Page 43 of Dancing With Lies

Emily looked over at Lincoln, her claws out and ready to attack. “Nothing, I’ll explain tomorrow, okay? It wasn’t Lincoln.”

“Good. I’d hate to claw his eyes out, they’re so pretty.” Emily giggled, as if she’d had a drink too many. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Roxie smiled and hugged her friend.

“If you need us, Lincoln, you have my number,” Dylan said, and Roxie noted how their eyes caught and something passed between them. Lincoln nodded and bumped fists with Dylan.

“We’ll be fine, thanks though,” Lincoln answered and the couple left.

“Where should we go?” Roxie looked around, noting there weren’t that many people left.

“How about out to the back deck.” Lincoln offered and walked into the kitchen. “I see four beers left and I have a feeling Kai and the new girl of his dreams are the only ones left.”

“Oh, I think there’s some up in the attic, but they’ll let themselves out when they’re ready. Can I change first? I feel a little exposed in this outfit.” She looked down at the kimono and back at him.

“Of course, you can use my room if you want. I locked the door earlier, just to keep it clean.” His lips curved into a self-aware smile.

“I told everyone to avoid it anyway.” She said and smiled back. “I didn’t expect you to quite be ready to share every room of your home with strangers.”

“Thanks.”

She went into his room, changed into a pair of black shorts and a tank top, and found him at a table and chairs on the porch a few minutes later. “This is better.”

“I liked the kimono.” He took a swallow of the beer and looked out at the ocean.

“I do too, I just need to feel…in control.” She sat down and picked up one of the bottles of beer. It was an import, so she picked up the bottle opener to peel the metal cap off. “It’s so nice out here.”

“I knew I’d made the right decision that first night. I sat out here and fell even more in love with the place.” He leaned back in his chair, rocking back on the legs. “It’s a little slice of heaven I wouldn’t have in New York.”

“I do miss proper pizza, though.” She admitted with a broad smile.

“I’ve seen a few places that sell New York-style pizza.” He argued, but she shook her head vigorously.

“It’s not the same, even when it’s a New Yorker making it. I think it’s the atmosphere I miss.”

He had the sense not to probe too much. She’d have gone out for pizza with her friends, her parents, his sister more than likely, and that was what she really missed. It was also one of the reasons she’d left New York. She’d never have those moments with her parents again and going anywhere near June might have exposed her to things she didn’t want to face.

She was certain her parents had been killed, that her dad got too greedy and tried to screw over the wrong mafia boss or some shit like that. Either way, her parents had done something to get themselves killed. She’d never believed the suicide angle, not really. She’d seen what those men did to her dad, and then she’d seen them outside the house the night of the fire. They were there for a reason, and it wasn’t to offer to hold a firehose.

Going anywhere near June would have put them all in danger. For a moment, she remembered the taste of lip balm and the sweet nostalgia of reading a hidden love note. A million years ago, when she still believed princes and fairytale endings existed outside of the ballet. Not so much, these days.

“What did you see that you liked tonight?” She asked, falling back into facilitator mode.

“You getting into my car as the police drove away with Nathan in theirs.” He answered but cringed when he saw her glare. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. But I did mean here.”

“I don’t know. I’m not afraid of any of it. I’m just not feeling it right now, does that make sense? I know I asked you for all of this, but maybe I should have waited.”

“I can see that,” Roxie replied. “Sometimes it takes time to find the right thing. You’ll know when you’ve found what you like best, it’ll make you absolutely buzz.”

“I like that. Buzzing would be good.” He paused, frowned, then went on. “Not that I mean I want to get high, but that’s how Kai describes it. Like being naturally high.”

“I guess it is, yeah. Sex isn’t just about your dick or my tits. It’s not even about the orgasm really. It’s about getting there.”

His eyes drilled into hers and she remembered a night when a young man did everything he could to make sure she enjoyed the getting there. Her heart pulsed hard and fast before it settled down again. He was remembering it too; she could see it in the way his nostrils flared.

“It was a long time ago, but I think I know what you mean.” He finally said after another minute passed. “I’ll have to see what other ways there are to explore this darker world of yours.”