Page 30
My final set finishes, and the midnight show closes. Time for bed. I change out of my costume and back into my street clothes. I wipe off my stage makeup using an ungodly amount of makeup wipes, and I’m ready to go.
I am about to step out of the dressing room to the back hall, where Julian will be waiting, when Jasmine corners me.
“So, Andi,” she asks, all teasing friendliness. “Who's the new guy?”
I don’t trust this friendliness at all. But I don’t see a way to not answer her without being rude.
“Fuck off, Jasmine,” Jade says from behind me, apparently not caring about being rude at all. “It’s none of your business.”
The friendly, teasing smile on Jasmine’s face falls away like it was never there. “Wasn't talking to you, Jade,” she sneers.
“Yeah, well, now you’re talking to nobody,” Jade retorts, grabbing my arm and steering me out of the room.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” I murmur as we exit.
“Why not? She’s a bitch. If she wanted us to be friendly to her, she shouldn't have been telling the others that she can’t wait for you to be fired.”
“Yeah,” I agree, a little pit in my stomach, “but I still have to work with her. And I can’t even blame her for wanting the main role. I would be jealous too.”
“Jealous, yeah, but rooting for someone’s personal problems to get them fired? That’s a new kind of low. Especially when she only got the understudy role because she’s sleeping with one of the theater investors.”
That’s news to me. “Really?”
Jade cackles meanly. “You didn’t know? It’s a badly-kept secret backstage. I mean, how else did someone with a lukewarm talent like hers even get the gig? There are dozens of singers in town better than she is who would jump at the chance to understudy for you and not be a bitch about it.”
“I guess I’m not really clued into backstage gossip anymore.” After Colton started harassing anyone near me, people started giving me a wide berth. Everyone except for Jade, who decided to become my ride or die. I’ll always be thankful to her for that.
We round the corner, and Julian is leaning against the hallway wall, looking totally sinful in his tailored suit. He looks up as we approach and smiles at me, his eyes glued to my face. Jade might as well not exist.
“A stellar performance, ma souris,” he purrs. “You put the rest of the show to shame.”
“Thanks a lot,” quips Jade.
His eyes flick briefly over to her before landing back on me. “I would have listened to a whole concert of just your voice and been hungry for more. Bruno is a fool for giving you so little stage time.”
“It’s fine with me,” I demure, though I’m actually super flattered. It's a great show, and I'm just a little part of it. “It gives me more time to rest my voice.”
“If rest is what you need, we should get you home,” he says, before frowning. “Not that I’d really call where you’re staying a home.”
“Hey!" I protest. “It’s got a bed . . .”
“A futon,” he corrects.
“. . . and a kitchen and bathroom . . .”
“Which is the same thing there,” adds Jade.
“. . .it’s fine for my purposes. I don’t need more.” I don’t know why I’m defending my apartment so much. I know that it’s a shithole, but something about other people crapping on it makes me feel defensive.
“But you deserve more,” Julian silkily insists as we exit to the parking lot. “And we already talked about this. You should not settle for less than you deserve.”
Julian’s SUV is already waiting for us, and I can admit that I could definitely get used to being driven everywhere with a personal driver, though I'll have to up my cardio regimen if I’m not walking places.
Opening the door, Julian bows a little at the waist. “After you, ma souris.”
I give Jade a quick hug goodbye, and she whispers, “Be careful, Andi.”
I don’t know what she means by that, but I don’t have time to ask her, as she pulls away and walks to her car without looking back. Not knowing what else to do, and still puzzled by Jade’s warning, I climb into the interior of the SUV.
