AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Giselle
Ihad two days to get my shit together.
The guy barreling his way into Brisé again had me shaken up more than ever. As a precaution, I canceled all of my classes the rest of the week and sent videos to the parents for their kids to practice at home.
I didn't tell them why I was canceling, just that there was an urgent matter. No matter how many times the detective told me that the odds were small that they would come in with kids in class, I did not want to risk it anymore.
It was bad enough that I was there, alone.
I was waiting on Ty for our normal class because he was the one student I didn't want to cancel. Sure, the team was paying me well and I wanted Ty to work on some things. I wanted this to help him. But I would be a liar if I did not admit I wanted to see him.
I didn't have his number and I felt we had more to talk about after what happened Tuesday. I owed him another apology. For getting crazy about Sam and then putting him in a dangerous situation without telling him what was going on. For leading him on. For letting myself be unprofessional.
Without the kids in the studio, I took the time before Ty would be in to dance. My way. The way I did on stage for those few years.
I started the music and loosened myself up, letting the stress and worry fall from my shoulders. Bending and rotating at the waist, I did a circle with my torso creating a faster and faster motion as I went.
Then the music got harder and I leaped, feeling myself fly across the hardwood floor. I planted my foot as I landed and spun, creating a twirl with the skirt of my outfit.
I wasn't in my normal attire. As professional as I knew I should keep it with Ty, I figured he would accept me dressing differently without the kids in class. Still, I had a short skirt over capri length leggings and a tank top over a sports bra.
Ballerinas, even those of us retired from the stage, loved the twirl of a skirt on our hips. Putting myself into a pointe on my right leg, I lifted my left leg until it was straight up next to my cheek. It had been a while since I had done any training outside of the classes I did with the kids, so I was beaming with self-satisfaction at my reflection in the mirror.
I dropped my leg down and kicked back, propelling myself into a fouetté. I spun faster and faster, challenging myself to stay balanced, focused, and poised. The music urged me on, making me want to spin forever.
To dance forever.
I slowed down and stopped, catching my breath and looking into the mirror at my flushed face. I walked away from this, all because I couldn't handle the pressure. Yet, I was dying inside knowing an eleven year old was wanting to do the same thing.
Maybe I was wrong for that, but I wanted him to be better than me. Stronger than me.
Movement in the mirror caught my eye and I spun quickly to look into the reception area. Ty was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest and a look I couldn't distinguish on his face.
I let out a sigh of relief that it was him and started toward the door to the studio to invite him in. He was early, but I owed him some time so no sense in making him wait any longer.
With my shoulders back and my professional air back in place, I tiptoed into the reception area and walked toward him.
"Good evening, Mr. Black," I smiled and nodded, stopping a few feet away from him. He never uncrossed his arms, his eyes got small and dark, and his lips pressed into a straight line. Ty was angry, that much I could tell. So I tilted my head and creased my brow, silently asking him what was wrong.
I prepared myself for a little bit of anger because of what I subjected him to on Tuesday. I knew we needed to talk before we danced. But I fully expected him to be a little more professional about it.
An adult.
Yet, like a child, he never spoke, just eyed me and pouted.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Black?"
My words broke his stare and he closed the distance between us. Instinctively, I took a few steps backward, trying to keep the same distance between us. I wasn't far from the door to the studio so I backed in and he kept following me.
Once we were both inside, he slammed the door shut and kept stalking toward me. Admittedly, I had never seen Ty like this. Comparing him to a child was unfair because as he backed me further into the room, I thought he more resembled an animal at that moment.
Despite someone just as large as him breaking into my business twice, and scaring the shit out of me, I wasn't scared of Ty. Maybe I should have been since I didn't know much about him on a personal level. But what I did know about him made me feel at ease and safe, even while being hunted.
I held my hands up to slow him down as my back hit the barre that hung from the mirror on the wall. By some miracle, he stopped, but with his long arms he reached out to grab my chin.
"Do not fucking call me Mr. Black. Don't start that shit, Miss Priss. You already let me see the curtain fall and I sure as fuck do not want it closed on me again."
I scoffed a little, unsure how to take his words, and pushed his hand away. "What is under your skin, Ty? You've only been here three minutes, what could I have possibly done in that short time frame?"
