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I really wouldn’t have minded getting punched in the face last night, except for the fact that I have to be seen in public today, and I have lunch with the artistic director of Red Barn Playhouse, who happens to be like a second dad to me.
I’ve considered all the possible options about what to tell Robert when he asks about my face. Lie and say I fell and hit it against something in the shop. It’s likely enough that people might go for it, but I’m not a great liar. The truth is also an option, but I don’t think I can bring myself to admit that I got in a fight.
So option three is makeup. I can’t do much of anything about the swelling, and I look a little bit like an orc from theLord of the Ringsmovies, but when I woke up, my face was about four shades of red and purple, and that’s something I can potentially do something about. Or at least, I know someone who can do something about it. Which is why I’m sitting at a dressing roomstation in the theater with Jade inches from my face again, gently dabbing makeup over the most tender bruise I’ve ever had in my life.
“Stop wincing,” she says.
“I’m trying. It fucking hurts.”
“Maybe think about that next time before you get headbutted.”
“Yeah, I’ll just do that. Thank you so much,” I say and try to roll my eyes, but they’re closed, so it doesn’t have the desired effect.
Truthfully, I’m not sure what came over me last night. It’s tempting to blame the alcohol. I acted out of character. Never in a million years did I think I’d be the kind of guy who punched another person. But even if I was fully sober last night, I meant what I said to Jade. I would punch a thousand Nicks. I’d punch him again today.
Maybe it was the high of that rehearsal right before the party. All my hard work to get off book and into character paid off, and I truly felt like I’d made myself, Anastasia, and Jade proud. I felt like I finally understood something that had felt entirely foreign to me just five weeks before, and something about that made me feel like a million bucks.
Not to mention the kiss . . .
Bruised and battered, I still feel a few inches taller today. Not only am I proud of last night’s rehearsal, but I’m also proud of myself for sticking up for someone I care about.
“Are you almost done?” I ask. As gentle as Jade is being, every touch feels like a hammer to the face.
“I’ve barely started. Remind me what you need this covered for. And why you don’t want to wear this like a badge of honor?”
“I’ve got a meeting today with the guy from my hometown community theater, Red Barn Playhouse. Robert. I basically grew up with the guy. He’s also friends with John.”
“Chappell?”
I nod.
“Just a casual catching-up kind of lunch?” Jade asks.
“I emailed him recently about a job opportunity. They probably want someone sooner than I can be there, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”
“What’s the job?” Jade asks, dabbing as gently as she can at my tender face.
“Tech director for the theater.”
“That sounds . . . sort of up your alley?”
“The dream is to be a light designer, so it’s partially up my alley. But at a small community theater like that, less is more. Less people doing more things is better for the budget. I’d have to do set design and oversee build, and just all the tech stuff.”
“I don’t think I knew you wanted to be a light designer specifically,” Jade says. Her voice is quieter, more introspective. “I don’t think I ever really asked. I just assumed you wanted to do all the tech things.”
“Icando all the tech things, but that’s not really what Iwantto do.”
“Then why go for the job?”
I huff a half-laugh. “I don’t know. I guess that’s a good question. It’s a steady job, which I don’t have to tell you is hard to come by in the theater world. Comes with benefits. I could live with my parents while I work there and save up a lot. Wouldn’t have to pay rent.”
“Sounds . . . safe,” Jade says and steps away from my face, presumably to get more supplies.
Before she can step back in, I hold up my hand. “Can I just have a second? It’s so tender.”
“Don’t be a baby.”
“Yesterday I was a hero, and today I’m a baby? What does it take to hold onto your reputation around here?”
