Page 24 of Dancing on Air

She glared at him over her shoulder. “I thought you left.”

“Just waiting for my ride,” he pointed out. “Where are you off to?” he asked, falling in step with her.

“Walking.” She stepped up her pace. She ground her back teeth when he fell in step with her easily.

“To?” he asked easily.

“Just blowing off steam.”

She knew that if she returned to her room, Robin and possibly Cora and Mary would be there to hound her.

In the past two years, she’d learned to stay away from her room just to avoid the trio’s constant torment.

“I could use a coffee,” he suggested a few moments later when they walked past a small local coffee shop. She’d been inside the tiny place several times and liked it.

She stood back, and he opened the door for her. After they ordered, they sat at one of the three high-top tables and waited for their drinks. Since she was hungry, she’d ordered a turkey sandwich along with a skinny caramel iced mocha. He’d ordered an espresso.

“Want to tell me what’s eating at you?” he said, breaking the silence between them.

Her eyes narrowed. “How much do you know about choreographing a ballet?” she asked.

He paused for a split second before laughing. “Oh, you’re serious?” he said after she glared at him.

“You seem to know a lot about directing but absolutely nothing about creating,” she pointed out.

They called her name and she went and got her sandwich and drink. She sat back down and continued.

“Either you know in your head and heart what you want to happen with your production or you don’t.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

“I don’t,” he admitted, shocking her. Then he stood up and got his drink. When he sat back down, he added. “Not one hundred percent, at any rate.”

“Do you have an outline?”

He nodded and took a sip of his drink.

“Can I see it?” She knew she was pushing her luck. Most artists didn’t want anyone seeing the raw project. After all, Max had been using her and Luc as his sketches. Dummies to move around the stage to see what would work best.

Instead of answering, Max just looked at her. Then after a silent moment, he leaned closer. “The problem with that is, it’s back at my place.”

She shrugged. “I’m trying to avoid going back to my room where, no doubt, I’ll be tortured until I either leave or put on my earphones and drone out the judgments.”

“From?” he asked quickly.

She rolled her eyes. “You haven’t noticed?” He shook his head. “Everyone. Jynx and her three cronies have spread so many vicious rumors and lies about me, I was shocked that you picked me as your lead.”

“Jynx?” he asked with a frown.

She took a breath. “Cora Jenkins.”

He surprised her by bursting out laughing. “That is a perfect nickname for her.” He shook his head and took another sip while she finished her sandwich.

“So, can I see what you have so far?” she asked when he remained quiet.

He shrugged. “If you don’t mind giving them more fuel for their fire.”

She waved her hand in the air as if shooing a fly away. After all, that’s how little she thought of the trouble the trio had caused her so far. Sure, it was annoying, but whenever she left her room to avoid them, she went to the gym or the studio. The extra hours had doubled her skills as a dancer.

“You do sleep in your own room, right?” he asked after she was finished with her sandwich.