Page 41 of Dancing on Air

“I…” She blinked, unsure of what to say.

Gerald’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Good night, Miss Thomas.” He headed towards the stairs and disappeared.

What the hell? What had just happened?

She stood there for a few moments until her brain started functioning again. Then she pulled out her phone and called Max, who answered on the third ring.

“Hey, I just got home. You?” he said, a little breathless.

“I just got home and ran into your father, who was standing outside my door, wanting to take me out for drinks,” she said quickly as she unlocked her door and then tossed her bag on her bed and began pacing.

“Shit,” Max said with a sigh.

“Yeah, I think this was my Me Too moment,” she admitted. “Only I was saved by freaking Jynx and her cronies.” She winced slightly. “But now everyone thinks we’re doing it, including your father.”

“Shit,” Max said again.

“Yeah.” She plopped down on her bed and closed her eyes. “I didn’t even deny it. I was so stupefied.”

“I’m sorry I put you in this position,” Max said.

“You didn’t put me in any position,” she pointed out. “This is not your doing. This was all your father and Jynx.”

Max was quiet for a moment. “I’m still sorry since it’s obvious it has to do with me in at least one way.”

“These are the complications you were suggesting,” she said with a sigh.

“Yeah,” Max said after a moment. “Still want to try and be with me?”

She didn’t even have to think about it. “Yes,” she said quickly. “You?”

“Yes,” he responded just as quickly.

Cora smiled. “I can’t wait until we get out of the city,” she admitted.

“Agreed. I know you have early practice and are probably running on fumes.”

“I am pretty tired,” she agreed. “Dream of me?”

“I will if you dream of me.”

“Max?”

“Yeah?”

“I think your dad and Jynx were an item at one point.” She thought back to how she’d heard the rumors and had seen the hurt in Jynx’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, I had my suspicions. Good night.”

“Night.” After hanging up, she pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top and crawled into bed.

Robin came into the room almost half an hour later. Cora pretended to be asleep and, thankfully, Robin didn’t bother her.

The next day, however, the moment she stepped into class, the entire room grew quiet and everyone stared at her.

She wanted to shout in frustration. Instead, she quietly got ready for class and tried to ignore everyone’s gazes and whispers.

By her third class, she’d had enough. She was working on fumes and so angry that she felt like confirming her and Max’s one-night tryst would be far better than all the rumors going around.