“I don’t want to seem like a little kid by asking him about the labels.”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to know where you stand with the guy you’re going home with every night.”
“I know. You’re right. Things are just really good right now,” she said, biting her lip. And what if she asked him for a commitment and that was the end of it? She wasn’t prepared to risk it.
“I just don’t want to see your heart get broken, doll,” he said. “I can’t even give him the whole hurt-her-and-you-die spiel since you won’t let me meet him.”
“As much as I appreciate that you’ve worked up aspiel, I’m okay. Really.”
Jeff glanced at the music building to be sure the others were gone before he spoke again. “Bobby saw Aidan last weekend,” he said. “I guess Aidan invited him to grab a drink and –”
“Good for him,” she said, in a hurry to be done with this conversation. She didn’t want to think about Aidan. She wanted to go stare at Liam some more and think about how good he would taste when she sucked his cock later.
“He told Bobby that the university is going to name the theater after him. Something about his father making a big donation.”
Min sighed, resigning herself to the topic at hand. “Yeah, I heard that might happen.”
Jeff looked surprised and she immediately realized her mistake. How would she have heard about the confidential negotiations for a major gift to the university?Shit.
Thankfully, Jeff didn’t press the issue, though he eyed her carefully as he continued. “He said it’s not a done deal, but I thought you should know.” He hesitated before lowering his voice and continuing, “Maybe it’s time you told someone on the faculty what happened.”
“No.” Her stomach churned as it rebelled at the idea. She shook her head.
“Mel, you can’t let them put his name on a building like some kind of hero or something.”
“His name is already on buildings all over the country,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the sick feeling growing in her stomach.
“But notours,” Jeff said. “You have to –”
“I’m sorry,” she said, swallowing down the lump in her throat before meeting her best friend’s eyes, hoping he could see how badly she wished it were that simple. “If it makes me a horrible person to keep this to myself –”
“That’s not what I meant,” he said. “You didn’t do anything wrong, and I understand why you don’t want to file a report. But if you would talk to –”
“I can’t.”
“Hey! Get your lazy asses in here!” Bobby called from the double doors of the music building. “Tammy’s ready to start!”
“Be right there,” Jeff called back. Again, he waited until they were alone before he continued. “You know I support you, whether or not you tell anyone else. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I promise,” she said, and she meant it, though she doubted her decision would change.
By the time Jeff and Min entered the rehearsal room, their castmates had swarmed Karen, the costumer, and her racks of colorful costumes. Liam was nowhere to be found – it would be at least an hour until the costumes were squared away, so he was likely in his office, getting some work done before they would dive into the actual rehearsing. They only had two weeks left of rehearsals – with Thanksgiving break right in the middle. She suspected he was poring over scores, trying to finalize the decision for the winter production.
Min was so distracted by her conversation with Jeff – should she ask Liam if he was her boyfriend? Should she tell him about Aidan? make a report to the university? or suck it up and get used to the fact that Aidan Dietrich’s name was about to be permanently emblazoned on her most sacred space on campus? – that she almost missed it when her name was called to meet with Karen.
First, she tried on her costume for theManon: a corset, two petticoats, and a dressing gown. Despite being the period’s idea of undergarments, she was more covered in voluminous pleats and ruffles than most costumes she’d worn before.
The costume forHoffmannwas another story entirely. Min stared at the thin white silk chemise on the hanger in disbelief. It was low cut and short enough that it would hit well above her knees. Karen handed her a second hanger with a blood red silk bathrobe, thankfully floor length. Min’s mouth hung open, imagining being on stage in the white fabric when the lights hit her. Every jiggle of her thighs and belly would be visible through the thin material.
“Don’t you think this is a little sheer?” she asked.
Karen smiled, trying to be reassuring. “You’ll wear the corset fromManonunderneath. That should help.”
It would make it harder to see through the chemise, but the corset would also enhance her cleavage. She fingered the low-cut neckline of the chemise, doubting it would do much to conceal anything. “It’s a little short and I have to fall at the end of the scene. The front row might get an eye full.”
Karen nodded again, looking thoughtful. “Go try it on – here, take the corset, too – and we’ll figure it out.”
Min took the white corset Karen held out to her and folded it over her arm with the two hangers before disappearing into the closest dressing room. Thankfully, the corset was a modern design with eye hooks down the front. Karen had already adjusted the lacing at the back to fit her measurements, so the corset provided just enough support for her diaphragm to push against without being so tight that it negatively affected her breathing.
