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“I can out-stubborn the best. Same time next week?”
“Thanks, Andra.”
After hanging up, I swayed on the swing and stared at the thick, green grass of the park. I needed good money and a long-term job. Scrolling through job postings nearby, I was ready to give up when I spotted Vienne leaving the diner with Catherine and a guy who slouched like he wanted to be anywhere but upright. Jumping off the swing, I jogged across the street, my sandals slapping the pavement.
My scratches were healing quickly, but I’d picked a shorts jumpsuit with a longer hem to cover them in case I ran across the Knights.
I wasn’t spending my time in the park in hopes I’d see them. Not at all.
My body hadn’t quit burning since that last talk with Cody before I left yesterday.
Who was I kidding? I’d been in an ignited state since I’d met him, but after he swung me around the dining room and kitchen and I’d been pressed for brief seconds against his hard body, I’d been smoldering.
Catherine saw me, a spark of interest lighting her eyes before she reframed into a scowl. She tugged on her mom’s hand.
I slowed. “Hey, Vienne.”
The guy kept going, but Vienne stopped. Her gaze lit up. “Tova, hi.”
“I forgot to stop over and ask Catherine for your number.” I’d been too distracted, wishing Cody had a milk mustache I could lick off. “I wanted to check if there’s an evening that works each week for the two of you.” I gave Catherine a smile. “That is, if you want to work with me. It doesn’t matter. Whatever moves you want—if I don’t know them, we can learn them together—except for ballet. And fair warning, I suck at tap, but I was in lessons for a couple of years.”
She shrugged, but the interest was back. “I like, um, just like...whatever. It doesn’t matter.”
“Freestyle it is.” I grinned, loving how easily she broke. My attempts to reach out weren’t for nothing. “You can pick a song, and we’ll come up with choreography.”
I glanced at Vienne, but she spun and waved at the guy who was squinting at us like he didn’t realize he’d ditched two whole people. “We’ll be right there,” she called to him, giving me a frantic smile. Did the woman always act like she was twenty minutes late for a meeting? “That’s Theo. My fiancé.”
Catherine rolled her eyes, and her lower lip stuck out. Was it because of the fiancé part or the Theo part?
“Nice to...meet him.” I was glad I didn’t have to experience a limp handshake with the guy. I could feel his clammy palm just by looking at him.
Vienne was so chic and energetic, and he was...not.
Vienne juggled her bag with her phone. She wore fewer bracelets today, no glasses, and was dressed down in white linen shorts and a loose beige shirt. “Oh, here.” She thrust her phone at me. “Call yourself.”
Thankfully, the burner phone’s number was branded into my brain. I’d add a better phone to my long list of items I had to get for myself once I paid for Mom’s care for July and settled a few debts with Thelma. I dialed it in, then hung up after a few rings.
“How about Thursdays?” Catherine asked abruptly.
Vienne’s light brows rose. “Oh, um...works for me.” She looked hopefully at me.
“Once a week until we know it’s working out?” I asked.
Catherine nodded, excited, then switched quickly to subdued. “Sure.”
“I’ll double-check with Cody, but getting away for an hour should be fine. If he has a meeting or something, we can always reschedule.”
A honk made us all jump. Vienne winced and glanced back at Theo, her mouth pressed in a line. “We’ve gotta go, but if it’s fine with Cody, come on over this week.”
She flashed a quick smile and dragged Catherine to Theo’s sport utility truck.
That guy was a douche from what I could tell. Single had to be better, but I didn’t live Vienne’s life, and I wasn’t one to talk. I let Frederick make me think he was my knight in a crisp Tom Ford.
I wandered back to the park and perched on the swing. I stared at my phone for several minutes and finally called Cody. Calling him had nothing to do with wanting to hear his voice or missing spending the day with him and the kids. He had to clear my lessons with Catherine.
His deep “Hello” rumbled through my body. That voice.
“Hey, it’s Tova.”
