CHAPTER 21
Lex
“Rooftop Club tonight, Winter’s Ravens,” Winter hollered as soon as rehearsal ended.
I shivered, repulsed by the nickname she’d branded upon her backup dancers, and frankly everything Winter-related. She irked me, and I knew damn well it had everything to do with Theo.
Winter’s bodyguards were escorting her out as she blew kisses to the dancers who remained. I was taking extra time removing my dance shoes and replacing them with sneakers I could walk home in when Amie nudged me from the side and stifled a laugh. “Hey. You okay? You’ve been kind of pissy all day.”
Her statement probably should have bothered me, but I had been pissy all day. I could feel the negativity spiraling through me, and I was in desperate need of an attitude adjustment. “I’m fine. Just one of those days, I guess.”
“Well, snap out of it. Come to Rooftop tonight. Let loose a little. Reggie offered to drive if you’re in.”
I opened my mouth to back out, but Reggie’s voice carried from a few feet away. “Don’t even think about saying no, Lex. You’re coming. I’ll pick you up at ten.” He didn’t wait for me to argue or even agree. He just walked out of the room.
“Everyone’s coming,” Amie added as she slung her bag over her shoulder. “It’s kind of a bonding thing. As a newbie, you should definitely be there.”
Everyone’s coming. Her words echoed. Did that ‘everyone’ include Theo? Because if I had to sit in the same room as him and Winter while they made out in front of me, I would die a slow and painful death.
Amie pulled me to my feet. My muscles screamed in response. “C’mon.” She smiled. “Go home. Take a hot bath. Grab some dinner. Take a few shots.” She winked. “Or hell, take a nap. Either way, you better be ready for tonight. And look fresh.” She pointed at me in warning as she slipped past the door.
I nibbled on a snack bar as I waited for the rest of the dancers to leave. Soon enough, it was just Theo and me. He’d been on edge all day, and while I was pissed at him for snapping at me, I still wanted to help if I could.
“Lex,” Theo’s voice shot out almost as soon as the door was shut.
Something about his tone frightened me. Not in the way that made me fear my life but in a way that made me want to lock up my heart.
He glanced around the room, obviously making sure I was the only one left. And then he looked me dead in the eye. “Don’t come tonight.”
Three words. And they gutted me, but I didn’t completely know why. His tone was more pleading than demanding.
“Why?” As much as I hated myself for asking, I had to know.
“The same reason you didn’t want anyone to see us together in the staff room. It’s just better this way. It’s work.”
It wasn’t just work, and we both knew it. My heart felt heavy even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. Except … part of me felt as though he had. Something was going on between him and Winter, that much was obvious. She clearly wasn’t hiding her affection for him. But how did he feel about her? Although, it didn’t matter. Theo didn’t owe me a thing.
“That’s a pretty shitty thing for you to ask me.”
His jaw hardened, and he looked away.
I was a fool. Theo and I weren’t in a position to play these games. But one thing was clear after today—I’d have to learn how to deal with these feelings without sacrificing my relationship with the crew. They were all I had left since Shane was gone, and for Theo to ask me to give that up was unacceptable.
I didn’t give him the satisfaction of sticking around and waiting for his apology. Instead, I crumpled the wrapper of my snack bar and walked away. Even after he called for me, I didn’t stop walking until the door to my apartment was shut and locked.