Page 72 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

I bit my bottom lip and nodded. “Then I’ll tell Gem you’ll work on the sets next week.”

“Next week. I’ll be here.”

I tried to meet his gaze squarely. I tried to sound solid and firm. But my voice was a breathy little tremble as I said, “And I won’t be.”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.

On shaky, wooden legs, I turned and walked back to the amphitheater.

Chapter 28

Theo

ROCHELLE’S APARTMENT

Friday Night

“How was it?” Rochelle asked Kira, and, on instinct, I turned and walked out of the room.

After rehearsals, I put my arm around my giddy teenage daughter, led her through the city streets, and into the subway. We had plans to meet Rochelle for a late dinner at her apartment.

Although, ‘apartment’ seemed like the wrong word to describe my sister’s home. Her Upper West Side luxury space was a few floors below the penthouse, but it was no less impressive. It had large square windows set in dove-white walls and a view of New York’s famous skyline.

Then there was the dining room, the twelve-person solid mahogany table that went unused, her cinema-sized TV plastered against one wallpapered feature wall, the modern marble-laden kitchen, and artfully tiled bathrooms.

Her home was a masterpiece.

And I took my time wandering through it, pausing every now and then to look at the artwork lining her walls, so my daughter would have a chance to talk to her aunt about… rehearsals. She wouldn’t want her father listening in on the details.

But I definitely didn’t wander far enough. I could still hear Kira gush.

“It was so good. He has, like, this bit of stubble, and I never really thought much about it before, but when he rubbed it across my chin, it kind of hurt–but in a good way? Is that why men don’t shave? And his lips were so soft. He had gum, so his breath was okay, and I liked that we got to do it a few times because–”

“Okay, wow. Slow down.” Rochelle breathed out a laugh. “I’m glad he didn’t chew your face off, but it was just a kiss, Kira.”

I peered around the corner and watched my daughter shake her head. “I’ve kissed other guys before, and it wasn’t like this.”

“What do you mean ‘like this’?” Rochelle asked.

“I mean, like, um… like my stomach gets all light and tingly. And I feel warm all over.”

Rochelle hummed.

Kira put her hand to her chest. “It’s like I’m floating in here, like there’s some kind of–”

“–Glow. You’re glowing.” I watched Rochelle soften.

“That’s what it feels like. And like I didn’t get enough, if that makes sense?”

Rochelle laughed again, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to be a part of this. I stepped back into the room, and both of them turned to face me as I said, “It makes sense.”

Kira pulled a face. “Dad, you said you wouldn’t listen.”

I lifted a shoulder and joined them on the sofa. “I know, but your aunt’s walls are paper-thin. I didn’t have a choice.”

“He’s right, though,” Rochelle added. “It does make sense. Do you know how hard it is to find someone you actually like kissing? Kissing is gross. Between bad breath and sloppy tongue–”

“Ew.”