Zoey felt her heart slam wildly in her chest, and she fought the urge to make a complete ass out of herself by melting into a puddle athisfeet.
“Oh hey, man, I didn’t expect you to come. Are you reconsidering?” Cadeasked.
“Just came to watch you play,” Jude said. “I’m still loyal to my band, I’m sure you understand that. Anyway, I’m sorry to come backstage. I actually wanted to meet the muse you told me so muchabout.”
Jude smiled at Zoey but instead of melting, she backed away. There was nothing worse to her than being “the muse.” She knew a lot of musicians used that term to reference their good luck charm or whatever ignited their creativity, but it simply wasn’t something she wanted to be. Did she want to inspire great music? Of course! But she wanted to do that out of something more than some stupidsuperstition.
“Yeah, really guys, about that muse thing. I really wish you’d cut it out. I don’t even know when you’re joking around about it,”shesaid.
“Well, I was just using that as an excuse to meet you,” Jude said as he looked intohereyes.
That simple sentence combined with that look he gave her made her anger disappear. It was more than just those incredible green eyes with gold flecks that caught what little light there was. Something in her connected with him. It was like he looked deep into her soul and knew her. She had to get to know himbetter.
The stage manager, an overweight man who resembled a cherub with curly blond hair and rosy cheeks, gave the signal that they were ready in two minutes by holding up twofingers.
“Jude, come meet the rest of the band real quick before we go on stage,”Cadesaid.
Zoey shot Cade her death look, but either he didn’t notice or he didn’t care. She couldn't help but think he was taking Jude away on purpose. Briefly wondering if Cade was into her, she reminded herself that she never saw him get jealous or cock block a guy who tried talking to her before. She didn’t know what to think. Maybe she was just beingsensitive.
As she hopped off the stage, she noticed Richard Black by the bar. Making her way to him quickly so she didn’t miss the opening number, she made it across the room innotime.
“Did you ask around about me?” he asked with aknowinggrin.
“You know the diner down Sunset?” she asked, not bothering to answer him. “I’ll meet you there at 2am, aftertheshow.”
“We could meet in the morning if that’seasier.”
“No, I don’t do mornings. If you really want to talk, then you’ll meet me there tonight. Get a coffee if you need something to keep you up,” she said before making her way back to her spot in front of thestage.
Looking around, she wondered where Jude was, but it didn’t matter. She knew she’d be seeing a lot more of him soon. She'd make sure of it. Los Angeles wasn’t that big ofacity.
* * *
The glowof the lights from the diner spilled though the windows onto the sidewalk. As Zoey walked past, she jumped up to peek into the windows to see if Richard Black was inside yet. She deliberately showed up a few minutes late because she hated to wait forpeople.
Entering the diner, she spotted him sitting all the way in the back, at the end of the row of booths. Booths lined the diner along the wall of windows that faced the sidewalk, while a long counter with swiveling stools took up the other side. The seats were made of red vinyl, and despite being cared for, they were soft with age. The Formica tables were beige with simple red coffee and sandwich designs. Some of them had tea and coffee stains from yearsofuse.
Richard put his hand up and then stood as she approached the table. After she slid into the booth, he sat down across from her and waved awaitressover.
“Two coffees, please,”hesaid.
“No coffee for me. Can’t stand it. I’ll have a Coke,” Zoey said to thewaitress.
“I have to tell you, I’m surprised youshowedup.”
“I said I’d be here, what’sgoingon?”
“Well, I’ve decided to go out on my own recently and started my own company, Black Dog Recordings. I think the best way to start is small, to choose one band and put all my supportbehindthem.”
“So what do you need me for?” Zoeyasked.
“You know the scene. You’re familiar with most of the bands and you know what sets each one apart. I want your help in choosing a band to sign to mylabel.”
“Are youserious?”
“Completely. I never joke about business. I want you to be my A&R Manager. You have this uncanny ability of being able to find what’s wrong with a band and set it right. They listen to you and respect you. I’ve heard of the different suggestions you’ve made to bands and whenever they follow them, they succeed. That’s a talent byitself.”
“But I have noexperience.”