“CHRISTOPHE WOULD LIKE TO MEET you in the studio,” Irena said when I entered his office. “The class has finished.”
I thanked her for the information despite already knowing the joint program class had ended. In fact, I’d waited until I saw Tyler and his teammates leave before heading inside the New York Ballet building. It had only been a week since we were together at his parents. Logically, I had no right to be upset since Tyler and I weren’t in a relationship, but the intimacy we had shared left me feeling wounded by him being with another woman right after we were together. My suspicions at his behavior had turned out to be not just my imagination.
Zoey had sat me down after practice and showed me the photos of him with another woman from several online sources well before he mentioned being with her on our phone call. She hadn’t wanted to hurt my feelings, but thought I needed to keep perspective.
She told me, “I know he’s great. I adore my brother, but this is why I didn’t want you to get involved with him. I know you said it’s just about sex, but I don’t want you to get hurt thinking about the two of you being in a relationship.”
Sure enough, when I went to look at them, Tyler was wearing the same clothes he’d worn the night we were together in the snapshots with his “friend.” After that, it didn’t make sense to turn down the double date she kept offering.
Tyler must have gone to her and gotten what he really wanted—sex without all the hang-ups. What had I expected? He was a grown, sexually potent man with needs. He wasn’t going to keep playing sex lessons, nor had he made any promises or offered a commitment. He was only being friendly by helping me out. In all honesty, it was better that we had stopped before we were discovered.
Then, why did I feel so awful? Because I wanted him. Because of how respectful he was to me when we were alone, how easy he was to talk to. He was kind, patient, protective, manly, and everything I’d ever wanted, and those moments when I was vulnerable, he didn’t make me feel bad. When he touched me, nothing else mattered; there was only the two of us. Undoubtedly, I was completely lost in him. Being with him had deepened my feelings, and since it was one-sided, I needed to work to get past it—at least that was what I kept telling myself as I went into the changing room. It had all but cleared, with just Yasmine and Claudette left, and they thankfully had but a few minutes before they needed to be in their next practice.
“He said he wants to wait until after he’s finished with the program to see me, but I think someone else has gotten to him first.” I overheard Yasmine bragging. I wasn’t one for eavesdropping, but what she said made my ears perk up to tune in.
“Who are you talking about?” Claudette asked in a hushed tone.
Thank you, Claudette, for asking. I wanted to know too.
“Tyler,” Yasmine said, her voice singing out to let me know it wasn’t just for their ears. If Tyler hadn’t told me she was trying to practice with him, I would’ve thought there was more to it. Still, jealousy swirled through me. I had turned him away; was Tyler now interested in her?
Yasmine had my full attention now. As I came around the corner, I felt her gaze burning into me while I twisted my hair into a bun. I focused on keeping my hands steady.
“He’s the whole package, but who would want to deal with Zoey?” Claudette snickered.
“Don’t talk about Zoey,” I grated.
“If you don’t like what I’m saying, don’t listen,” Yasmine said in a snippy tone.
“Then stop yelling loud enough for me to hear,” I snapped.
She came over to where I was and leaned on the locker next to me. “As I was saying, Claudette, I swear I saw Tyler leaving the hookup spot around the building. I didn’t see who else was there, but I do think he’s keen on someone here.”
Oh no! My stomach bunched up in knots. I had been careful that day, taking the long way back to get inside the building, but would her suspicion be enough to make waves? I took a deep breath and reminded myself I was there at Christophe’s request. True, being caught with Tyler would be a risk, but it was one I didn’t have anymore. He had moved on.
“Great, Scarlet,” Zoey said, alerting me of her presence. “Our dates are picking us up at two o’clock tomorrow. I set our spa appointment for ten, or is that too early?”
“Dates?” Yasmine repeated.
Zoey smirked at her. “I’m talking with Scarlet.”
I wanted to hug Zoey for her timing. “Ten sounds great,” I enthused.
Yasmine and Claudette grabbed their stuff and headed out, and I let myself sink down on the bench. “I’m glad you agreed to go. As I told Tyler when he called to yell at me about talking you into this date, you deserve to have fun.”
“He was upset?” My heart skipped a beat at just the thought of Tyler being angry at the thought of me with another man.
She bit her lip. “Forget about it. He has no say—and anyway, Quinn is sweet, like you. He’s pretty much perfect.”
“Sure.” I averted my eyes. “See you tomorrow.”
I got up and went into the studio, where Christophe was waiting for me. He made me warm up before he called me over to speak with him.
“Something is going on with you this last month. You’ve become inconsistent.”
I lowered my head. “I’m sorry you have found me lacking.”
“You are not lacking,” he said. “If you were, I would’ve moved on from you or placed you back in the corps.”
I closed my eyes while chaos raged within me. If I didn’t have ballet, I had nothing. Now, I understood what Tyler had meant. It wasn’t good to have all your eggs in one basket.
“I’m not demoting you,” he said, and I let go of the breath I’d been holding. “Even on your worst day, you are still better than some of our soloists. Even I would not stop your rise. I just need to know what is in your head so I can help you. Is it your mom?”
“I’m worried about her,” I said.
Christophe put his arm around my shoulder. “She’s a strong woman. She will be fine. Now tell me the truth.”
“I…I mean, I don’t know,” I stammered.
“You have feelings for someone,” he said. “I can see love’s bedlam a mile away. It had to happen to you sometime, but you must learn to channel those feelings and not let it affect your dancing.”
“Yes, Christophe,” I said, and he squeezed my shoulder. “Though, I must admit, I’ve found your sadness stirring. So much so, since Irena will be on holiday, I’d like for you to assist me in a few classes, including the joint sports program. I’m going to start working on the solo. It will be two athletes, with one being the alternates. Working with me doesn’t mean I have changed my mind about including you in the performance, understood?”
I smiled. It was an opportunity I’d never pass up. “Thank you. I’d be honored. Who are the two athletes?”
“Javier and Tyler, who seems to have developed a little crush on you,” he said in annoyance.
I shrugged noncommittally. “I don’t know.”
“All right. The practice will be you helping me with Yasmine. Claudette will be her alternate,” he said.
I nodded, but my heart constricted for Zoey not being chosen, though I imagined it was because he was leaning toward using Tyler and the sensual nature of the dance wasn’t suitable for siblings. I was happy for the opportunity for Tyler.
“I will be working with Tyler and Javier, though I haven’t decided who would be the alternate,” Christophe sighed. “I understand from Michel that he was asked to provide Tyler with private lessons?”
I averted my eyes. “He mentioned it.”
“And you suggested it,” Christophe said. “I’m all for it, but I did ask him to offer the opportunity to all the players. We’ll all meet soon to go over the solo dance.”
I plastered on a smile. I couldn’t say no, though I had to wonder how this would possibly work, but I wouldn’t tell Christophe anything but positives. “Yes. Whatever you need.”
“Well then,” he said. “That means you will start learning the dance with me now.”
I took a deep breath. He was done with praise and was ready to move on, and I was to dance as his lover under his command.
By the end of our practice, I was exhausted. Christophe was, as always, hard to please, and as always, I was a better dancer for it. He’d given me a special opportunity to work with him, something he only gave his principal dancers. I wouldn’t pass up the chance, even if it put me right back with Tyler, because deep down I knew despite everything that had happened, it was where I wanted to be.
After our talk, Christophe didn’t complain about me during any of my practices the next day. Following my usual routine of practice, Pilates, and some technical training with Priscilla and Michel, I finally went about getting ready for the double date. It was too late to back out, though I wasn’t looking forward to it. Even though I needed to get over Tyler, just the thought of being with someone else had my stomach churning. Still, I owed it to myself to try to move on.
Zoey and I decided to leave from my place since the spa she’d booked was closer to the movie we were going for our date. I wasn’t keen on the sci-fi choice, but Zoey thought seeing it would give us something to talk about over the meal we had planned at their place afterward.
“Kyle is a games designer,” she said as we dressed. “Quinn is a programmer at the same company.”
“Emono Games,” I echoed. She had been testing me on everything about my date as I brushed my hair down my back, despite it being one of the hottest days in July. We were going to be in a cool theater, I had reminded myself.
We were dressed like twins in our pastel floral dresses and wedge sandals. We’d even chosen the same shade of pink for our fingernails and toes. A little lip gloss was enough for me to finish, though Zoey chose a full face of makeup.
While I was enjoying the air conditioning, Tyler was stuck outside in the heat. He had a game that day.
Tyler…
He was all I could think about, even then as I got dressed for a date with another guy. I had sent him a message that morning, wishing him a good game, but he hadn’t responded to my feeble attempt at trying for a friendship. I didn’t know how friendship with him could possibly work, but I wanted to try, and we were going to have to find some way to coexist since we had to practice together soon. It wasn’t his fault I had feelings for him. I sighed heavily.
“Scarlet, come on,” Zoey said, shaking my shoulders. “You’ve got a sour look on your face. Quinn’s a sweet guy, you’ll see.”
I gave her a nod and when my phone alerted me of an incoming text, I jumped up out of my seat to retrieve it.
Tyler.Wilson: Have fun on your date.
I swallowed hard. I don’t want anyone but you.
Once we were ready, we decided to wait for them downstairs. When they arrived, they both came into the lobby to greet us. Kyle had just-rolled-out-of-bed auburn hair with a beard, and he was wearing a printed T-shirt and camouflaged pants with fancy shoes. He took my hand and held it until I looked up into his green eyes. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard great things about you.” I smiled at him and Zoey, whom he next took in his arms and kissed.
Quinn, my date, stepped up to me next. His blond hair was equally tousled, and he was dressed in an Emono Games T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers I envied. “I like your shoes,” I said in greeting.
He adjusted his dark rimmed glasses. “They may have something similar for women, I haven’t checked.”
I opened my mouth to tell him I was just giving him a compliment, but decided it wasn’t worth explaining. I put out my hand to shake. “Scarlet.”
He looked at it. “I don’t shake hands.”
I raised my brows. “Oh.”
“Sorry, Scarlet,” Zoey said, coming over to us. “Quinn’s a bit of a germaphobe.”
“I’m not really a germaphobe. It’s more that I’m careful around people I’m unfamiliar with, but I do carry hand sanitizer. I don’t want to get sick. Have you been sick recently?” He held up a small bottle for me to squirt in my hand and I reluctantly took his offer. The moisture quickly evaporated, and the acrid alcohol stung my nostrils.
I blinked at him. “No, I haven’t.”
Zoey let out a laugh. “I’ll take some too. Now none of us will get sick.”
I stared at her in disbelief. I supposed she was trying to smooth things over, but I couldn’t stop the annoyance that had sprung up inside of me. Kyle stepped up, breaking up the moment.
“I’m okay with hands,” Kyle said, grasping my hand and bringing it up to his lips to brush the back.
I didn’t know what to do and let my hand drop back at my side. He then did the same to Zoey and she laughed.
“Let’s get going,” Zoey announced, and we walked out of the building.
“Are you a fan of Wraithbone like the rest of us?” Quinn asked on the sidewalk.
My lips parted. “No. I’d never heard of it until the movie came out.”
He groaned. “Great. I guess that means I’ll have to explain everything that happens.”
I curled my lip up. “I’m sure I can figure it out.”
He folded his arms. “You might be capable of following the film, but the comic is much more detailed. Even if you could follow along, I doubt you’d be able to appreciate it.”
I pursed my lips. “Perhaps not.” What I would appreciate is going back upstairs and ending this date right now.
“Do you dance ballet?” he asked, and I nodded. “Do you do anything else? I mean, it must be boring to just dance all the time.”
I folded my arms. “Ballet’s not boring if you appreciate it. I mean, if all I did was read Wraithbone, I’d be bored too.”
“Scarlet.” Zoey laughed to cover up my rude response, but I didn’t care. “I’m sure Quinn didn’t mean any harm. He’s heard about our workload and thought it was a bit consuming.”
“I don’t just analyze Wraithbone in my spare time. You took it the wrong way. I was merely curious,” he said indignantly. “I mean, I program, but I also do other things. I guess that’s why Zoey asked me to go out with you. She said I could share some ideas on what to do with free time.”
I glared at her. I was hardly a charity case. “She asked me to go out with you too.”
Zoey swiped his sleeve. “I didn’t say that. I thought you could share some hobbies. I never said she needed you as her teacher.”
“And I don’t,” I said with a rise to my voice.
“I didn’t say that to upset you,” Quinn said. “I was trying to be helpful.”
“No fighting or arguing.” Kyle came over and put his arms around Quinn and my shoulders, which made my body temperature rise a billion degrees instantly. “We’ve got two beautiful ladies to show a good time. Let’s not blow it.”
I moved out of his arms and went over to stand next to Zoey then Kyle and Quinn stepped to the curb to flag down a taxi.
She whispered in my ear, “I don’t know why he’s behaving this way today. He’s usually really funny.”
I pursed my lips. I hadn’t seen anything humorous in his behavior. “He’s also opinionated and irritating.”
“Please give him a chance,” she pleaded. “We haven’t even gone to the movie yet.”
Kyle called out to us and held the cab door open so we could climb in. Even though Quinn had made a bad first impression, I could at least go on to the next part of the date and maybe get a chance to talk to him on the way in the back of the cab, couldn’t I?
Apparently not.
Quinn got in next to the driver and I was in the back with Zoey and Kyle, which wouldn’t have been so bad if they hadn’t decided to make out for the entire ride to the cinema. Quinn, on the other hand, had plenty to say to the driver. I decided to look at my phone and Google the stats of Tyler’s game; neither side had scored. I reminisced about how much fun I’d had at the game I went to and how great of a time I’d had afterward. Even the fight in the locker room had been better than this date.
When we arrived, I was pleased Quinn let me pay for myself. Tyler would have insisted; then again, he would have never thought himself above explanation. He always found a way to put me at ease, not make me feel excluded. Still, it wasn’t fair to jump to conclusions. I’d barely had a chance to talk with Quinn, and I thought my chance had come. However, he got in the line at the snack bar.
When his turn came, he asked, “Could you tell me exactly how you prepared your snacks that are gluten free? I don’t want cross contamination.”
That conversation caused the manager to come over and discuss the distribution company at length, only for Quinn to purchase a bottle of water. Kyle got a bucket of popcorn for the rest of us to share, though after all that fuss, I had lost my appetite. It wasn’t that I had a problem with gluten-free needs; it was more so the way Quinn seemed pleased with the disruption he was causing. Tyler would have probably called him out on it, and I smiled at the thought of him telling Quinn to research the food on someone else’s time.
Luckily, we didn’t have much time before the show started, so we headed into the theater. Quinn sat between Zoey and me, and I didn’t get a chance to talk to her. When the film that never seemed to end finally finished, I got up and left. Zoey stayed behind with Kyle and Quinn for the credits. Once alone, I tried to think of a reason I could give to leave the date. They came out all full of chatter and when they reached me, I tried to put an effort into participating in their discussion.
“What did you think of the film?” I asked Quinn.
He smirked. “To be honest, it would be too complicated to explain to you what I think.”
I pursed my lips. I was only being polite; I wasn’t in the least interested. “Probably best you don’t. I’d probably tune out if your explanation was excessively bloated with quips designed to isolate anyone who hadn’t studied every Wraithbone comic to date.”
Quinn’s mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”
Kyle put his hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “Let’s chill. We’re having fun.”
“How about we go to the restaurant?” Zoey said with cheeriness in her tone.
“I only eat at—” Quinn started, but I didn’t want to hear another word.
“I’m sick,” I said, interrupting him.
Quinn moved back like he thought I had the plague. “I thought you said you weren’t sick.”
“I think it’s from the heat,” I lied.
Zoey frowned at me, not at all convinced. “If you’re sick, I should go with you.”
“Why, so she can be sick with you watching her?” Quinn said, and it sounded silly. “We can all still go on to the restaurant. You’ll love it.”
“Yes,” Kyle said. “The three of us can still have a meal. We’ve been looking forward to it.” He hugged her from behind and kissed her neck.
She giggled. “Okay.”
Kyle came over to where I stood and gave me a tight smile. “Nice meeting you.”
I shrugged. “Likewise.”
Zoey hugged me quickly and whispered, “He was nervous, but I understand. We’ll talk later.”
Quinn gave me a wave then took out his phone, and that was enough for me. I was quickly moving out the door. He was everything I didn’t want, and now the rest of my evening was free for getting what I did.