“Dream on,” he says. “I’m just excited about having a day off. I could be spending it with Cash, and I’d still be this happy.” He pauses. “Scratch that. I can’t even pretend that I would be this excited to hang out with Cash.”
I laugh. “Well, who would?”
“You mean besides half the female population of the United States?”
“So what’s the plan?” I ask. “Or are we going to stand here in the lobby making fun of your brothers all day?”
“Oh, there’s a plan, miss. Just you wait and see.”
He holds his arm out, and I take it, enjoying the silliness. We walk through the lobby, and I can’t help but notice the number of eyes on him. The word has definitely gotten out that the band is staying here. The hotel security has done a great job so far of ensuring the band’s privacy, but there’s been a pretty steady stream of photographers camped out on the sidewalk outside the main doors. We head to the back of the lobby, where one of the band’s security guys is waiting for us at the entrance to the underground parking garage.
“Hey, Benny,” Daltrey says, bumping fists with the much taller man. “Thanks for doing this, man.”
“No problem, Daltrey. Morning, Daisy.”
I give him a little wave, feeling shy. Benny and Frank intimidate the crap out of me. They’re both very nice and professional, but they’re also both gigantic, towering over everyone else, their muscly arms barely contained in tight black T-shirts. Of course, intimidating is a pretty important characteristic for a security guard, but I still feel as if I’m standing in the shadow of a giant whenever I talk to one of them.
“Benny’s going to drive for us today,” Daltrey tells me. “I was kind of hoping we could get away with using public transportation because that would be way more fun, but I just don’t think it would be possible.”
“I don’t know,” I say, as we descend into the stairwell. “I think being chauffeured around town sounds like fun enough.”
In the garage, instead of a van, Benny leads us to a sleek black town car.
“Swanky,” I say as he opens the door to reveal a roomy leather bench seat. “Thanks, Benny.” Once we’re settled in our seats, I look around and shake my head. “We so do not fit the surroundings.”
Daltrey looks down at his clothes. “You think we’re not posh enough?”
He’s dressed in classic rock star jeans—tight, riddled with holes, and held up by a studded belt. His black Led Zeppelin T-shirt is about a million years old, and his grey hoodie and beanie add to the general unkempt impression.
I’m not much better. My dark pencil jeans and black Chucks have seen better days, and my hoodie is plenty baggy and faded. “Yeah, ‘not posh’ is kind of an understatement.”
Benny pulls out of the garage, and we’re immersed in bright morning sunshine. It’s only just past nine, but the sky is already a clear, bright blue, no clouds in sight. I wonder if we’re finally going to get some summer weather, and I’m relieved I remembered to put my cuff bracelets on under my hoodie, in case I need to take it off.
“So where are we going?” I ask. “Or are you going to keep me in suspense all day?”
“I thought we’d get some breakfast first.”
“Oh, are we getting bagels?” I had my first taste of bagels and lox from the hotel restaurant earlier in the week, and I was hooked.
Daltrey shakes his head. “Nope. Something better.”
I raise an eyebrow, but he doesn’t say anything else. Traffic is pretty heavy, but Benny is a pro at navigating through it. I wonder again how anyone manages to drive in a big city like this.
“So this place is kind of out of the way,” Daltrey says. “We’re going to need to come back up this same way when we’re done. But I thought it would be worth it.”
“What’s so great about it?”
“It just so happens to take your favorite food in the entire world and turn it into a breakfast food.”
My eyes widen. “Mac and Cheese?”
He laughs. “Yeah. They do mac and cheese pancakes. I figured there was no way we could be in New York and not eat that.”
“Holy shit.” I’ve been known to live on macaroni and cheese for weeks on end. The very thought of eating it in pancake form makes my mouth water.
“This place has a reputation. Very good food, like, a ridiculous amount of menu choices, and very strict rules.”
“Rules?”
“Yeah. Your party can’t be any bigger than four. They will straight up kick you out. You also can’t request to share your meal. Everyone has to order something. And they do not make exceptions for people in fairly famous rock bands, F.Y.I.”