Chapter 16
Davy looked Mike straight in the face. “All right, come on then. I’ll give you a minute to explain. Pete was worried yesterday, thinking you were hiding something, but we convinced him that he was being paranoid—but he was right, wasn’t he?”
Micky held on to Davy’s arm. “Calm down, Davy. Let Mike talk.”
“No, Micky. I wanna know what he’s up to and who with. So you’re not only cheating on your diet. Pete’s gonna be devastated. I thought you loved him, but you’ve got a bird on the go too! Who is she?” Davy demanded, banging his fist on the table, making the other two jump. “How long’s this been going on for?”
“Davy, please. It’s not what you think. Okay, I’ll admit about the food. I’ve been coming here a few times a week. The healthy food depresses me, guys. I need something more substantial.”
“Okay, I get that. A guy can’t survive on salad alone, but the bird? That’s something else.” Davy looked mad and Micky just stood there quietly, staring at Mike in shock. Davy nudged him. “You gonna say anything about this? Who’s gonna be the one to tell Pete what you’ve been up to?”
“I don’t know what to think, but you can tell Pete yourself, Mike,” was all Micky could say.
“Pete’s doing well. I know he hasn’t changed his diet as much as you. At least he hasn’t made you go full vegetarian like he is—he even cooked you a steak! Me and Mick here are eating a bit healthier too, I guess. I bet Vicky and Ronnie are coping. They know what they need to do to get pregnant. It’s just you that’s struggling with this. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Who’s the chick then, Mike?” Micky asked him, pointing at the empty space.
“Davy, Mick, please. There’s nothing to tell him about, honestly. Believe me. She’ll be back in a minute—she’s just gone to the ladies’ room.” Mike looked over at the other side of the room as Ronnie walked over to the table and sat down.
Micky now stood with his mouth open wide. “So you’re both cheating?” he shouted at them.
“No, we’re just having lunch together. I wouldn’t cheat on Vicky. I don’t date men anyway,” Ronnie answered Micky as she picked up a fry and ate it.
Davy got into the seat beside her and Micky sat next to Mike. “So you just both meet up to to eat junk food away from home.” He laughed. “I guess Vicky has no idea about this, either.”
“We’ve only beb doing this for the past few days. It was just to talk at first. Vicky has no idea. Does one of you want this meal? I don’t think I can face it—I’m going outside to get some fresh air for a while. Excuse me.” Ronnie put her hand to her mouth and disappeared.
Micky pulled her plate over in front of him and started to eat the food. Davy glared at him. “Hey, I’m not gonna waste food—she said did someone want it. You want a fry?”
Davy took a few off the plate, before Micky covered them in ketchup. The blonde waitress came over with their sodas and asked if they wanted to order any food, and gave them some menus.
They looked through them, deciding to go for cheeseburgers, and called the waitress back over. Mike was watching them, looking quite nervous.
After they’d ordered, the waitress left, Davy watching her wiggle her hips more as she walked away.
“Has Ronnie’s appetite gone because she’s at least maybe feeling a little guilty about this? Are you not bothered that Pete was right that you’re sneaking behind his back? You know how bad he wants things to work out, for you to have a family.”
“I can’t say sorry enough, Davy. I really mean it. I just don’t have the willpower Pete has. I’ll talk to him and tell him the truth. Don’t worry—no more lies. I promise, guys.”
“Good. So the thing about the club manager was a lie?” Micky asked Mike.
“Yeah, sorry. I had to think of something to say to you. What made you come looking for me?” Mike looked a little puzzled.
“Well, Pete told us you were going to hang out with your biker friends. He believed you too, but you’d fed us the lie about the meeting with the club manager, and it wasn’t hard to put two and two together and realise you were up to something.” Davy was showing no emotion on his face at all.
“We did try the biker club first, but of course you weren’t there, so we decided to drive up and down the Strip. We called in here just to get a drink, but we saw your bike in the parking lot.” Mike was glad Micky was being more easygoing with him.
“Listen, I know you’re not happy with me, but just give me a chance. Yeah, I was stupid to go behind Pete’s, well, all of your backs, but I admit the whole thing is stressing me out. Pete’s upset because the first time didn’t work, so there’s a lot of pressure for this weekend. I don’t wanna keep going through this, or put Pete through it either—you know what he gets like.”
“Okay, sorry. I understand. When we get back, you better talk to him and tell him how you feel about things. Be honest with him,” Davy said. He seemed to have calmed down a little.
Ronnie came back and joined them. She picked up her purse and took a mint out of a pack. “I’m sorry about that, guys. You’re not mad with us, are you? We started meeting up, mainly to talk about our situation. I’m nervous about everything and Mike’s just being a good friend to me.”
“Pete and Vicky might just be as nervous as you two. I really think you need to all get together and have a good chat about it. It’s a huge thing you’re all going through—it’s gonna be hard.” Micky said.
“I know being a parent will be hard. I’ve kinda been one already to you three guys. Well, you two mainly, but it’s the pressure of everything building up. I guess it’s got to me…overwhelmed me. I need to talk to Pete, ask him how’s he’s feeling. Let’s finish up here, then go back to the pad. I just need to visit the men’s room first.”
The other two stared at Ronnie as Mike walked off. “I’ll talk to Vicky when she comes back home too. It’s hard to confide in people. I was an only child and didn’t have too many friends.”
“That’s probably the same for Mike, whereas Davy, Pete, and me all have siblings, so we know about looking out for each other,” Micky said
Davy nodded to agree. “Yeah, even though Peter’s the eldest of us and I’m the youngest, we all tend to look out for him because people try and take advantage of the way he is. He can be too sensitive about things. Mike’s like the big brother to us all—he looks out for the three of us.”
“Vicky has a sister and brother, but she’s not seen them in ages. Her parents won’t allow them to. They refuse to have anything to do with us. You guys are like an extended family to both of us. I know she thinks of Pete as a brother.”
“They do seem really close, and they’re so alike in a lot of ways. Sometimes I feel they look like they are a couple,” Mike said to Vicky as he sat back down. “But I know nothing will ever happen between them. I trust them both. Pete’s pretty scared of chicks anyway.” He laughed.
Soon they finished eating and were back on their way to the pad. Mike had followed them but managed to overtake the car and get there first, so he was inside a few minutes before Davy and Micky. They got in just in time to see Pete looking surprised to see Mike.
“You’re home early. What happened with your friends?” He gave Mike a hug and a kiss. “Have you had some lunch? I could make you something.” Mike turned around and stared directly at the other two.
“Yeah, I ate while I was out, Pete.”
Davy wasn’t taking his eyes off him.
“I’m gonna treat you and cook you something special for dinner since you’ve been doing so well with the healthy eating, Mike.” Pete showed him some beef steaks he’d taken out of the freezer. “I’m gonna do some thick-cut fries too—that sound good for you?”
“Yeah, thanks, Pete, but there’s something I need to tell you.”
Vicky came over and got in between them. “I’m gonna head off home. I’ll see you soon. Bye, guys.”
“Is something wrong, Michael? You don’t look too happy, and Davy looks like he’s in a bad mood.”
“I’m gonna apologize first, Pete, because there’s something I need to tell. I’ve been hiding something from you, lying to you. The guys came into the western diner earlier and I was in there with Ronnie.”
Pete looked shocked. He glanced over at Davy and Micky then looked back at Mike. “You and Ronnie? You’re seeing Ronnie? I thought you was up to something but I never thought it would be her.”
“Oh my god, Pete! No, it’s not that at all—I’d never cheat on you, ever. I promise you that. It’s just that…” Pausing for a minute, he saw the glare Davy gave him. Pete turned to watch the interaction between the two of them.
“Please tell me whatever it is. I’m getting worried now.”
“Okay then. I’m sorry, but I’ve been cheating on the diet. I’ve been going out and getting lunch and breakfasts at the western diner. That’s where I’ve been going off to and making excuses to you.” Mike took both of Pete’s hands. “I really am sorry for not being honest with you.”
“Why, Michael? You could have said something to me, told me you weren’t coping well with the diet… I should be the one that’s sorry for forcing you into it—I drove you to this. I feel so bad. It’s all my fault. Will you forgive me?” Pete pulled Mike into a hug.
“Hey, Pete, this isn’t your fault.” Davy came over to the two of them.
“Pete, it’s all on me. I should have told you from the start. I should be asking for your forgiveness.”
“It’s okay. Of course I forgive you. You don’t have to stay with the diet—I shouldn’t have pushed it on you. Do you forgive me for that?”
Mike nodded yes. “Of course I do. Always. You’ll get total honesty from me from now on.”
“Okay, well… There’s something I need to tell you—don’t worry; it’s not something too bad.” Pete saw the look Mike gave him and tried to reassure him by squeezing his hand. “It’s just something Vicky told me. She said that Ronnie gave her permission to sleep with me…she thought it would be a quicker and easier way to get pregnant.”
“Ah okay.” Mike didn’t know what else to say.
Micky grabbed Davy by the arm. “Come on, Davy, we can head off to the beach, give them some privacy to talk.”
“You don’t need to, guys. We’re fine, and everything’s okay,” Mike said to them all.
“I said no to her, of course. I could never cheat on you. Vicky said the same too—she wouldn’t go through with it. It’s just not an option for either of us.”
“I would’ve understood if you did want to go through with it, but I’m glad you said no.” Mike pulled Pete’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “You’d have been too scared to actually sleep with her anyway. I know you too well, remember.” Mike laughed.
“So everything’s cool between us?” Pete asked Mike.
“Yes, and I promise no more sneaking around behind your back. Nothing like that will happen again. You can count on that.” Mike leaned over and kissed Pete’s forehead.
“Thank you, Michael.”
“I hope Vicky doesn’t go too mad at Ronnie for eating junk food with Mike,” Micky commented, going over to the ice box to get himself a soda. “Anyone else want one?”
The phone rang and Micky picked it up on his way back from the kitchen. “Hi, yeah all of us are here. We’ll be in all afternoon… Yeah, come around anytime… Sounds good—can’t wait to hear all about it! See you soon.”
Micky joined the others. “That was the guy from the TV network—he’s the friend of the guy from Max Diamond’s show, and he’s coming round to see us, to see what we think if some ideas he’s got for the band.”
Mike got the guys to do a quick tidy-up. He didn’t want the pad to look too much of a mess. They’d just finished when there was a knock at the door. Micky answered it to what looked like two guys who were in their early thirties. Micky showed them through to the living room and offered them a cup of tea or coffee, which they declined.
“Hi, guys. I’m Sam and this is Don. So you’re the Monkees! We watched your tape that you did for Max Diamond’s show… Just to let you know the network decided not to go with his show after all. Things turned into a bit of a mess with his girlfriend, Candy—he caught her in bed with this young guy who was gonna duet with her. He kicked her out, and the network didn’t need the bad publicity.”
“Oh my god, that could’ve been you, Davy—she was lining you up for that job, so it’s a good thing you turned her down.” Micky laughed.
Don spoke this time. “Everyone liked you guys though. The women loved Davy, his looks and him being British. Micky, everyone loved your jokes—you have a good comedy timing. Mike, your songs went down really well, and everyone was impressed with Peter being such a good musician, and the banter between all of you, and of course, brilliant singing and harmonies.”
“That’s good to hear,” Mike said, taking everything in they said. “So what are you interested in us for? What kind of work do have you in mind for us?”
“Well, we’re doing a show based on the clubs of the Strip and we want to show the various house bands that they have playing in each. We want to showcase young bands, catch the young adults and teenagers as viewers. We know that you do three sets at the Dive a week. We want to film some of your shows, see the reaction of your fans… What do you think to that—would you be interested?”
“Wow, of course we would!” Micky blurted out. “That’d be brilliant! We’ll be up for this, won’t we, guys?” He looked at Mike first then moved his gaze onto Pete and Davy.
“You’ll get a contract and be informed of everything we do. We’ll want a few different sets and maybe some new songs from you—would that be a problem?” Frank asked them.
“No, it shouldn’t be. I’ve got some new songs I’m working on right now. What kind of pay are you offering us? I’m kinda our manager as well and before we agree to anything, I want to know all the details, what you expect of us.” Mike wanted to make sure they were gonna get a good deal.
“We understand. We can get the contract sorted for you, so you can see it before anything’s agreed.”
Don started to speak. “We did have another idea… Let me put it by you. It’s something new, that no network’s ever done before. We were thinking of a show involving all of you, a day-by-day account of your lives—song writing, rehearsing, and performing.” He looked at the guys to see what they thought.
Frank added more. “We’d show you living together, get some cameras here in your house… I mean, look, you live by the beach, so we’d show you with your friends, girlfriends, and family involved… A show based on you, a young and upcoming American band.”
The four of them looked at one another in surprise. Mike and Pete exchanged worried glances. Micky was smiling wide and spoke first. “You really think a show like that would ever sell? I mean who’d want to watch a show about other people’s lives?”