Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Every morning I was home, I’d pull open my nightstand drawer while Hudson showered, peek in at Lina’s ring to remind myself why this was all worth it, and get to work. I spent my days in the studio and my nights with Hudson, burrowing deeper into the tangled mess of my feelings for him instead of running, like every instinct demanded. He fit himself into my life like sand poured into a jar full of pebbles, settling seamlessly into the spaces between the rocks. He was everywhere without making himself the priority.
Whether at his house or mine, we spent every night he wasn’t on duty in the same bed. He held me to a strict eight-hour policy, never once letting me lose sleep in favor of indulging in him, which only made me head to bed earlier, determined to savor every second we had together. He kept a phone charger on his nightstand at my house. I kept clothes in a drawer at his.
July became August. Michael came out to spend weekends with Everett, and Matthias flew in whenever his schedule allowed. Storms rolled in, and Hudson flew out every time, and I slowly learned how to breathe around the fear and trust that he’d come home, slowly started to trust him.
Juniper flourished under Eloise, learning faster than I ever had at that age, and though Eloise never mentioned Lina again, I’d catch her watching Juniper with a sad smile from time to time and knew . . . she knew.
“She’s talented,” Eloise remarked one Friday in August as Juniper packed up after rehearsal. “She won’t win, but she won’t embarrass herself either. I think at least the top twenty in her division.”
“I hope so,” I agreed, trying to ignore the guilt that sat in my stomach like lead. Day by day, we crept closer to the Classic, and dug a deeper hole when it came to Caroline. We’d all become horrifyingly comfortable in the lie, selfishly unwilling to risk the delicate happiness that came with being in each other’s lives. I just hoped we’d made the right decision, that showing Caroline how easily our lives could blend for Juniper’s sake, we’d assuage her fears.
“I had something made for her,” Eloise said with the flash of a smile. “For the Classic. It will be here tomorrow so she can practice in it. Took her measurements while you were busy staring at her uncle in the pool last week.”
My gaze whipped to hers. “You didn’t have to.”
“Of course I did. I saw what you two were looking at online. Can’t have a Rousseau girl dancing in just any costume, can we?” She leveled the same look on me that Kenna used.
“Who said she was a Rousseau girl?” I tugged off my demi-pointe shoes and wiggled my toes. The muscles were still warm, but they’d lock up soon enough.
“Who indeed?”
The next week arrived without permission, sneaking up on us like the end of summer always did—before any of us felt ready.
Juniper danced in the pink confection with the widest smile I’d ever seen, and any guilt I felt about hiding her secret from Caroline evaporated. The second she saw her daughter this happy tomorrow, she’d let her continue. There was no doubt in my mind.
“She looks like Lina,” Anne whispered as we watched Juniper twirl.
“Yes and no.” A slow smile spread across my face. Juniper took more risks than Lina did at that age, put more of her own personality into every move. Lina and I stepped into roles and became them, but Juniper somehow made the roles bend to her. “She looks like herself.”
“You ready for tomorrow?” Anne glanced my way.
“Physically or emotionally?” I asked.
“Emotionally.” Anne bumped her shoulder against mine. “I know you’re physically solid.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Too many things can go wrong.” It wasn’t just the Classic or Caroline; it was the official end of the deadline I’d set for Hudson and me. But I couldn’t think about that, not if I wanted to survive the next twenty-four hours.
“They won’t.” She hooked her arm through mine.
“And if Caroline bars us from seeing Juniper for going against every single rule she’s put in place for her daughter?” My stomach roiled.
“She won’t.” Anne shook her head with a smile. “We’ll beg her forgiveness, and everything will be okay. It’s one of those ends-justifies-the-means situations.”
I wished I felt that certain.
“If only you looked that ecstatic during rehearsal,” Eloise said as she walked our way, motioning toward Juniper. “Should I order one in your size?”
“If you think it will help,” I replied.
“As long as you let yourself shine on that stage tomorrow, you’ll do just fine, Alessandra.” She glanced at Juniper. “You both will. Now I’m off to call your mother so I can relay all the gossip coming out of the Company. It’s my favorite time of the week.” Eloise left the studio.