Page 17 of Two to Tango

Logan

I’m still watching thedoor long after the class has filed out. Why does it feel so stuffy in here?

“Has she danced before?” Tara breaks my trance with the question.

“What?”

“Julie?”

“I don’t know. I think so.” I shrug.

“She did good,” Tara says.

“She wasn’t bad,” I say dismissively.

I’d rather not think about it. Shewasgood. She needs to polish up the basics, but that comes with practice. What she has is a fire within her. Something I saw in her eyes when she looked at herself in the mirror, when she focused on her feet, looked on with determination.

“Ethan could still use some work,” I tell her.

I paired her up with another student, wanting to keep a distance and watch from afar. He needed a bit more help than she did, but when I stepped in to show technique and offer guidance, I wasn’t expecting to feel …that.

Tara huffs out a laugh. “He was fine.”

“Anyway.” I wave it away, packing up my belongings and getting ready to head out of the studio. “We need to let them know you’re leaving.”

“We will. Let’s tell everybody next week.”

“We should plan something. Maybe a goodbye milonga.”

She lights up at that. “Oh, that would be fun.”

“Your last one before you leave us to do way better things,” I tease.

“You are dramatic as fuck, Logan,” she laughs.

“But am I wrong?”

She just pins me with a look. One that says shut up. Or you’re not wrong, but I’d rather not admit it. Or I’m going to miss this place, too.

“You alright?” she asks.

“Me? Yeah, why?”

She shrugs. “Just checking in.”

“I’m good,” I answer, but I know she knows I’m not being honest. She won’t push either, which is a relief right now.

“Call me if you want to chat.”

“I will.” I nod, not making eye contact with her.

“See you tomorrow, then.” She gives me a quick hug before heading out to her car.

***

Gavin and I movedin together five years ago. I don’t know how much he likes it, but when he was traveling for work, he was away enough to probably not care.

Our two-bedroom suits us fine. I made the move out here first when I was twenty, finding a better tango community and better opportunities for dance. Gavin found a way to transfer within his company and followed. Soon enough, he was asking if we shouldjust live together, since he was hardly home anyway so why was he bothering to pay so damn much in rent? Rent prices are ridiculous, I won’t argue that. Our so-called luxury apartment is hardly luxurious for what we pay, but we’ve been here too long to want to move anywhere else. Besides, the location is great.

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