CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Cara
“Cara? Can I see you in my office, please?” Kelisha Kelley asked.
“Of course,” I said, stopping in the middle of my warm-up stretches. She nodded and turned, already heading towards her office. I looked after her, slightly worried. I’d always been a kid who’d lived in fear of being called to the principal’s office. This was basically the same thing.
Nora gave me a look. “What do you think that’s about?”
“No clue. Was I that late?”
Nora shook her head. “No. It was less than five minutes, I think. Maybe it’s because you left the party early last night?”
I jerked my head up to look at her. Was there a note of censure in her voice? Like she was pissed I’d left early? But her face looked completely normal, even sweet, like she was worried Kelisha might be upset with me.
God. I was losing it.
I straightened my bun. “Why would she care? Kelisha doesn’t care about our personal lives as long as they don’t reflect badly on the dance company.
” It occurred to me I’d gotten visibly tipsy at the party the night before.
“Oh my God. Do you think it’s because I got kind of drunk?
” I whispered, not wanting the other dancers to hear.
Nora snorted. “You’re always perfect. I doubt she cares that you had a couple of extra glasses of champagne and left with a hot guy.”
“You’re probably right. I’ll be back.”
“Good luck,” she called behind me. Loudly.
I cringed inwardly. I hadn’t wanted everyone else to know I was worried about being called into the director’s office. I hurried to the back of the studio, where Kelisha’s office was located and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” she called out in her distinctive Southern drawl.
Kelisha was a beautiful Black woman who’d struggled to get where she was.
She’d worked in the Atlanta Ballet as a principal dancer for several years despite the racism that still seemed to linger around the ballet community like a horrible stench that wouldn’t go away.
That she’d moved through the ranks to become director of a well-known dance company was a big achievement, too, and I respected the hell out of her.
We all did.
Kelisha was beloved by the dancers, stage crew, patrons, donors—everyone, really. This was even though she was strict, hardly ever smiled, and didn’t tend to form personal relationships with her dancers. There was just something about her that inspired both respect and loyalty.
I opened the door a little hesitantly. “Hello,” I said.
“Come in, Cara,” she said, not looking up from her computer. “Have a seat.”
I chose the plush leather chair closest to the door and waited for her to look up at me.
“Are you happy here at the Moonlight?”
My eyes widened at the blunt question. What had brought this about? Should I lie and say yes? Or should I tell her the truth—that I wanted to start sending showreels out to companies closer to home? I’d just been waiting for the right time to tell her I wasn’t planning on coming back next year.
She must’ve read the truth on my face. She smiled, and that was enough to startle me out of my silence.
I could count on one hand the times I’d seen her smile.
And I’d known her for six years. “No,” I blurted out, then winced.
“Well, it’s not that I’m unhappy exactly. I think I’m just ready for a change.”
She nodded as if she’d already known that.
“Why do you ask? Is it obvious?” I would be horrified if she told me that it was clear in my performances.
“Just a feeling I had. It doesn’t show in your dancing or anything. I can’t explain it, but I was almost sure you’d be looking for other companies soon.”
“I hadn’t planned on making an announcement or anything like that.”
She held up a hand. “Don’t worry about that. I won’t tell a soul. In fact, let’s just keep it to ourselves.”
“I’d only thought of telling Nora…” my voice trailed off as she shook her head.
“I’d rather you didn’t. The Hart family can be… interesting to work with.”
“Oh. Well, Nora’s my good friend, but I can keep it from her for a while longer if you’d like me to.”
“I would. Keep it from her as long as you possibly can.” She tapped a pen on her desk and stared at me. “What companies are you planning to try for?”
“I really want one in Marietta—outside Atlanta,” I explained forgetting that she was also from Georgia. “But there’s one I want to apply to in Chattanooga as well.”
She smiled. Again. “Both are great. I’d be happy to give you a recommendation. If I were you, I’d go on and send those reels out. Just let me know if you need any help or anything else from me.”
I sensed my dismissal, so I started to get up from my chair.
“How much longer do you plan to dance?”
I sank back into the chair. That was a question I was no longer sure of myself. “I’m not sure. Five years? I’d like to save enough money to buy my own dance studio when I settle down in Wixby.”
She nodded. “It’s hard to have relationships and be a professional dancer. Our time off is so limited.”
What was she getting at?
“I saw you with that handsome man last night at the Hart party. You looked good together.”
My face brightened just thinking of Edward. “I know him. I mean, of course I know him. I just mean that I know him from when we were teenagers.”
“I’ve seen you grow a lot in the time you’ve been with the Moonlight, Cara. I feel a sense of protectiveness over you. That’s rare for me, as you know. But you’re a special person, a special dancer. I’d like to see you happy. And you looked happy with him.”
“Did I?”
She nodded. “And, truth be told, I’d much rather see you with someone like him rather than Monty Hart.”
I cocked my head to the side. A tickling feeling traveled up my spine, and I had to stop myself from shuddering. “Monty Hart?”
“Yes. Garrison, Libby, and even Nora Hart aren’t shy about telling people that you and Monty are practically engaged.”
My mouth dropped open. This again? “I’m not,” I said, confused. “I’m not even dating him.” Where was this all coming from? Why were the Harts telling people that? She was confirming everything that Edward had said. I bit my lip, nervous.
She leaned back in her chair. She was tiny, and it was hard to believe her weight could make her large chair tilt at all, but it did. “I see. I was afraid of that.”
“The Harts are saying that I am?”
She nodded.
“Even Nora?”
She gave me a look, as if to say, ‘what aren’t you understanding here?’. “Yes. Even Nora. They say it’s all but a done deal. Just be careful there, okay? They don’t hear the word ‘no’.”
I had experienced that to some extent over the time I’d been friends with Nora.
But I didn’t understand why in the hell she would tell anyone I was into Monty. She knew I had platonic feelings towards her brother. Not even platonic, really. I barely had feelings about him at all.
It seemed like Edward and Olivia had been right. Something was definitely off. Why was the Hart family telling everyone I was practically engaged to Monty but then acting like everything was normal around me?
This was bizarre.
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you for the heads up.”
“Not a problem. Let me know if you need any help.”
This time it was a clear dismissal. I stood from my chair and headed back out to practice. I knew Kelisha would be right behind me.
As I walked through the back of the studio, I watched Nora. She was talking and laughing with some of the other soloists, but every now and then she was looking in this direction. I knew she had to be wondering what Kelisha was talking to me about.
“Hey,” I said, a little breathless. I’d run back up to the front, eager to get some stretching in before practice got going.
“What did she want?” Nora asked.
I shrugged. “It was about being late this morning,” I lied. I was typically a terrible liar, so I made sure I was looking at the ground as I swung my leg behind me and then up onto the barre. I leaned over it.
“Huh. That’s weird. A couple of other dancers came in after you. Why didn’t she talk to them?”
I glanced at her over my shoulder. She looked mad on my behalf. “Maybe they called to let her know.”
“Maybe,” she said, but she didn’t sound convinced. “Anyway. I’m glad you’re not upset. Normally you would be.”
“I guess I’m realizing that there are things I can’t control. And I can’t make everyone happy all the time.” I laughed. “Even if I really, really want to.”
She chuckled. “Yeah. I guess. Anyway, tell me more about yummy Edward. What did y’all do last night? Daddy about lost his mind when he realized you’d left with him.”
So, Edward had been right about that, too. But why? “Why would he care?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I guess he just doesn’t know him well and was afraid you were leaving with someone who might not have your best interests at heart or something.” She made a face. “You know how old-fashioned Daddy is.”
I did. Not only did Nora have him convinced that she was still a virgin, but that she also planned to wait to have sex until she was married.
If he really knew his daughter, he’d realize just how far off the mark he was.
Nora hooked up with good-looking guys more than any of the other dancers in the company.
And in college? She’d been the biggest flirt I knew.
In fact, the only times we’d been upset with each other were over guys.
She preferred all male attention in a room to focus on her.
She’d gone after at least two guys I’d been interested in.
I’d been angry at first but figured some guy I barely knew wasn’t worth damaging or losing a friendship over.
So, when Nora went for a guy, I backed off if I’d been interested.
That’s probably why she’d been surprised when I’d gotten possessive over Edward last night.
“So, what happened between you two?” she asked.
“It’s complicated,” I said as I saw Kelisha coming and knew practice was about to start in earnest. “I’ll tell you another time.”
“Sounds good. But just tell me—is he totally off limits to me? I’d like to get to know him better if you know what I mean.”
A flash of jealousy washed over me. “Yes, he’s off limits.” I said simply. I wouldn’t stand by calmly while she went after Edward Ashton. No way in hell. I was willing to fight for him.
She must’ve seen it in my face. She held up her hands and backed away from me. “Whoa, girl. Gotcha. I’ll steer clear.”
“Good.” I met her eyes. “Why are you asking, anyway? Like I said last night, I thought you were with Eric.” I wanted to see if she’d confess that Garrison had wanted her to date Edward.
She rolled her eyes. “Daddy wants me to be. He’s friends with his dad.
They do business together, and he thinks the two of us would be good together.
” She did not sound thrilled about this.
“I’m putting up with him for now. I mean, he’s a decent fuck at least. But I’m not into him.
Not really. And, well, I guess Daddy thought I’d like Edward since I’m not wild about Eric.
He went to a lot of trouble to bring him home for me to meet him.
” She gave me a mock angry look. “But you went and ruined that, didn’t you?
” She grinned at me, and I saw no malice in her eyes.
I laughed. “Sorry, girl. But hey, wait,” I grabbed her arm holding her back as the soloists started to all group off for practice. I lowered my voice. “Are you telling people Monty and I are going to get married?”
She gave me a look like I’d gone crazy. “Um… no. Why would I do that?”
I shook my head. “That’s what I thought,” I mumbled. “Don’t worry about it,” I said hurriedly as Kelisha called for everyone’s attention. Nora stayed with the other soloists while I took my place with the principal dancers.
I was happy Nora hadn’t pushed me on the Edward thing. I didn’t like there to be conflict between us. And the way she’d reacted when I brought up Monty made me wonder if Kelisha had been wrong about Nora. Maybe the rest of the Hart family thought I would end up with Monty.
But not Nora. I couldn’t believe she’d feel like that at all. She knew me too well to think Monty and I would be a good match. Plus, she’d always been the first to admit Monty was awkward around women. She loved him, but she knew he had social issues.
I trusted her. She had my back. Just like I had hers. We’d been there for each other for a long time now.
I couldn’t imagine that ever changing.
***
I showered, changed, and got into makeup at the theater. I was thankful Edward and I had remembered to exchange numbers before we’d left his hotel. I texted him.
Me: Looking forward to seeing you tonight.
Edward: Can’t wait to see you dance again and go out afterwards. And this time I won’t have any Harts breathing down my neck.
Me: Lol, yeah. Well, I left a ticket for you at the will call counter. Trust me, it’s not close to the Harts’ boxes.
Edward: Thanks. Is a tux something you have to wear every night, or was that just an opening night thing? Cause I can go get one if I need to.
Me: How bad would it be if I told you yes, just so I could see you in a tux again? Maybe one that fits this time…
Edward: I will if you want me to. Maybe you could wear one of those ballet costumes again.
I laughed. I’d forgotten Edward was funny. His dry humor often got overlooked next to Lufton’s general air of relaxed humor. Or Declan, who was hilarious.
Me: That’s a sure thing, haha. But you don’t need to wear a tux. It would call attention to you if you wore one tonight. Most men wear suits, but you can wear dress pants and a button down if you’d rather.
Edward: See you later, beautiful. And thanks for giving me a chance to explain tonight.
I sighed. I was starting to feel more excited than nervous to dance knowing he’d be out there watching. I had mixed feelings about dinner. But mainly? I was curious. What was there that I still didn’t know about from that time in our lives?