She hands me my ‘burrito’ and juice. I’m actually shocked when it tastes good. “So are you vegan?” Kelsey told me to ask questions. That’s a start.
She smiles. Her teeth are so white and straight. She has a pleasant smile. “No, not vegan. Being on tour, I need to be in the best shape I can be, so I try to eat the best that I can.”
“So when we’re in New York, you will eat pizza?”
“Of course, I love pizza.”
“Good.” Where the fuck do I go from there? I decide stuffing my face with this fake burrito is better than asking a stupid question.
Clearing her throat, she looks up at me. “I guess it’s a good time to go over expectations for this arrangement? I’ve never had a live-in guard.”
“Sure. Do you want to start?”
“Really, I just want to feel safe. I haven’t felt that recently. It was my idea to have you here, Garth actually didn’t like the concept. I just want someone who works for me and isn’t working in anyone’s interest but mine to keep me safe.”
Her words surprise me a little. It sounds like she doesn’t feel like anyone on her team is really in her corner.
“Understood. My job is to protect you, so when I say something is not safe, I expect you to listen and follow directions. I’m not giving you an order to be an asshole. I’m doing it for your safety.”
“I can do that,” Cami says as she finishes eating her food.
“We should get along great, then.”
“Great,” she says, smiling at me.
We did, in fact, not get along great. The rest of the night was fine. We were cordial while we both worked out, then we went back to the apartment to sleep. Now that we’re in Portland, it’s like a whole other person is standing in front of me. This is no longer the woman I had walnut taco meat with. This is someone else entirely.
The whole plane ride she was nearly silent, not her usual talkative self. Once we landed and took our things to the hotel, she got a text message and she actually whined after she read it. I wanted to ask her what it was about, but I know I need to stay professional with her. After the text message, she was short-tempered and only answered questions in curt, brief answers.
“Where the fuck is Garth?” she says to one of the makeup artists. They are putting an alarming amount of glitter on her already glowing skin.
“He’s running late.”
“He knows the meet and greets happen before the show. I can’t do them after.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Fox, he just told me to pass along the message,” the makeup artist says.
“I can’t…I can’t.” she says, her eyes welling with tears.
“What can I do?” I ask. I might be immune to Omegas in some regards, but tears just fucking do me in.
“Nothing, Smith. It’s not your job,” she says. I feel scolded, and it’s the sharpest tone she has used with me. I don’t respond as I stand next to her and watch the comings and goings of everyone backstage.
She answers a call, and I pick up some of the conversation.
“Garth, it’s in my contract. I don’t do meet and greets after shows.” She taps her neon pink fingernail against the makeup table. Miss Fox is wearing a pink wig that matches and what essentially looks like pink lingerie. “You know how I feel after shows. Please don’t make me do this.” She sighs and turns so no one is looking at her. “I know they paid, and I don’t want to let them down. Can’t it be before the show?…kay…fine.”
She nearly throws her phone on top of the vanity and stares at herself in the mirror. I would ask her what’s wrong, but I decide to keep my distance. As she said,it’s not my job. She inhales and exhales a few times and it’s almost like watching a transformation with how fast she can turn off her panic and put on a mask of happiness.
“All right, let’s get the show on the road,” she says as the hairstylist places her signature silver fox ears on top her head.
“Deja Fox, you’re on in fifteen minutes,” a production assistant says to her.
“Great, thank you.” She hums while she waits. We’re on the wing of the stage as the opening act finishes up his set. Someone named Young Fez, whoever the fuck that is. I don’t pay attention to his set, since my focus is solely on Deja Fox. I’m trying to make sense of these different sides I’ve seen of her.
“I’ll be right here the whole time,” I tell her. She finally looks up at me with her large amber eyes. “There will be security all around the stage, but I’ll be right here.”
She nods her head. “Sorry for snapping earlier.” She goes to open her mouth and explain.
