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Funny how I’d never made friends at dance.
Any of the girls I befriended eventually quit dance.
Most of the faces reflected in the glass reminded me of the girls who stayed.
Victoria was in her element after I made my request. “So, what you’re saying is that you expect us to schedule our practices around your work schedule?”
“No,” I replied evenly. “I’m asking if it’s a possibility. I don’t have a lot of control over my travel schedule. This group is important to me. That’s why I put it together. I don’t want to lose it.”
She laughed. “You’re pulling the ‘I put it together card’?”
I leveled her with the stare I usually reserved for ratface. “I’m expressing how much dance means to me. I’m asking if we can be flexible.”
“I think you’re asking too much,” Victoria confidently retorted.
“I’m not asking you. I’m asking them.” I turned to the rest of the team. A myriad of emotions reflected between them. My gaze bounced from one face to the next before returning to Victoria’s smug look. I looked back at the other girls. “Please think about it and let me know.”
“Maybe you should just hand over the books now?” Victoria suggested.
The books. With the name I copyrighted. The contacts I painstakingly sought out. The practice space I secured funding for.
I considered her. For a moment, her confidence faltered, then she yanked it back around her like a cloak.
“No. I don’t think so, Victoria. I can always put together another team. I’m going to keep the contacts I made. The copyright to the name is mine. The funding for the practice space? Mine as well. You want to go out on your own? You go out on your own.”
Turning to the other girls, I attempted to soften my features. “I understand if you’d like to go with Victoria. No hard feelings. Please be kind enough to let me know what you’d like to do within the next few days.”
As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Victoria’s slack features, her mouth open in surprise. A bitter satisfaction twisted in my chest. This was not the outcome she had hoped for. It was not the outcome I wanted, either. But I was not about to hand over all my hard work and walk away.
Even if they decided to walk away from me.
She-Beast
Hope
Blissed out on a week of hot sex and what felt frighteningly close to love, I relaxed back in my seat across from Ava.
“Ah,” I breathed. “I love the smell of coffee.”
“I don’t need any more caffeine right now,” Ava muttered.
In front of Ava sat a decaf tea made more palatable with artificial sweetener.
I looked down at the three pastries on my plate because I couldn’t make up my mind. “Are you sure you don’t want one?”
“Ha! I’m gaining weight just sharing the same air as them.”
I frowned but refused to entertain her self-deprecating comments. Online, she was fierce. Occasionally, small setbacks plagued her. I’d learned to ignore them. She didn’t thank me when I called her on it.
“Why are you nervous?” I looked at Ava, busily rubbing her palms down the front of her jeans. “Shouldn’t he be nervous?” A thought hit me. “Fuck, should I be nervous?”
Eyes dancing, Ava barked out a laugh. “You’re so damn awkward!”
I guffawed. “I know. I told you about the fist bump and the finger guns?”
“No!” She exclaimed, twisting to face me. “Hurry up and tell me before he gets here. I need this information immediately.”
By the time Ares arrived at the café, Ava was doubled over with tears running down her cheeks.
