Page 7 of This Side of Beautiful

I only saw the back of her hand as she waved before she pulled down her jacket and tilted her hat. The arrogant, sexy woman I remembered flashed through my mind. She’d tricked me into believing she was different.

The floral scent of her perfume remained in my olfactory senses long after she walked away triumphantly, leaving me alone with a woman whom I would have to be nice and respectful to because of her position in choosing Hollow Bones to perform on the rodeo’s biggest night.

I sipped crisp water in an iced tea glass, quietly observing her. She’d been standing most of the night, talking and flirting with people at the tables around us. Despite how her career had tanked because of her own recklessness, she still had fans. Smiling people surrounded her to take selfies and ask for autographs. Some of the entertainers even seemed fascinated by her. Janae glowed, and her brown skin shimmered in the changing lights from the nearby stage.

I noted that she only drank water and shook her head when offered wine, champagne, or a cocktail. Del had sworn she’d been clean and sober for three years, and so far, she did seem determined to maintain her sobriety. She touched that coin around her neck every so often, the same way I rubbed the guitar pick I kept in my pocket.Isitforthesamereason?

“Stop staring, or I might believe you’re crushing,” Cedrick drawled before he eased down in the chair he’d vacated earlier to mingle. The other three members of Hollow Bones were wandering the room, greeting guests and talent.

“Curious… not crushing.” Dragging my unwilling gaze from Janae, I glanced at my best friend, who easily drew women to him with his dark looks and swagger. “I’ve never seen her this chill. She was always so high-strung, feisty, and crass.”

“Highbeing the operative word. Let’s hope she stays this way through our shows.” He smirked as he downed another cognac. “I guess we should be relieved that people still like her so far. Sales have been rising since we added Janae to the shows. Del might be onto something, suggesting she be Cash’s special guest tomorrow night. Can you imagine how lit the arena will be when she walks on stage after three years, in her hometown?”

“Yeah.” I refocused on Janae, who now laughed and touched the chest of Cash Black, an Atlanta rapper who’d risen to the top fast with two back-to-back crossover hits. He was in his mid-twenties and had bravado, an edge, and fearlessness that women loved. A platinum grill covered his teeth, and his locs hung down past his shoulders. He possessively gripped the small of Janae’s back, his pinky finger grazing her ass. My stomach unexpectedly burned, and I looked away.

Cedrick chuckled. “Now I know why Cash had no problem with MILA being his special guest. They must be smashing, or he’s using this opportunity to shoot his shot.”

“She’s Janae now,” I corrected him.

He shrugged before he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

I slumped back in my chair, inexplicably bothered by Cedrick’s astute observation. “How much longer do we need to be here?”

“Eat and settle your brain. We need to be here another hour to show our gratitude for being invited.” He pushed his barely touched plate of brisket and mac and cheese toward me. Cedrick had recently become a vegan and had been tempted by the Southern comfort food since we’d arrived two days ago. He had to remind himself that he’d given up meat for health reasons while the rest of us happily consumed Texas beef in all its forms.

“How much longer?” I repeated, ignoring the offered plate of food but not missing how the barbecue sauce bled into the cheese.

He briefly closed his eyes. “Just go. I’ll cover for you if anyone else asks about you.”

“Thanks.” We pounded fists, and I maneuvered through the small crowd, waiting to see Cash and Janae, careful to keep my head down and not to catch anyone’s eye. I had no more energy to hug, take a selfie, or smile.

“Y’all, that’s the hugely talented Landon Hayes of The Hollow Bones.” Janae’s Southern twang rose above the din of the music and chatter. “Come here and take a pic with us.”

“No. I’m good,” I replied loudly, narrowing my eyes.

She pushed through the small space between us and grabbed my forearm, pulling me next to Cash, who dapped me and smiled. “I didn’t know you were here. Where you been hiding?”

“He was sitting over there, staring.” She grinned at me. Her eyes twinkled with devilish mischief. “Figured he may want front-row access, since it’s Cash Black and The Hollow Bones hitting the stage tomorrow night.”

The small crowd cheered. I nodded and didn’t focus on any particular person. I didn’t have my guitar or anything to hide behind in this space. Beads of sweat rolled down my back, and my chest wouldn’t inflate. I weakly waved before shoving my trembling hands in my pants and looked back at Janae, whose smile slipped.

Her arm curved around my waist. “Landon hates all the attention. He’s really shy.”

Some of the peopleawwed me.

“Take your pics quickly before this Black man curses me out, and I don’t want no drama with him.” Janae chuckled.

The crowd laughed, and I breathed through my nose for a few pictures while she gently rubbed my back, much like my mother used to do when my environment became too much.

“All right… all right. He’s done.” Janae pushed me slightly, and with relief, I walked away, giving people just enough eye contact to seem normal. I didn’t breathe until I’d stepped back out into the spring air.

I lifted my head to the stars and beyond, inhaling the sky’s vastness and exhaling the dust storm of emotions evoked by one Janae Warner.

And we were just getting started.

Chapter Three

janae

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