The Hook-up

Chapter 30

Bruno dug his cold hands in his pockets looking down as he walked through the crowded radio hallway. He looked up hearing voices talking about his segment on the radio. He smiled at the radio personalities he had seen briefly earlier in the year promoting his EP.

"Hey bro! How are?" the perky DJ said shaking his hand.

"Hey." Bruno said coughing a little. "Damn. I know it's so early." He told them.

"It will only be a few minutes." The DJ reassured him leading him to the room where they would be recording.

They went through several questions about the album and his past. He gave the same answers as he always did about his past laughing at the same jokes and being evasive and snarky when it was necessary.

"But Bruno. You say all the most amazing things to the ladies. There has to be a special lady in your life." The DJ asked with a smile on his face.

He paused looking down trying to figure out how to answer the question. "There is an amazing woman in my life." He smiled.

"Oh bro. I admire that. Thank you for being honest. Did you write all these songs about her?" the DJ asked.

"Yeah. She's beautiful. And she's smart. And she's...she's just amazing." He answered.

"Well. Then. That's great." The DJ said. "And now our twitter feed is blowing up. All the girls are crying."

"Ladies, ladies. There's enough Bruno for everyone." He said slyly making himself blush. Shit. That was stupid. He thought to himself as he waited for a response.

"And she's willing to share?" the DJ asked.

"Well. You'll have to ask her." He laughed.

"Next time, Bruno!" the DJ laughed.

"Yeah. Next time." He tried to laugh. He got up from the chair still a little nervous even feeling his hands shake a little. He walked back to the black van guarded by his new body guard that he hand picked himself.

"Are you okay?" Dre asked.

"I'm fine. Yeah. I'm okay." He said jumping in the van nervously shaking his legs.

"Dude! That was good. But what's wrong?" Phil asked.

"I don't know..I've never gotten nervous like this...." He said to Phil who saw his hand shaking.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Phil asked.

"I can hardly breathe...I think it's just an anxiety attack." Bruno told him.

"Oh. Get out of the van. Calm down a little." Phil told him.

"Yeah. I guess I need to do that." He told his friend. He grabbed his phone trying to find his mother's phone number to calm down. But before he could reach her he saw a picture of Lauren on his phone. "Lauren?" he dialed her quickly not even thinking about anything else. "Laur...I need you...I need to talk to you. Please." He pleaded leaving a message.

**

Bruno laid his head against the window as they drove through the middle of nowhere to get to the next city. He felt his phone start to vibrate. He jumped seeing Lauren's name pop up. "Hey baby doll." He said sweetly.

"Are you okay?" she asked with a little concern in her voice.

"I'm fine." He told her. "I was just really missing you earlier today." he admitted.

"I miss you too, babe. Hang in there. It's only a few weeks." She reassured him.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"I'm driving home." She answered.

"From work?" he asked.

"Yeah. But we're gonna go out for dinner. Me and the girls. I think to Silo." She told him.

"Oh. Get the sushi. It's really good." He told her.

"I will. But only if you bring me back some really gross nachos from a truck stop." Lauren laughed.

"I'll save some for you, sweetheart." He said to her.

"That's all I ask for." She laughed.

"Lauren...." He started sounding a little nervous.

"What?" she wondered.

"I don't know...it might be too early...nevermind." He shut himself down.

"Bruno! Tell me!" she exclaimed.

"It's nothing." He said looking out the window. They went back and forth for a few minutes with him still not giving up what he was going to say.

"Fine." She finally gave up. "Good night, Bru."

"Good night, Elle." He said sweetly.

"Good night." She said one last time as she hung up the phone.

"Good night, Lauren. I love you." He said putting the phone on the table.