The Beautiful Katastrophe

(XXIX) New For You

     Valentine's Day of '84 was, honestly, just another day, because Prince and I spent it so many miles apart.

I was supposed to be back by then but two weeks turned into a month.

I was so damn spoiled, though, I didn't need a day reserved for extra attention and chocolates.

Still, he called me early that morning from the studio and played a song he had been working on all night.

"I know you tell me you miss me. And I'd love to make love to you... your words, they intoxicate me. I shiver each time that you speak... How much more can I endure, my love? The sound of your voice makes me weak... If my bodily functions operate this way when you just call my name, I'd hate to see when we are finally back to our nasty love game..."

After just fifteen days, the feeling was mutual. This ballad, in falsetto, easily brought tears to my eyes. The sound of it was incredibly whimsical. Again, he never said it was for me but it was clear especially the line, 'I love our noon rendezvous.' Los Angeles' time is three hours ahead of Hawaii and every morning I woke up, I would call him and chat before starting my day with my family.

The idea that he was actually fucking around with someone else never crossed my mind. It hadn't in a while.

Adrienne reluctantly packaged and delivered my gift to him later in the day.

     His response, "Baby, if I have to look at another picture of you, I'm gonna go insane. I want the real thing."

He wouldn't get the real thing until the end of the month, just one night before the Grammys. I was scheduled to work with three different clients; Irene Cara, Sheena Easton and one of personal favorite women in the industry, Ms. Donna Summer.

Prince was nominated for one award for his vocal performance on his 1999 hit, International Lover, and he told me he was going to go since I would be there. But when I told him I would be stuck backstage the entire night, he dropped out on me and scheduled more studio time.

When I arrived back in L.A., it was three o'clock in the morning. My heart wanted Prince but Adrienne picked me up from the airport and I fell asleep before I could even ask her to take me to him.

When I got home to my bed, I did call him to see if he could convince me to come over but he didn't even pick up the phone.

The next morning, I woke up around nine and was knocking on the door of his suite a little after ten. I was filled with anxiety. I missed him so much. But I was also anxious because I had a big surprise for him.

My back was to the door so my face wouldn't be seen through the peephole.

"Uhh, who is it?"

He was expecting me but I could tell he was confused by what he was seeing.

I slid my shades on and turned around. "Room service," I said in my sultry siren tone.

     When Prince opened the door, I broke out in giggles. I was trying to be sexy but I couldn't take myself serious.

     "Oh my," he said, eyeing my new hair color.

"Do you like it?"

My scalp tingled as his fingertips gently tugged at my hair strands. My eyes were ready to fall to the back of my head but then he pulled me into the room.

"When did you do this?"

"Lizzie and I got bored one day."

Prince smiled and pulled me in close to him. "I love it, blondie," he said kissing my hair.