Chapter 112
Chapter one hundred twelve
Remy
I take my readers off and rub where the bridge has irritated my skin. If I smoked, I would be on the patio right now. Erik playing that has given me too many ideas.
I look past the Earls and Meg and give Erik an intense look. He responds with a nod. We are on the same page.
I untuck my shirt and let it fall loose down past my waist and move over to the cabinet where we keep the whiskey.
“Yes please,” David says when he sees the bottle in my hand.
“Make it a double,” James finishes.
Screw it, I pull out six glasses and make the pours.
Passing out the glasses, we all take a fortifying sip. The Earls are already pulling out dinner. He made a jambalaya and cornbread. The jambalaya is always best the next day, once the flavors set in.
They start reheating as I walk over to curl my arm around Tianna’s waist. I reach over and nip her ear. “What did you two get up to in there?” I whisper.
“I was as surprised as you, that’s all on him,” she mutters.
I bark out a laugh. I never thought I would see the day when something distracted Erik from a composition.
He shoots me a scowl. I just laugh harder.
Tianna snorts and leans into my side, her free hand reaching out to pull Erik closer by his belt buckle.
“Can we get back to this later? When we‘re alone? I want to find out what’s going on with Meg,” she murmurs.
I give her a squeeze, and Erik bends down to kiss the top of her head as she untangles herself and goes to hip-bump Meg, where she is putting together a salad, pointedly ignoring the Earls.
I take a deep draught of the whiskey as I clasp Erik’s shoulder.
“What do you think about all this?” I ask, nodding to the new throuple.
“I think they should take Meg back to their place and leave Tianna out of it.”
“Dude, never gonna happen. You're going to have to deal with it.”
He shoots me a disgruntled look and raises the glass to his lips.
“I am going to feed the dogs,” he says as he heads into the butler’s pantry.
Dinner remains a fairly quiet affair. The Earls are abnormally silent while Meg is picking at her food.
Ruiz had come in earlier, taken the temperature of the room, and said he would be outside until it was time to secure the house for the evening.
I’m tired of the tension.
“Meg, I already know,” I tell her, hoping to alleviate some of her nerves.
She glances at me and gives me a small smile. “I figured. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you, it just didn’t seem pertinent.”
“It’s important to me. You knew I wanted a talented choreographer and ballet mistress.”
“He’s been going on about it non-stop for over a month,” James chides.
Meg’s spine stiffens, and she shoots them both an icy look.
“I've been clear. I don’t want to follow in my mother’s footsteps. I don’t know why you can’t respect my decision.”
“Because you are wasting your talent,” David blusters, while James says, “You have a rare gift, and while your injury prevents you from being a prima ballerina, you can still utilize it in the dance world.”
“Where my mother is renowned. I, do you hear me, I don’t want to.”
“You haven’t thought it through,” David protests.
“Have you considered…” James starts when Erik interrupts.
“Give it a rest. You can’t hound her into being your choreographer.” He eyes David before turning to Meg.
“Can you tell me your reasons to ignore your gifts?”
She pauses, tilting her head as she considers. Christianna reaches over and squeezes her hand in support.
“My whole life was dance. I love it, but I also hate it. It stopped being art and became obligation. There was no other option. My mother always knew injury was possible, so she insisted on a backup plan. It turns out I’m very good at managing, and no one assumes I have my job because of her.”
“Why is it all or nothing?” Erik asks.
“What do you mean?”
“From what I’ve observed, you’ve done most of the choreography to the pieces I’ve played here. Correct?”
She nods slowly.
“Then teach what you’ve already created. The parts you loved enough to shape yourself. Let someone else handle the rest.”
Meg nods slowly. “I’ll consider it. Please excuse me. I’m going to turn in. Today has been unexpected.”
The Earls take their leave as well, and Erik and I move to clean the kitchen.
“I’m going to run up and take a quick shower,” Tianna says as we clear the table.
Erik gives her a heated look. “Meet us in the music room when you’re done.”
She bites her lip and gives us a small smile before running up the stairs, the pups trailing behind her.