Page 25 of Grunt: A Marine Romance

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SELENA PICKED UP Dimaat the San Francisco airport that Friday. After her emotional talk with Bret, she told Dima that she needed to see him and he cleared his schedule. He was also excited that since there was a ballroom competition in the city that weekend, he would be able to teach some lessons.

She was halfway to the terminal to greet Dima before she realized that she needed to use the bathroom. Darn. She looked at her watch. She didn’t want to miss him. Busting left, she cut around a corner and made a beeline to restrooms. She ducked into the ladies room, freshened up, then dashed back out again, making a left in front of the men’s room—running smack into two guys making out.

“Oh! Sorry, guys,” she mumbled and looked down at her feet, shielding her face from embarrassment. “I totally wasn’t looking.”

“No worries,” she heard. His buddy cracked up and they ran into the men’s room, covering their faces.

No worries? I know that voice!

She whipped her head back for a look and saw Eric and some man plowing through the restroom door. Not that she needed to see—she knew Eric’s voice when she heard it. Eric, as in Nicole’s husband. Good God! The couple with the only perfect ballroom marriage. He had been their original coach for five years before she met Dima; she just knew that was Eric.

He must’ve been in town for the competition. Where was Nicole? Selena practically stumbled to the baggage claim.

Eric kissing a guy? Nicole would totally freak out if she knew. Or . . . maybe she did know. Oh, God, that was not possible, was it? They were Cinderella and Prince Charming—if their love wasn’t real then there was no hope for the rest of the dancers. Nicole gave up her career to have a baby with Eric. Whenever Selena doubted that she could have a successful relationship and a dancing career, she always came back to “if Eric and Nicole can make it work, so can I.” What did this mean?

Selena wanted a drink. She scanned the baggage claim for Dima. No sign of him. Good, she needed to process what had just happened.

There was no way Nicole knew. This was so bad. If the fairy tale wasn’t real, then what was the point of it all? The only men she’d ever been with in her entire life were Dima and Bret. Even though she and Dima were not romantically involved, in some way she figured they would always end up together. She felt bound to him. They had ownership in dance studios, free clothes, even endorsement opportunities for fitness products. It was all she ever dreamed of—ballroom dance, love everlasting, the whole pretty package. Was that just an unrealistic fantasy that didn’t fit anymore? But what if she gave up any possibility of having a family and it didn’t work out? What then?

“Selenichka.” Dima greeted her with a big kiss and a dozen red roses.

Selena fidgeted. She knew he’d been acting strangely when she last saw him at her house. Dima could definitely be romantic when he wanted to be. He was dressed in his finest Armani suit. He looked so handsome, but in a completely different way than Bret.

She thanked him for the flowers and tried to push the image of Eric out of her head. “Do you know if Eric and Nicole are going to be at the competition?

“Only Eric. He was on plane together with me and his student. He’s judging. Nicole is home in Los Angeles, with the baby. Why you ask?”

“No reason. I just thought I saw him.”

They made their way to the curb. A limo whisked them away from the airport. Inside the limo, they took in views of the city.

He put his arm around her. “Selenichka, this is going to be great weekend.”

Selena cuddled up to him, though her stomach felt queasy. They worked so hard, she had forgotten how special he could make her feel.

He had made reservations at Selena’s favorite restaurant, Gary Danko. She indulged in caviar, lobster salad, branzini, five cheeses from the cart, and even the chocolate-caramel mousse cake. Not once during dinner did Dima make a comment about sticking to her diet. They drank a rich bottle of Paul Meyer merlot. Though the dinner was divine, Selena wondered how many more exquisite dinners she needed. She loved to have a night on the town, but the thought of cooking tacos in her home with a baby tugging on her leg made her smile.

After dinner, they strolled around Fisherman’s Wharf. Of course, they were recognized by some fans, and happily signed a few autographs. But on this night, Selena wanted Dima all to herself.

They made their way to Ghirardelli and ordered huge mugs of hot chocolate and sat inside at a tiny marble table.

As the warm cocoa coated her throat, Selena grinned ear to ear. Though Dima and Selena’s chemistry on the floor was electric, their true feelings toward each other were more familiar than sexy. And maybe that was what was important for a long lasting relationship. She and Bret had nothing in common anymore. His presence had just rattled her.

“Selenichka, I’ve been thinking. I should get back together with you and we get married.”

She almost choked on her hot chocolate. “Married? Are you crazy? We’ve been broken up for three years, and you want to get married?”

“I do. I think it would be good for our result. The judges like to see the couples who marry win.”

Selena’s heart sunk. Before she jumped to any conclusions about Dima’s motivations, she tried to calm herself down. Maybe she’d misunderstood him and his words had become lost in translation.

She tried another approach. “For our result? It would help, I know, but that’s not a reason to get married. I mean we’re not even dating right now. Does everyone in this business only live their lives to get results? Today, when I saw Eric, he was kissing another man. What does that mean, Dima? Is he gay? Are he and Nicole only married for their result?”

Dima threw up his hands. “Why do I care who it is that Eric kisses? It is none of my business if he is a gay. He is the champion. I don’t see how their marriage is important to us.”

Selena knew Dima wouldn’t understand her point. She tried another approach. “Maybe after Blackpool, we can take some time off—from competing and the show. See if we can reconnect as a couple. We can go travel around the world like we always wanted and not be forced to pack up every two days to go to the next competition.”