Chapter 41: Not that kind of proposition

“Okay, so what’s her name again?” Janet asked in a whisper. “She’s beautiful!”

“That’s Amy Bartoli,” Wes said close to her ear. “She’s going out with…”

“With Danny’s brother Marc,” Janet finished for him.

He shook his head. “They’re cousins, not brothers.”

Janet’s mouth dropped open. “But they…”

“Look so alike, I know,” Wes said. “All the guys on that side of the family have the curly blond hair, the same blue eyes and the dimples, every single one of them. Wait, that’s wrong. Marc’s older brother looks just like their dad, but he’s the only one.”

“There’s a couple of boys at our school who…”

“Yep, Damon Marlin and his brother David and Jason Hellerman. They’re all cousins.”

“Oh, I love David! He’s so cute and funny, too. He has…”

“Autism, yeah, I know. I’m good friends with Damon. He’s the captain of the soccer team and he’s very protective of David,” Wes said, never taking his eyes off of Janet even as she watched the singers.

“What?” she said, when she finally noticed he was staring at her and not at Amy.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“But you’re looking at me. You should be looking at her. I’ve never seen anybody so pretty,” Janet said.

Wes smiled. “I have.”

Janet wondered why Luke didn’t get Amy to be his backup singer. She could really sing plus she would be great eye candy for the stage. She was tall and lean and had glossy straight black hair and stunning gray eyes which gave her an exotic look. She’d be perfect!

“You know, there’s a girl at our school that does look a lot like her. Only difference is her hair is curly. I don’t remember her name. Jane or…”

“You mean Eric Monroe’s kind-of-girlfriend, Jacklyn. Yeah, she does look a lot like Amy. Totally different personalities though, day and night,” Wes said.

“So, you know her?”

“Jacklyn’s a stuck-up cheerleader and a real bimbo. Amy’s bordering on genius, like real genius.”

Janet smiled impishly. “Like you?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Like Einstein.”

“So, why didn’t you try for her before she got with Marc? She would’ve been perfect for you and look at her! She’s gorgeous. I won’t be able to find you a girl half that good,” she said.

He looked at Amy and shrugged. “Not my type.”

“Then you gotta be gay,” she grumbled, folding her arms in front of her chest.

Wes put his arm around her shoulders. “I think you know I’m not gay and I think you also know which kind of girl is my type,” he hissed in her ear.

“Yeah, an imaginary one,” she retorted, standing up.

“Where are you going?” he said, grabbing her hand.

“I’m thirsty. I’m getting a drink. Would you like something?”

“No, I’ll get it for you,” Wes said standing up. He stared at her for a second then took her face in his hands and kissed her. “You know. You’re just not willing to admit it to yourself.” He kissed her again and left.

Janet stared after him wondering what he meant by that. Just as she decided to follow him and find out, something huge blocked her way. She looked up and saw Billy grinning at her.

“You’re in my way, Billy,” she said, stepping to the side. He followed. “Hello! I can’t get around you if you do that, you big lug.”

“That’s the point. We need to talk. Come into my office,” he said, putting his arm around her and steering her out of the noisy, crowded room and into a sort of alcove between the kitchen and the dining room. There stood Alana and Luke beaming at her as she approached.

“Your office?” Janet said, laughing. “Do I need a lawyer?”

“Not yet,” Billy said mysteriously. "Ive a proposition for you."

"Well, I don't think Joanne and Wes are gonna like that too much," she joked.

He threw his head back and laughed. "Not that kind of proposition."

“What’s up?” Janet said, looking from one smiling face to the other.

“We want to ask you something and we want you to say yes,” Alana said, her emerald eyes practically glowing.

“All right, yes. Happy?” Janet said smirking.

Luke laughed. “Actually, yes, we will be when you know what we want you to say yes to.”

“Okay,” she said, curious now. “What?”

“You sing great,” Alana said.

“Thanks,” Janet replied. “And?”

“And…Luke needs a backup singer…” Billy said.

Janet’s eyes went wide.

“And we’d like her to be you,” Luke said.

Janet’s mouth fell open.

“Your voices would mesh so well, Janet. I just know it,” Alana said, eagerly.

“And you’ve got stage presence,” Billy said. “That’s extremely important.”

“And you know music. You understand it. I can tell,” Luke said.

Speechless, Janet stared from one anxious face to an eager one to a serious one.

“What have you guys been smoking?” she finally said.

They all laughed, but they went back to looking serious again. 

“I really could use someone like you to help me,” Luke said.

“Help you? Me?” Janet said, still trying to get a grip on this.

“We wouldn’t ask you if we didn’t think you could do this. This is real, Janet,” Billy said. “This isn’t a game. We want and need someone who is as serious about music as Luke, with a genuine love for it. Luke is extremely talented and he’s going places. I’m making sure of it.” Billy glared at Luke who grimaced ready to protest. “Despite what he thinks.”

“Cripes, you’re serious,” Janet whispered.

“I’ve already got a gig lined up for him a few week from now. This one’s for charity, The Adams Gala benefiting the Port Orianco Medical complex. It was going to be just him, without a band, but if you could be there and sing with him…” 

Janet gasped. “At the Gala???”

Alana placed her hand on Janet’s arm and smiled. “Janet, it would really help him out. All the songs we’ve picked so far would sound so much better with a female backup,” she said.

“Why dontcha get Amy? She’s awesome!” Janet said.

Luke shook his head. “I asked her out of desperation, but she really didn’t want to. She’s busy with college and…”

“College???” Janet shouted. “Isn’t she still in high school?”

“Yes and no. Long story,” Billy said shaking his head.

“She would just be temporary, anyway. She wouldn’t want to do it full time,” Luke said.

“Full time?” Janet said.

“It's not just a one time thing. This is a real job, a career. There’s a wedding in a couple of months and others are interested in booking Luke for their weddings and there’s a concert or two that I’m still arranging,” Billy said.

“Holy moly, you really are a rock star then?” Janet asked, gaping at Luke.

“More like a wedding singer,” Luke said, smirking. “Which is fine with me. It’s what my dad and mom do.”

Janet looked from one to the other and back again.

“Will you sing with Luke, Janet?” Alana asked. “Please?”

Janet blinked several times then smiled. “Jasmine won’t believe I’m singing backup for Luke Tramaine.”

“You’ll do it!” Alana shouted then hugged her.

“Knew she would!” Billy said, taking his turn and hugging Janet clear off her feet.

“Thanks, Janet,” Luke said and he hugged her too. “I’ll try not to be a tyrant.”

Janet giggled and held on a little extra. 

She would be singing on stage with a local rock star. How cool was that?