Page 31
When the lights go black, it takes everything in me not to collapse. God, that felt like it took forever. Feet shuffle in the distance as everyone makes their way off the stage. Cheers and celebration echo as we all head through the underground tunnel that takes us to the doors nearest our dressing room.
“Great show, guys.”
Staff is lined up in rows with waters and snacks, and twice today, Dan is saving my life.
“You killed it!” he says with a smile, handing me a bag of pretzels and an electrolyte drink. I’m hesitant at first, still catching my breath, but that doesn’t deter him. He shoves the small bag and drink into my chest lightly, and I happily accept.
“Two snacks in one day; it’s like you’ve been assigned my keeper.”
With shaky hands, I open the salty treat and groan the moment the savory flavor hits my tongue.
“I’ve got four daughters. This isn’t my first rodeo, hun.”
A sincere smile creeps up onto my cheeks as he nods in approval at me piling more than one pretzel into my mouth.
“Don’t forget to eat next time, yeah?” He’s stern this time, but he means well.
When he nudges my shoulder gently, I nod.
“Right, thanks again.” I shuffle along the walkway, heading toward the dressing room.
“Anytime!” he calls out.
In the dressing room, everyone scrambles to find their phones, ridding themselves of the sweaty costumes we just spent the last three hours in.
I, however, can’t think about anything but the steaming hot pasta bar that I can smell from my corner of the room. My stomach grumbles loud enough for me to hear, and I let my feet guide me right to the source. I couldn’t care less that I’m the first and only in line. I’m too famished.
Loading my plate with a hefty number of noodles, I double up, putting both red and white sauce over the top of them. Then I reach the source of my hunger pains, the smell of garlic breadsticks. Grabbing two, I fill a small plate, adding a portion of salad on the side, before beelining right to the chair in the center of the room.
Just before I sit, a voice behind me complains, “Ugh, why can’t they ever do just a salad bar? There are always so many carbs.”
I turn back toward the table with concerned eyes to find Eden. “You should eat; we just danced for three hours.”
Two full plates in hand, I give a lazy smile and shimmy my food, hoping I can change her mind.
“It does look pretty damn good.” Her lips purse, thinking it over, and my smile grows.
“Right, plus, there’s salad—win-win.”
I make it to the chair I planned to sit in, putting my two plates on the arm so I can get in a comfortable position to eat. Before my ass makes it into the seat, Eden’s voice stops me.
“Hey, Fia?”
“Yeah?” I peer up at her.
“Good job out there tonight.”
My chest blooms with warmth. Maybe there is hope for this year after all.
“Yeah, thanks.” I shrug. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
I carefully sit, moving the bag at my feet to the side so I don’t step on it. When I feel my phone vibrate from inside, I hunch over to remove it. As I’m fishing for my phone, I feel a shadow above me. In seconds, the shadow is gone, and so is my plate—all over the floor.
“Sorry, wasn’t on purpose.”
What I said in the car just a few days ago is repeated by Shannon’s sour-ass attitude.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
