Page 80 of Beneath the Burn
Three hours later, Charlee cruised the dining room in the rear of the Little Rock arena, one hand in Jay’s, the other gripping her growling stomach.
“You should’ve eaten on the bus.” He narrowed his eyes at her as he led her along the tables.
Brisket, sourdough rolls, coleslaw, potato salad, and a dozen other catered dishes scattered the surfaces. The hearty fragrance of liquid smoke and seasonings produced another rumble in her belly.
“Let’s see. Microwave burrito on the bus? Or catered meal? Hmm…” She slammed to a halt. “Oh, wow. Is that—”
She released his hand and lurched toward a small bowl filled with a smooth yellow mixture specked with green and orange chunks. She fumbled for a spoon and dug through it. Chopped eggs, pickles, oranges. She thought her favorite dish was her own secret concoction. Apparently, it was a catered side in Arkansas.
“What the hell is that?” He scrunched his nose.
“This is the way to my heart, Jay. Pay attention. Egg salad. Mandarin oranges. Chopped gherkins.” She cradled the bowl to her chest and shoveled in the first bite. The tangy sweet ambrosia launched her taste buds into a writhing orgasm. “Oh, God. I’m so not sharing this.”
His lips rolled, working to contain his laughter. “I don’t think you’ll be fighting anyone off.”
He was right about that. An hour later, she plodded after him to the edge of the stage, the entire bowl of egg salad pitching violently in her stomach. She perched on an Anvil case and wrapped her arms around her waist.
The din of screaming fans thundered from the stands, inciting a rip-roaring headache. She moaned.
“Charlee?” Brown eyes hovered as he squatted before her. His hand prodded her brow, cheek, and neck. “Fuck, she’s burning up.”
Another hand followed the same path, less gentle. “I’m going to take her to the hotel.” Nathan raised her chin and lifted one of her eyelids.
“Stop.” She swatted at his hand and a burn hit low in her belly, doubling her over.
“One minute till show time.” Faye skidded next to Jay, swiping a finger over her phone screen, with Ella on her heels. Faye glanced up. “Oh honey, you don’t look so good.”
“I’m fine.” Nausea twisted her insides. A chill chased the sweat on her spine. Ugh, she’d eaten too much.
The guitar intro tiptoed in, hushing the roar of the crowd. Jay remained in a crouch between her legs, worry wrinkling the skin around his eyes.
She spread clammy fingers over his cheek and attempted a smile. Her hand fell away, limp and trembling. Dammit. “Your fans are waiting. Go do your thing and blow them away.”
His jaw set, and his fists flexed on his thighs. He jerked his chin at Nathan. “Take all the guards with you except Tony.” Eyes boring into her, he rose, mouthed, “Love you.” Shifting into the shadowed corner beside her, he clicked a button on his headset and rolled into the first verse of Running Up That Hill , a Kate Bush cover song.
For a moment, the pain dimmed as she absorbed the calming tones of his timbre. He sang the song like Placebo , eerie and dark, a soul-deep vibration.
Another pang slammed into her. She cupped her mouth and swung her head, catching Nathan’s eyes.
He half-carried, half-ran her to the nearest bathroom. Standing over her, he gathered her hair as she heaved bile and eggs. After a few more violent projections, she gasped, spit, and slumped to the tile floor.
“I don’t know what’s worse.” He muffled his mouth in his arm as he kicked the flusher. “The smell or the fact that I recognize ninety-nine percent of what came up. Eggs? Did you even chew them?”
A shiver battered through her and her mouth teemed with saliva. “I don’t feel good.”
“I know, sweetheart.” He lifted her in the cradle of his arms, set her on the vanity, and wet a paper towel under the tap. “Can you make it to the hotel before you toss any more eggs?”
“Funny guy.” She yanked the towel from his hand and wiped her face and mouth. She didn’t want to go and abandon Jay with only one guard, but it would’ve been an argument she didn’t have the strength for. “Better scrounge up a trash bag or it might be a really long ten-minute drive.”