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“Never forget, it’s not just your spine you’re trying to align, my girl. It’s your soul. Dance so the world can see just how beautiful it is.”
“Okay.” I bend over and press my palms to my thighs. “I can do better.”
“Can you?” Mom moves behind me, so we’re standing together in the mirror, and waits for me to straighten. Then she lifts my arms up, positioning them in Grande pose. “Because if this is too much, too fast, you don’t have to take the audition.” She adjusts the tilt of my head and smiles. “The stars will align again. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
She slides her hands down to my hips and rests them there, happy with my form. “You have to believe that. The universe isa funny thing. And you might not be given what you want, but you’re always given what you need.”
She steps away, and I consider telling her to cancel the audition.
That’s what Brynlee wanted.
She was furious when I told her I was taking it and hasn’t spoken to me since.
But this doesn’t hurt. Though it doesn’t exactly feel good.
But I’m a professional. I can handle discomfort.
The bells above the front door of the studio chime. And as Mom steps out into the waiting room we call the fishbowl, I lift up onto my toes and balance in a beautiful arabesque.
I’ve always loved the lines of this position. But today, my muscles strain holding something I’ve been able to maintain easily for over a decade.
I stand in the center of my favorite of all of Mom’s studios.
With it’s gorgeous arched windows, white gauzy curtains, and beautiful natural lighting that filters in here, it’s been my favorite place in the world for most of my life. My refuge when I needed to just dance through whatever problems I was having. This was the space I always ran to. But today... right now, it’s the first time I feel like I’m running away instead of running to something.
“Honey.” Mom steps into the room and looks at me through the reflection. “Ares is here, asking for you.”
“Really?”What the hell is he thinking?
Mom nods but doesn’t question me.
She’s probably saving that for later. “I’m going to go grab lunch with Amelia at Sweet Temptations. Do you want anything?”
“No, thank you. I’ll see you at your house tonight if I’m not here when you get back.”
“Would you mind locking up? I’m not coming back. I need to grocery shop for dinner tonight. Daddy wants to grill ribs.”
“Sure, Mom. Thanks.” I follow her into the fishbowl and know right away Ares is pissed. But right about now, so am I.
“See you tonight, Annabelle,” he tells her as she grabs her bag and walks out the front door.
I flip the sign to closed and lock the door behind my mom, then turn around. “What are you doing here?”
“What areyoudoing here?” His words are clipped and angry. And the way he looks at me isn’t something I’ve ever seen from him before. It’s cruel.
He stalks my way until I’m forced to take a few steps back. “When were you going to tell me you were auditioning for a new company?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him truthfully. “Tonight?” I answer, but I know I phrased it as a question for a reason. “It only just happened yesterday.”
I don’t lie to this man.
To myself.Yes.
To my family.Possibly.
To Ares.Never.
“Have you been cleared, good twin? Did Brynlee say you’re okay to dance? Because you had your boot on two days ago when we were all at West End. You hadn’t danced yet then. Or had you and you justforgotto tell me that too?”
