Page 13 of Sway

Rumba

He seduced her with a glance. Pulling her toward him, he had her in his grasp, but she retreated. She danced around him, her hands tracing his chest. He took her by the waist, pressing her against his body. Leaning into him, she savored his scent. She wanted to give herself completely to him, but couldn’t trust him. Spinning around, she gave him a longing look, then slipped away.

5

Salomé

“AND JUST FOR old time’s sake, we will witness for the first time in six years the reunions of the famous partnerships of Stas and Vika, and Genya and Salomé,” Gabriel announces. He turns my way and smiles right in my face. He’s clearly happy to whip up a new controversy, the bastard. I nibble on my hair and chew off a split end.

Jenny squeezes my hand. “The little twerp,” she mumbles.

Diana moves in on my other side. “Are you gonna be okay?”

Good question.“I don’t know.”

Genya is kissing gorgeous Iza on her perfect non-wrinkled forehead as she garbles. He squeezes her hand, turns and walks toward me.

My body clenches and I get queasy. We haven’t said a word to each other in over six years. And now he is standing in front of me.

“Privet, Salomé,” he says.

I look up and meet Genya’s dark brown eyes. The eyes that I have avoided since the day we parted. The eyes that I still dream about and that can stop me in my tracks with just one glance. Genya Pavlov and Salomé Sanchez are together again.

Tears fill my own eyes as I remember when they called us “America’s Ballroom Sweethearts.” The entire industry pinned its hopes on our backs like a million freakin’ bull’s-eyes. Our careers were mapped out for us. We had sponsors who funded our travel, coaching expenses, and costumes. We were the future of dancesport.

Then I went and screwed it all up.

“Hey, Genya,” I say casually as he steps to me. Quickly, I blink back the tears. “So how you been?”

“Good. Really good.” He forces a smile, but he can’t look me in the eyes more than a millisecond. “How ‘bout you?”

Gabriel turns on George’s cover of “Feeling Good.” “Please take your partner and warm up with a slow foxtrot.” Everyone starts moving around the room, taking hands, locking up, letting the music do its magic.

“I’ve been awesome,” I finally answer Genya, the both of us still standing there as Gabriel cranks up the bass, confusing me. Is that the music or my heart pounding? “Never better. I’m psyched to take a break from competing with Ricardo.”

He shoots a dirty look in Ricardo’s direction. “Yeah—I figured that after last month’s comp.”

I turn red. “Right. I’ve been meaning to thank you for that.” What the hell—do I make the first move or do I wait for him to lead? Ah, hell, just do it Sal! I playfully nudge his arm, our skin touching for the first time in six years.

He takes my hand and pulls me into his arms. “No big deal. I would have done that for anyone.” He adjusts me into a classic foxtrot hold.

I’m so nervous I keep talking. “I’m totally stoked to dance with C. Dolla. I actually have to go meet him right after this rehearsal. Who’s your partner?”

He sways me back and forth. “Lilia Garcia?”

I give him a blank stare.

He laughs. “I know. I have no fucking clue who she is either. Some YouTube chick.” He takes my hand. “You’re lucky. C. Dolla seems pretty cool. And he’s probably good dancer.”

We take a few basic steps and he leads me into promenade. “Yeah, remember when we did that rumba show dance to his song, ‘Leaving You?’” We were so in love when we performed that number for his mom’s studio. When we kissed at the end of the number, he said, “I love you” for the first time.

He looks up and actually holds the gaze this time. I see the pain in his eyes. “I don’t remember,” he lies, I’m sure.

Gabriel interrupts our moment. “You two can profess your undying love and devotion later.” He pinches my butt and squeezes my stomach. “Salomé, I need you to come see me later about your weight problem. I have a diet and fitness plan for you. The purpose of this show is to entertain, not to depress.”

Dios mio! I’m not fat! How’s a size four fat? I’m just short and muscular and I’ve got some Latin child-bearing hips. Damn, Jenny was right. I should’ve never done this show. Maybe I can fall down the stairs or jump out of this huge window and break my leg.

Gabriel gives me a big hug. “Not that you’re not a fabulous dancer.” He steps away and claps his hands. “Okay, children. Back to your foxtrot.”