Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I was.” Rudy offered a self-conscious laugh. “I’d arrived at that decision literally seconds earlier, and then there you were behind me like I’d summoned you.”
“Pretty nifty power.” I swung his hand. A few fat flakes of snow fell onto his knit beanie. Thank goodness the weather had cooperated enough to get me here. Let it snow. Getting back to Seattle could be a problem for Sunday night me.
“I promise to only use my superpowers for good.” Dimples on full display, Rudy resumed walking only to stop again in front of the ballet school. “Why did you come, Alexander?”
“I told you. I missed you.” We were so close to his couch, yet so far away. And apparently, Rudy needed more explanation than that because he stayed rooted to the spot. I drew my shoulders up and back, elongated my neck into perfect posture, much as I did before a command performance to quiet my nerves. I certainly had enough nerves here, but I pushed the flock of butterflies aside. “I don’t like who I am without you. I want to make this thing between us work. I love you.”
“Oh wow.” Rudy exhaled hard, breath hanging between us in the frosty air in the longest pause known to humankind. I’d added the I love you so he couldn’t stop me from saying it, but my hands shook with each word. My heart hammered right up until he added, “I love you too.”
“Thank goodness.” I slumped against the building, as spent as if I’d danced an entire performance.
“I want to make this work as well.” He pulled me back to upright, wrapping an arm around my waist as if to steady me. “Turns out the only thing worse than contemplating long distance is trying to do life without you.”
“I want to do life with you.” My lips pursed. I should have added that to my speech. I leaned into Rudy and let him steer us around the building to the back entrance.
“I was too quick to send you away.” He broke away long enough to unlock the door and kept his attention on the lock, not meeting my gaze. “I was scared.”
“I was terrified.” I gathered him to me from behind, inhaling his familiar minty, woolly, all-Rudy scent. “Still am.”
“Me too.” Rudy spun in my embrace to give me a swift kiss. “I don’t have all the answers, but I’m willing to do what it takes to make our love go the distance.”
“I want forever.” I cupped his face in my hands, cold air be damned. I’d stand out here all night if that was what it took.
“Me too.” Rudy offered me another kiss before tugging me into the building and locking the door behind us. “And forever doesn’t have to mean years and years of long distance. My mom is doing really well. She says she wants me to be happy. I could telecommute or move.”
“So could I.” I frowned because I’d practiced my big offer the entire flight here, and he’d beaten me to it.
“No.” Rudy whirled on the stairs, momentarily taller than me, expression fierce as he wagged a finger at me. For a moment, he looked ready to whop me with his game bag. “Tell me you didn’t quit, Alexander. I want your dreams to come true. All of them. I want to see you on stage in February.”
I was insanely glad I hadn’t given in to my initial urge to quit on the spot because Rudy looked willing to drag me back to Seattle with his own two hands if so required.
“You will. I’ll make sure you have great seats.” Trying to soothe his ire, I reached out to pat his hand. “I’m not going to leave Seattle in the lurch for that show, but I’m meeting with Julian Hale while I’m here about options for next season.”
It was a compromise position, less rash and bold than part of me wanted, but there were times when my pragmatic nature was a good thing. I could manage at least one more show, go out on a high note, then explore new possibilities. I was surprisingly excited, but Rudy didn’t look anywhere near as enthusiastic.
“It’s a step backward,” he quoted my own words from the party.
“Not necessarily.” I’d spent all week contemplating who I was as a dancer and what I wanted to achieve with my remaining time on stage. All last year, I’d run from any thought of life after ballet, but for the first time, I saw a glimmer of who I wanted to be, the life I wanted to lead. “It’s a different sort of opportunity to leave my mark.”
“But it means leaving behind your dreams.” Rudy continued to glare at me. The stairwell light flickered like it too was not pleased.
“Dreams can change.” That sounded trite, so I wasn’t surprised when he made a disbelieving noise. I took a breath before trying again. “Victoria called me recently. I told her to listen to her heart, then realized I needed to do the same thing.”