Chapter Thirty-Seven
Alessandra
“Okay, lift your arm there, please,” I asked the older woman, trying to get my airbrush at a better angle to spray the side of her very droopy breast.
“All done! You guys look great.” I smiled and took the cash from the white-haired woman who was currently standing naked in front of me with only the body paint I had just covered her with. All three of them were naked, actually, but they had matching breasts that looked like dogs and their floppy ears.
I stashed my money in my bag and waited for my next person to show me what they wanted.
It had been two months since the wedding, and I was currently back in the Keys and painting half-naked and naked people for Fantasy Fest. It was like Mardi Gras, but way less clothing.
Some of the costumes were pretty awesome, and even the body painting was on point. It was something I liked doing on the side, because I got to really show my artistic abilities. Plus, I always made a ton of cash doing this festival. Skilled painters that could make people look like they were wearing clothes when they weren’t are like gold here. I had practiced for years to get to this point, and I flaunted it. I was wearing pasties and bikini-style panties, and made myself look like I was wearing a cropped shirt and shorts. I’d gotten so many compliments and people wanting to take my picture.
It was the final night, and the parade was going to be starting soon. Everyone was nicely buzzed or downright intoxicated and ready for the party to kick off.
I always enjoyed the parade. People were very creative, and it was nice to see the winners of each category. I’ve heard there were going to be some good ones this year.
A man with jet-black hair walked by in tight boxers that had been painted over as part of his full-body Superman getup. His swagger held familiarity in my head, but that was silly. Joel wasn’t here. He said he wasn’t giving up on me, but that was a lie. I pushed him too far, and he wasn’t coming for me. Especially not here.
I finished working on my last client for the night and closed up my little tent so I could watch the parade.
Music was on full blast, and the cars and floats started coming down the road.
It was fun to see everyone dancing and having a blast. My favorite float was the Lucille Ball one. They were all dressed in different Lucy outfits and acting out her personality. It was hilarious to watch. Confetti was floating in the sky from the two men on a wedding cake float that passed before, and it gave the whole festival a magical feeling, like anything could happen tonight.
All of a sudden, the whole strip of Duvall Street went black.
I looked around, and everyone was just as surprised as I was.
Only the floats were lit up, except the one in front of my section of the street. It was dark, and there were murmurs about something happening. Maybe too much partying had finally happened in Key West.
Then a voice came through a speaker.
Singing the beginning words to “Can’t Take My Eyes off You.”
“You’re just too good to be true.”
A male voice.
Then a spotlight from one of the balconies hit the dark float, showing the singer by himself, standing in full Superman body paint with jet black hair.
Joel.
“Oh my God.” My eyes widened and then the crowd jumped with me, as the whole strip lit up and a marching band that came out of nowhere began playing the song on their instruments.
My face was red as he danced and sang straight to me. The crowd noticed who he was pointing to and parted like the Red Sea so he could serenade me with his merry band.
This was so embarrassing.
And sweet.
And dammit, he didn’t give up on me.
Tears started to coat my sight, and I laughed at his theatrics.
If there was one thing Joel could do better than anyone, it was put on a show, and humiliate himself for all to see.
But he was doing it for me.
