Page 57 of Sway

“Awesome, Dolla. Do that again and keep your frame. I’ll be right back.” I take a deep breath then head over to Jenny, stopping momentarily to adjust Tim’s back. “You gotta arch it out, Big Boy. There, that’s it.” I slap his butt and move on. Damn, Jen’s got taste, I’ll give her that . . .

I slip into the chair opposite Jenny. “So . . . need help?”

She doesn’t even look up from her book. “No. I was looking up the name of a step. I’m fine.”

“Oh.” I don’t even know the names of half the steps because I learned them in Russian. I sit there a minute, watching as she flips to the next page then flips back again. Tiny creases appear on her forehead, the kind she gets when she’s just about to throw something. I just hope it’s not that book . . . at me. “Alright, Jen. Enough. I’m sorry, okay?” She closes the book and lays it flat, her hands on top, but she still doesn’t look at me. “I never meant to insult you. Really I didn’t. I’m just stressed out about the finale. You know I don’t mind helping you out.” I reach over then hesitate—afraid she’s going to pull away—before resting my hands on hers. She lets them stay. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth about Genya. I just wanted some time alone with him before it got out and I had to deal with the press, that’s all. It’s not that I thought you’d tell anyone. Hell, you’d rip your own tongue out before you’d do that, I know. I just wanted to keep it private, just for a couple of days. There’s nothing private in the dance world. Ever.”

She finally looks up at me, the creases gone from her forehead. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that you slept with Genya. And calling me out in front of Vika, Dolla, and especially Tim is a bitchy thing to do.”

“It is.” I nod my head.

“Friends don’t do that to friends.”

“They don’t.” I put on my most solemn face and shake my head side to side.

Jenny points her finger at me. “Salomé Maria Sanchez. Are you ever going to lie to me again?”

She’s so dramatic. I didn’t actually lie to her. Not worth the fight, though. “Never. I swear.” I cross my heart and spit in my palm like every good schoolgirl knows to do. “I’ll tell you everything. I’ll even call you next time we’re in bed and give you a play by play.” I stick out my hand to shake.

She shoves my hand away. “That’s disgusting! Fine. You’re forgiven.” She finally smiles the old Jenny smile and gives me big hug. “And thank God for it already—Diana needs saving and that’s going to take both of us. She’s been trying out with Jared. She swears she’s not dating Benny, but I don’t know what to believe.”

God, this girl lives for drama. “Don’t worry, we’ll deal with Diana after the finale. For now, throw that fucking book away, will you? I’ll get your paso up to par.” I wiggle my ass and strut toward the dance floor. “Salomé is In. Da. House!”

I parade over to Dolla and take his hand. “It’s a deal. You have yourself a tour choreographer.” I prepare to shake on it but Dolla lifts me in the air and spins me around.

“That’s what I’m talking about girl. It’s going to be fierce. You won’t regret it.”

He’s right. For the first time in my life I’m going to live my life how I want to live it. Not what my partner, my boyfriend, my parents, my coach, or my friends want, but just for me.