The Complete Groupie Trilogy (106 page)

There was a gentle smile on his face as the lights dimmed and the show started.

As the theme music died away, an exotic, sensual beauty with caramel skin and a scarlet, sequined gown stepped into the spotlight. She had a hint of a Southern lilt to her voice as she said, “My name is Dominique Prejean and this is
Fierce
.” The crowd went wild. She sauntered easily around the stage. “If you’ve ever had a dream that others said was too big for you, this is your show. Here, no dream is too big. Here, stars don’t come in some over-produced package. We’re looking for something that doesn’t fit into some tired, ol’ box or add up with the same boring formula. We encourage the oddballs, welcome the outcasts and celebrate those with enough courage to stand out from the pack. All you need to succeed here is a lot of talent… and the right attitude. You gotta be –”

“Fierce!” thundered the audience. Dominique smiled wide.

“You got it,” she said. “It’s a big job and that’s why we hired the best in the business to guide us along the way. Give it up for your judges.”

Each judge stood and turned toward the enthusiastic audience with a wave as she introduced them. “Show some love for Ryder Reed. He kept us all on the dance floor producing such artists as DJ Kumbago, with the club hit, ‘Not Enough Feet (on the Dance Floor.)’”

“Of course y’all know Allison Ewing, whose pop-country classic ‘Not Takin’ My Man Without a Fight’ was a huge crossover hit in the 1980s.”

Finally it was Vanni’s turn. He hadn’t been in front of a crowd since New Year’s Eve, and just like every time he stepped out in front of an audience he expected them all to somehow figure out he was just some kid off the Philadelphia streets who managed to get lucky. His heart was in his throat, but the audience, particularly the women, lost their minds as Dominique let the moment build.

“And for us ladies,” she said as she gave him a wink, “His hit ‘Wanting Her’ was a worldwide phenomenon, only knocked off the charts by his second album ‘Only For This Moment, Girl.’” Dominique had to keep raising her voice over the roar of the audience. “From Dreaming in Blue, Giovanni Carnevale!”

He stood and turned to see the screaming fans, who couldn’t believe they were so close to one of their idols. He touched his heart with gr
atitude, before blowing a kiss.

He couldn’t believe after all he had done that they still loved him. He was a lucky, lucky man.

They cut together some of the pre-taped footage along with the live performances. By their premiere they had painstakingly picked twenty quarterfinalists that would perform live for votes. Dominique explained to the audience what they could expect within the next few months. For the first month, five would perform a week, with one elimination. After that, the remaining sixteen semifinalists would be halved into two performance shows, where two contestants would be cut, forming the final twelve.

At that point each show would feature all finalists battling against each other, eliminating one a week until they reached the September 20 finale.

For the premiere, Jordi, Jace and Milo would battle against Deena Keys and Shelby Goddard. It was the first real test for Jordi, given Deena and Shelby presented a more traditional pop star package to the audience. Shelby in particular offered a little more conventional, homespun appeal. She had perfect blond hair, blue eyes and wore a cross around her neck while talking about how Jesus had gotten her through a poor upbringing in Oklahoma, when her family nearly lost their farm.

Her song, about having faith in herself despite her uphill climb, wowed the
judges and the audience alike.

Deena was a sexy city girl from Jersey, who had an accent and attitude to spare. She wore tiny skirts and teased hair, unafraid to lean heavily on her boy-toy branding to win some votes. Her pop song included a dance troop, and she kept time right alongside.

If Vanni was wrong about how their audience would receive Jordi in comparison, she could go home the very first night. Allison argued that would be more merciful than letting her linger week after week if the audience didn’t fall in love with her.

Vanni was pleased to see her sing toward the end of the show, so she could cement herself in the short-term memory of her audience. He needn’t have worried, though. Her placement paled in comparison to her performance. She sang the same song she sang for the judges in her first live audition. Not only did it show her power and range, but it also gave her that hint of vulnerability the song demanded. Again she nearly brought the judges to tears, and this time all three jumped to her feet when she was done.

They could barely be heard over the reaction of the audience, who may have been a little skeptical when she first stepped foot onto that stage, but by the time she had finished they were all believers.

“I have to be honest with you, Jordi,” Ryder told her. “I didn’t know if there was a place for you in pop music. You proved with that performance right there that you just made one.”

Allison echoed the sentiment. “I hope America opens their hearts to you. I get the feeling the best is yet to come.”

Vanni gave her a wide smile when she and Dominique turned to him for his critique. “There are a lot of people who can sing. An even smaller number sing really, really well. What you did tonight went beyond that.” He motioned to the audience. “You did that,” he said. “You made them feel. You connected every single one of us. No matter what happens throughout this show or throughout your life. I want you to know that you are special. You are a star, Jordi Hemphill.”

Jordi nodded through tears as she waved at the audience. Dom gave her information so that everyone could call in and vote for her.

Jace brought the show to a close, with a song about being a hero for the one that he loved. From the way the girls in the audience, especially those close to the stage, screamed for him, Vanni knew from experience he had won a substantial fan base of young girls who didn’t care one
iota about his artificial foot.

They wanted to hear more from the exotic Greek boy with thick dark tresses and incandescent green eyes.

After a recap the show ended, and the contestants and the judges headed out for the after party. Five lucky audience members won a pass backstage to meet everyone, and while Vanni was as warm and cordial as he had always been he no longer felt the need to flirt with them and make them fall in love with him. He smiled, he gave hugs, posed for photos and signed autographs, but the velvet rope was definitely up and even the groupies understood there was a line that could no longer be crossed.

Even Graham couldn’t help but notice the change.

As Vanni made his way through the contestants, he was stopped by a young, Midwestern guy who looked a little out of place. He wasn’t from California or a part of the Hollywood media machine, and he certainly didn’t look the type to be at the function or even know who Giovanni was.

But he put out his hand. “I just wanted to thank you for what you did for Jordi,” he said.

“You know Jordi?” Vanni asked.

“I guess you can say she was my girlfriend back home,” he said. Vanni looked him over. This everyguy was not what Vanni would have pictured for Jordi, who had been born to stand out. He wore jeans and a plaid shirt, his sandy blond hair was trimmed short and respectable. “I’m Eddie Nix,” he introduced finally.

“You must be very proud,” Vanni said as the two men started down the red carpet that led to the location of the party.

“To be honest with you, I never thought she’d make it this far,” Eddie said. “She’s not like other girls.”

Vanni smiled. “That’s part of her magic.”

Eddie shrugged. “For now. Till the novelty wears off. But at least it gives her something to remember when she has to go back to Iowa.”

Vanni sent him a sideways glance. “What makes you think she’ll go back to Iowa?”

“She doesn’t fit in out here,” Eddie responded simply. “I tried to tell her that before she came but you know girls. They live with their heads in the clouds.”

Vanni stopped and faced the younger man. “If you ask me, that’s where her head belongs. She’s too big for some ordinary life in Iowa.”

“That’s part of the problem,” Eddie shot back in guy-to-guy honesty.

Vanni was stunned. “Are you saying because she’s heavy, she can’t succeed?”

“Did you see that Deena chick dance? You think Jordi could ever do something like that? People want sexy and slinky. Jordi isn’t any of those things.” Vanni continued to stare at him in shocked disbelief. “Hey, don’t get me wrong,” Eddie finally said. “I love her and all. But I just want her to be realistic. If she wants a life like this, she has to change. Otherwise she’s just the fat lady they pay extra money to see at a side show. She’ll be a joke.”

Vanni didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing from someone who claimed to be Jordi’s boyfriend. Instead of being supportive, he was trying to shove her into some stupid box in which she clearly wouldn’t fit, all the while making her feel it was her inadequacy that was at fault.

“I told her when she left Iowa that she could always come home. I’d help her lose weight and she could try again. Hell, I even offered to marry her if she could fit in my mama’s size 6 wedding dress, but she won’t even try to better herself. She’s determined to show us all she can make it on her own on her own terms.”

Vanni was still speechless as they walked through the doors to the party.

“Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for going easy on her. I know she’s not like the girls you’re probably used to being around.  And when she gets voted off, just send her home. We’ll get her in fighting shape for next time.”

Eddie patted Vanni on the back before going off to find Jordi, no doubt to reinforce her insecurities. Suddenly it all made sense to Vanni, and he decided right then and there that she not only deserved to win, she needed to. It was the only way to shut up all the naysayers and prove it can be done on her terms.

What an asshole
, Vanni thought to himself. Instead of being her biggest fan, he was reiterating what people who didn’t care at all about her would say. And he called that love?

He thought back to his own relationship with Andy. Had she felt that way over the years, when he would openly and publicly date people like Kat and Lourdes, while expecting her to be happy being the one hidden in the shadows like a dirty secret?

It had never really occurred to him until that moment that she might have interpreted things that way. He certainly had never meant them that way.

Had he?

He had always thought Andy was sexy and exciting. If anything, he had been intimidated by how good she was. He had never thought he could deserve someone so kind, so decent, so loving and so true. He had trampled all over her heart – and probably her self-esteem – by sabotaging everything out of some misguided belief
he
wasn’t good enough for
her
.

Had h
e ever made her feel less-than?

If so, meeting Eddie was just a little insight into just how much of an asshole he had been. He still didn’t deserve her, but he vowed to himself he’d spend each and every day for the rest of his life making it up to her. There’d never be another Kat. There’d never be another Lourdes.

There’d never be another Holly.

He groaned inwardly as he realized that had been what drove her into the arms of another man. Now he understood why she’d been so angry, and why Graham – who had never made her feel inadequate – would be the man she’d choose.

Through it all Vanni had been far more willing to be publicly linked with Holly, who wasn’t anything to him, than the woman who had been there for him from the beginning.

And now he was still trying to juggle them both, as if Holly deserved the best of him simply because she was having his baby. He still felt the need to protect her and take care of her, when the woman who wore his ring carried the extra baggage that clearly didn’t belong to her.

What was he thinking? He had been such an idiot.

He made the promise to himself that he would take her feelings into consideration with every action from here on out. If he couldn’t do something with her right there in the room next to him looking on, he just wouldn’t do it.

Anything else cheated her and cheapened their relationship. And she deserved more than that.

She deserved so much more.

Kelly brought Andy to the party, and Vanni’s eyes lit up to see her. She looked lovelier than he could remember, with her black, sequined maternity gown and her rosy complexion. When their eyes locked, she smiled a warm intimate smile meant only for him. In all the years they’d been together, she had been faithful – even despite turning to Graham.

He had been her focus. Now it was time to return the favor. He walked over to her and took her into his arms for the whole room to see. She was his woman, and he was more than proud to call her that.

Andy was pleased he wasn’t upset that she ventured outside what she lovingly called The Fortress. They had talked about her keeping a low profile until after the assailant was caught, but this was his big night and she wanted to be there.

Truth was, he wanted her there, too, and he didn’t know just how much until he saw her beautiful face. He filled his arms with her embrace, and possessively kept an arm around her or touched her stomach so that all could see that she was his.