing what was on the fans minds.
Within an hour, she answered ten emails, returned four phone calls, confirmed the limo for the charity event at seven and ordered room service. Since losing over twenty pounds, Nick wasn’t eating burgers and fries anymore, so she ordered him a grilled chicken breast sandwich, a large salad and a platter of fresh fruit.
As she was logging off, Nick padded barefoot out of his bedroom wearing a red t-shirt and black shorts, his hair still damp from his shower.
“You feeling better?”
“Yeah, lots.” He rubbed his stomach. “I’m hungry.”
Like a perfectly staged play, there was a knock on the door and the room service cart was wheeled in. Beth made sure everything she ordered was on the tray and signed the charge slip. Nick headed into the bedroom to answer his cell phone and returned with the phone plastered to his ear.
“You have a half hour to eat.” Beth mouthed as she snatched a piece of fruit from the tray.
Nick nodded. “I have to go, Cass. Let me know how your interview goes. Bye.”
Nick pulled a chair up to the table and dug in. He was eating with gusto when he realized that Beth hadn’t sat down at the table. She was still writing furiously on her clipboard. “Aren’t you going to eat with me, Beth?”
“I think I’ll eat after your performance.”
Nick stuffed a forkful of lettuce into his mouth and shook his head. “Why do you always get so nervous before I sing?”
Beth’s cheeks flamed and she sat the clipboard down on the desk. “I’m not nervous about you singing, Nick. I just have a lot of details to deal with and it’s easier to deal on an empty stomach.” She thought for a minute more and shrugged. “I’m just trying to do a good job.”
“Beth,” he laid his fork down and leaned back against the chair to study her worried face. There was no spark of romantic interest in his gut when he interviewed her a month ago, but her brown eyes sparkled when she talked. He was immediately drawn to the kindness he saw there and he felt so lucky to have her on his team. “You are doing an amazing job. I’m sorry if you doubted that. I’ve never been so well taken care of and relaxed. He stood and pulled a chair out for her, “I want you to sit down and talk to me while I eat. I hate eating alone.”
She sat down and he took his seat on the other side of the table and continued eating. “ I guess I can spare a few minutes before I have to get ready.”
“Speaking of getting ready, what am I wearing to this shin dig tonight?”
“A tuxedo.”
Nick scrunched his nose up. “Black tie?”
“I’m afraid so.” Beth grinned. “I arranged for it to be delivered to the Four Seasons and there will be hair and make-up people waiting to make you pretty.”
“I am not pretty, Beth.” He said, almost choking on a mouthful of chicken.
“Of course you’re not.” She eyed his salad. “Can I have that cucumber?”
He nodded. “You know, there aren’t many people I let eat off my plate.” He forked a large slice of cucumber and held it up for her.
“I know.” She grinned.
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Stories By Kailani