The process was so absorbing Jean barely thought of the scene she’d painted on Charlie’s back. Twice, tops.
“You should do this professionally,” Pax said, twisting to inspect the winged creature on one shoulder.
“Is there a lot of demand for face painters? Outside the school carnival circuit.”
“I’m serious. You’re really good.”
“Thanks.” Jean took the praise with a grain of salt. This was an uplifting crew, possibly because of the time spent in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Over the last few hours, Jean had also been told that she should be a stand-up comic, a magician (she knew one trick), and the flyer in a cheerleading squad.
It was nice of them to try to boost her spirits. Jean recognized the kindness, even though she was a long way from having anything to cheer about.
Eventually her new friends had to get ready for the sound check, so Jean hid out in the bus until it was time for the concert.
Pax and Jessica had made her promise to stay at least for the first set, on the grounds that it would be something to tell her grandchildren. Or the neighborhood kids daring each other toring the doorbell of her creepy spinster hovel on Halloween, to choose a more likely scenario.
Jean waited until the thumping bass suggested the preshow was underway before leaving her sanctuary. Maybe the free booze and loud music would dull the edge of her aching loneliness.
After sneaking through the web of cables, she snagged a pint glass from one of the banquet tables before creeping around the other concertgoers to find a secluded spot beyond the reach of the lights.
Okay, she could do this. Listen to Adriana Asebedo sing about her love affair with Charlie, endure some beer propaganda, then get the hell out of there. At least she didn’t have to pretend to be having a great time. This persona was kind of a vibe. A phantom with a tortured past, gliding through the shadows unrecognized—
“Jean!”
Shit.
Chapter 32
Charlie almost fell over from the relief of spotting her, and also because one of his shoes had come untied.
“I looked everywhere for you. I thought you were gone! There was a girl with curly hair in your wagon, but she claimed not to know you even though she was wearing your clothes.”
Jean sipped her beer. Charlie almost asked if she liked it, possibly even enough to stick around for a while, but those were questions for later.
“I guess we all have secrets,” she said, mysteriously.
He turned that over in his head a few times. “Are you talking about something specific or is that just a thing people say?”
“I’m talking about relationships.”
“Right.” Charlie hesitated. “Which ones?” He’d been hoping to go straight to discussing the two of them, but judging by Jean’s sigh, the timing might not be ideal.
“Cards on the table?”
“Yes, please.”
Jerking her head at him to follow, Jean led the way farther from the nearest concertgoers, where they could hear each other without whisper-shouting.
“Are you getting back together with her or what?” She gestured at the stage, where a giant black banner featured the overlapping double A that was Adriana Asebedo’s logo.
That was an easy one. “No.”
Jean narrowed her eyes at him, like she was shooting a truth ray directly into his soul. “What were you talking about on the trail ride? The two of you looked pretty cozy.”
Charlie hesitated, trying to decide if he was violating Adriana’s privacy. “She wanted to apologize.”
“For what? I thoughtyoubroke up withher.”
He shook his head. “That song is just a song. It’s not about me.”
