Page 67 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

She grabbed her bag from the passenger seat as she got out and Aaron walked up and hugged her. “Hey.”

She smiled. “Hey.”

“How ya doin’?”

“Okay.” She closed the trunk and stroked the car. “It’s so him, you know?”

Aaron nodded. “I always thought so.” He took her garment bag from her and they walked across the street to the theater. “What did you and Peter fight about that made you leave? And does Devin know?”

Anna’s heart sank. She didn’t know what to tell Devin. “I haven’t told Devin.”

They made their way through the backstage maze of hallways until they came to the row of dressing rooms for the soloists and principals. Aaron stopped at the door with her name marked on it. “At least you’ll have privacy for this performance.”

“Yeah,” she said, opening the door and switching on the light. A vase of red roses sat on her vanity. Anna picked up the accompanying card, which was from Peter. It simply read, “I’m sorry.”

Anna smiled to herself. She missed him dearly, but this was the reality of their situation. Peter would stay with her as long as Devin deemed necessary, but he would eventually return home to his wife. He needed to keep Dariya happy. After all, he was going to spend the rest of his life with her. Anna would soon only be a memory. Hopefully a good one.

“Holy shit. Is that what you two were fighting over?”

Anna turned to find Aaron standing in the doorway, his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide with astonishment. She rushed to the door and watched as Peter walked down the hallway with Dariya, who appeared even more stunning than she had earlier, clad in a slinky black dress.

“Who is that?” Aaron cleared his throat. “She’s fucking hot!”

“Peter’s . . . friend from St. Petersburg.”

Aaron turned back to Anna, an apologetic look on his face. “Sorry.”

She shrugged. “She’s very beautiful.”

“So are you.”

Anna shook her head. “Not like that.”

Aaron put his hands on her shoulders. “Anna, you are a knockout. Guys watch you wherever you are. Yeah, she’s hot. And you are too. But you have... I don’t know... there’s something about you that makes you even more beautiful than that.”

“The fact that I’m a Half-Immortal?” She gave a wry smile.

Aaron laughed. “Well, that could be part of it. But tonight at the party, see who gets more attention. You or her.”

“Men like blondes. And I don’t care if they find me more attractive. Sometimes I wish they didn’t.” Anna sighed. “I just... why would he love me if he has someone like her at home?”

Aaron furrowed his brows. “What are you talking about?”

Anna’s eyes widened and she clapped her hand over her mouth. “Nothing.”

Aaron frowned, pushed Anna inside the dressing room, and closed the door behind him. “Who is she?” He raised his brows. “Tell me.”

Anna shared the entire story with Aaron, explaining how Peter had gotten married during his trip to St. Petersburg and the unexpected arrival of Dariya that afternoon at the apartment.

Aaron got more and more angry as she spoke. “That fucking bastard.”

“Aaron, you know our whole ‘relationship’ is fake. So we’re having a fake fight. He’s not going to tell anyone they’re married.”

“I thought he loved you.”

“He does. But... C’mon. You know Devin’ll never let me leave. Peter has to get married.”

Aaron frowned. “Yeah, okay.”

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