CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR #2
“Yes, I’m fine, thanks. I just got a little shaken up, that’s all.”
She smiled at me, but she looked upset. She and I exchanged a glance.
The truth was, we both knew something Edward and Garrison didn’t.
The part of the stage where the lights fell was where I spent ninety percent of the show dancing.
And I was the only one. If it wasn’t an accident, then someone had purposely targeted me.
“Well,” Kelisha finally said, “why don’t you go get changed? I doubt the police will have any questions for you, specifically, but they might.”
I started to walk off but stopped as she addressed the other dancers.
“Everyone, please stay around for the next hour or so as the police conduct a quick investigation. We won’t be having performances tomorrow or Monday, for sure.
I’ll let you know about the rest of the week later. Watch for emails or texts.”
“I could fix that hole up tonight, Kelisha, if you want me to,” Garrison Hart boomed out.
“I don’t,” she said simply, staring at him. “We need a professional. Stage repair is not quite the same as… whatever it is you were going to do, Mr. Hart.”
I glanced at Garrison. He didn’t seem upset by what Kelisha had said.
I felt someone looking at me and noticed Nora standing offstage with Eric Hightower.
Nora was staring at me, while Eric talked to her.
He seemed upset. He was animated, talking with his hands.
But Nora didn’t seem to be paying attention to him. She just kept watching me.
“Come with me,” I whispered to Edward and lead him backstage to my dressing room.
Once we were alone, he pulled me to him. “I was so scared. When I saw you on the ground, I thought…”
“Shh,” I held his face in my hands. “I’m okay.”
He grabbed my hands and held on to them. “I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I stood on my toes and kissed him. His arms immediately went around me and he was kissing me back, a desperation there that took my breath away.
“Edward,” I sighed, and cuddled against his strong chest, gripping him.
A knock at the door caused both of us to jump.
Kelisha stuck her head in. “Cara, you’re free to go.
The police didn’t see a need to bother you.
They also said the investigation will take at least a few days.
” She looked at Edward. “You should get her out of here and the two of you enjoy yourselves. I’ll text you with updates, Cara. ”
I blinked. Kelisha didn’t ever offer personal advice or say words like ‘enjoy yourself’. “Thanks,” I said.
She closed the door, and I turned to Edward. “Do you think you’ll be able to stay longer? I know you’re so busy with the orchards.”
“Don’t worry about that,” he assured me. “I’ll make it happen.”
I grinned and bit my lip. “Is it bad that I’m excited to have some extra days off with you? I mean, obviously I hate the way it happened…”
“No, it’s not bad at all,” he said. “But let’s get out of here before the Harts try to make us hang out with them.”
Edward was totally right. I hurriedly got my costume off and hung it on the rack.
He made a noise behind me, and I turned to look at him. “What the hell?” He was staring at my chest.
I looked down. “Oh. Um… I have to strap them down for practice and performances.” I hurriedly started unwrapping the binding. “I told you that. Remember?”
He looked pissed. “I guess I didn’t realize how extensive it was. How long have you had to do that?”
“I don’t know. Since I was fourteen or fifteen, I guess.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Well, it’s not the most comfortable thing in the world,” I admitted. Under the bindings I always wore a flesh-toned sports bra to help hold things in place.
“Cara,” he said, coming over and running his hands along the red marks the bindings left across my chest and back. “I don’t like this at all.”
“It’s just part of it.”
“What the hell is that?” He looked even more horrified as I pulled off the minimizer I wore over my butt and hips.
I laughed. “It’s the same thing. Ballet dancers have to look a certain way, remember? Curves aren’t a part of that look.”
“I think you’re too damn thin,” he said. “There’s no reason for all of this.”
“You’re sweet,” I said. “But I have to strap myself. A lot of dancers do. Even with that, I’m probably the curviest primary dancer they’ve ever had here.
” I made a face. “People can be cruel about it, too. Even though I’m well below my normal body weight, I’ve been referred to as plump, plus-sized, chunky, fat, and a lot of other less kind things over the years. ”
Edward looked horrified. “Who says things like that?”
I waved a hand as if it didn’t matter. Even though it did. “Newspapers, social media, comments on the Moonlight’s website, you name it. If the public can comment, they will.”
I pulled on some practice gear. “And while there are tons of nice fans out there, it seems to be the ones with nasty, negative things to say who most often leave comments. Now, let’s get out of here.”
That was the only reminder he needed that we should hurry and leave. He grabbed my hand and opened the door.
Monty Hart stood outside my door. Both Edward and I jumped back, startled. “What the heck, Monty?” I asked, hand on my heart.
“Oh. Sorry. I just wondered if you’d like to grab a bite to eat.” He glared at Edward.
I had had enough. “No, Monty. I’m sorry, but I have a boyfriend.” I gestured towards Edward.
“He could come, too, I guess,” Monty’s pale blue eyes stared directly at my chest while he talked to me.
“Hey buddy,” Edward said, pushing me behind him, “her eyes are up here.” He pointed to his own eyes, grabbed my hand, and practically pushed Monty aside because he wasn’t moving.
“Do you have a lock for that door?” Edward gave Monty the eye while I dug in my bag for my key. I rarely locked it, but Edward had a point. I wasn’t about to leave it open while Monty was lurking around.
I locked the door, and we hurried out the side entrance. “Do you mind driving?” I asked Edward. I was still a little shaky from both the stage accident and Monty scaring me.
“Sure,” he said, opening my car door for me.
I leaned back on the car’s headrest as he got in on the driver’s side, started the car, and pulled away.
Movement caught my eye as we exited the lot. I looked up in time to see Monty and Nora staring after us from the open stage door on the side of the building.
It wasn’t until then, as I met Nora’s dark eyes for a brief moment before the car pulled out of the parking lot, that I remembered her telling the other dancers that I would get what was coming to me.
What had she meant by that? Was it connected with the stage lights falling? Or had she just been blowing off steam?
Should I tell the police? Or Edward?
It seemed silly to think Nora would actually want to hurt me, though.
Right? Would she really want to kill me because I was a principal dancer and she wasn’t? Or because I was dating Edward, a guy she’d wanted for herself?
It was like I could hear Livy’s voice in my head saying, ‘people have killed for a lot less,’ and I shuddered, goosebumps breaking out on my arms.