CHAPTER 12
Lex
Diva Dive was a club in downtown LA that wasn’t a dive at all. Reggie had invited all of us out to celebrate after auditions, and by the time I’d arrived, he’d scored us a table with bottle service. Shane came along too and brought some dance buddies. And there we were. Our first outing together in weeks.
“We both have jobs,” I squealed in his arms.
He squeezed me tight before spinning me around and placing me down. “I am so proud of you, Lex. You must have lost your shit when they announced.”
“She totally lost her shit,” Amie confirmed with a laugh. She stuck her hand out and shook Shane’s. “Hi. I’m Amie.”
Shane grinned. “Amie. You took care of my Lex today, and for that, I am eternally grateful.” He gave her a little bow, making her chuckle.
“You should have seen her. You would have been so proud.”
Shane’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Already am.”
We slid into a section of banquettes at the table where Reggie had migrated. He’d already poured us a round of shots and started to hand them out. I refused mine while Shane and Amie took theirs.
“Where are your friends?” I asked Shane. I hadn’t met any of his dance crew yet, and I was curious.
“I’ll bring them over later,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I want to hear more about your audition.”
Amie threw herself on the couch next to me. “Theo’s choreography was insane.” She did a little couch-dance version of the routine that had the table howling while Shane practically salivated in his seat. I had to do a double take of Amie to see if she was already drunk but quickly realized it was just her personality—loud and proud. Like Shane. No wonder I gravitated toward her today.
“Oh. My. God.” Shane was shaking his head and waving his hand over his face while he watched Amie’s version of Theo’s choreography. “I would swallow that man whole if he’d have me.”
I giggled and nudged his side. “Don’t get your hopes up. You’d be fired for even speaking about him under the contract we had to sign today.”
Shane’s eyes grew wide. “Say what? Tell me more.”
Reggie slammed his shot glass down and pulled another one to his lips. “Trust me, guys, Theo is not someone you want to fuck around with, anyway.”
Amie ignored him and leaned over my lap to fill Shane in. “There’s a no-fraternization policy.”
“But it would be so worth it,” Shane groaned.
“She’s serious,” I added. “Backup Dancer shall not initiate, engage in, speak of, or entertain romantic relationship with hired Choreographer. In turn, Choreographer shall not initiate, engage in, speak of, or entertain romantic relationship with contracted Backup Dancer.” I recited the terms as well as I could remember them, but I knew there was more to it.
“Paying a little too much attention to Section Four of the rule book, aren’t you, Lex?” Reggie narrowed his eyes at me.
Amie snorted. “Says the guy who knew which section of the rule book it was.”
Shane and I laughed with her. Reggie remained stoic on his corner of the couch. “Doesn’t matter, anyway. Theo has a rule about fucking around with anyone who works with him. Especially backup dancers. He won’t cross that line. He cares too much about his job and reputation. But the artist, however”—Reggie threw up his hands—“that’s fair game.”
Amie’s jaw dropped. “You’re saying Winter and Theo?”
Reggie nodded, and something twisted uncomfortably in my gut. “Yup. How do you think he got the gig?”
Shane and I exchanged glances. I was sure we were thinking the same thing, only he was bold enough to spit it out. “Because he’s one of the best choreographers in the world. He’s choreographed for her before. It’s not like the guy came out of the woodwork.”
Reggie shrugged, looking unconvinced. “All I’m saying is there’s something between them.”
“Well”—Amie looked around at us—“I guess they’d be cute together. Right?”
“The cutest,” Shane answered dryly.
I didn’t say a word.