Page 70 of Together in Harmony
I take Lennox’s hand. “Let’s do this.”
Our plane lands. The Danny McDare Show is filmed in the mission district. A limo picks us up and takes us straight there from the airport.
The studio is in a massive old theater, and the marquee outside is flashing ‘Mercury Rising tonight on Danny McDare’.
The private plane, the limo, all that hadn’t been a big deal to me, it is basically second nature. But seeing my guys band name lit up gives me a thrill of pride.
“Do you still get excited about stuff like this?” I ask them.
“Sure, or at least I do,” says Asa. “I never want to take it for granted. There are loads of bands out there, equally as good as us. We just happened to be in the right place, at the right time.”
Hugo snorts. “Mr. Modesty strikes again.”
Asa punches him in the arm. I snuggle back between Hugo and Lennox, loving the feeling of warmth and playfulness. The driver takes us to the back entrance of the theater. A woman with a headset and clipboard walks towards us to escort us from the limo.
That’s when I see the photographers. I nudge Hugo.
“On it,” he says, grabbing a bag by his feet.
He unzips the long canvas duffel and I get the giggles. “This is so ridiculous, but I sort of love it.”
“Time’s a-wastin, darling,” he replies. “Get a wriggle on.”
I literally start wriggling. The bag is laid over Lennox and Hugo’s laps. I snuggle into it and Asa zips me up halfway.
“You are the sexiest luggage I've ever carried,” he tells me before kissing me firmly, then zipping it closed.
Now I've been smuggled into the studio and away from any press, I sit in the green room and actually relax. There are tons of snacks and drinks available, so I'm happily picking at the plates and drinking wine, while I watch the monitor.
It shows my guys doing a sound check.
Harry is wandering around looking pleased with himself.
I can see Danny McDare, shaking hands and clapping them on the back. None of them have met him before. Dad was on the show once. I remember him being so angry about it afterwards, Danny had brought up all kinds of stuff that Dad didn’t want to talk about.
It made me a bit nervous for my guys. They tried to get an idea of what to expect, but Danny always refuses to let the guests see the questions beforehand.
It’s amazing that anyone agrees to come on the show at all.
Except, Danny is the biggest name in the TV host game. He hosts the Grammys, the Oscars—you name it. If you can handle being on his show, you get so much respect.
The guys will be playing one song, then coming over to the sofa area to talk about how their new album is progressing, and whatever else Danny’s team has dragged up.
We all know that Brookes’ art exhibition might get mentioned though. Fingers crossed it will all go smoothly—it looks pretty cordial at the moment.
Hold that thought.
On the green room monitor I see Hugo flinging up his arms, and then storming off set. Asa is running after him. Lennox is talking angrily to Danny and another man with a clipboard.
Ten seconds later the green room door smashes open.
“Babe?”
Hugo is steaming mad. I look over his shoulder to Asa, he gives me a yikes expression.
“Hugh,” I say. He is pacing around the room muttering. Then he stops and looks at me.
“Fuck.”
