Page 1 of Surprisingly Us

CHAPTER 1

Colette

A bead of sweat rolls down my sternum and into the front of my leotard. As it slides, it tickles the sensitive skin between my breasts, but I don’t move. I hold my position and wait. My quads are burning, my calves are screaming, but I don’t flinch.

“That’s all for today,” Alexei, our choreographer, calls in his thick Russian accent from his chair at the side of the practice room.

Slowly, I lower my heels, my left big toe relieved that my body weight is no longer bearing down on it. I take a breath, and press the heel of my hand to the sweat slick spot between my breasts, letting the material of my black leotard absorb the moisture gathered there. I look around at my fellow dancers. Sweat dripping down the sides of Sebastian’s face. Isabella taking a deep breath as she makes her way over to grab her water bottle. Dimitri at the point of tears while he limps over toward a trainer to get some relief for his cramping calf muscle.

On stage, we make the moves look effortless, but in rehearsals, that’s where blood, sweat and tears are shed.

This isn’t even an official rehearsal.

The spring session ended a few weeks ago and the company is on a break for the summer.

I make my way over to the group of dancers on one side of the room, catching the conversation that’s already in progress.

“That was a reminder of why I’m going home for six weeks. I need a break.” Dimitri towels off his sweat-slick face.

“You still planning on Greece?” Sebastian asks.

Dimitri nods, flexing his foot as he works through the cramp in his calf. “Yeah, I’m going to wait tables at my uncle’s restaurant and soak in the sun.” He eyes the group. “I’m always up for visitors.”

“You know I’m coming to visit.” Isabella grins. “I’m going to help my sister with her kids for a few weeks, then I’m there.”

Dimitri’s already beaming smile gains an extra watt with her confirmation. They’re both flirtatious by nature, but I’ve noticed it tick up a notch recently.

Isabella turns to me. “What are your plans, Colette?”

“Um, I’m going to stick around the city.”

“Colette doesn’t take breaks,” Sebastian teases, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “She’s a machine.”

Dimitri shakes his head. “I don’t know how you do it. Everyone needs a break. It’s part of the process.”

The off-season is an eight-week period when dancers from the company disperse to take time off, work side jobs like waitressing and nannying, or pick up other paid dancing gigs. You can use the time however you want, but I don’t travel or take time off. I use it to train and stay in shape for the next session.

My routine gives me comfort. I’d be lost without it.

Besides, the fall session’s shows were announced this week andRubies,a brand new, original piece by Alexei, caught my attention.

Fiery, raw, and deeply sensual.

Those were the words used to describe Alexei’s new piece.

It’s exactly the kind of role that would elevate my dancing and put me in a position to be promoted to principal, the highest rank a dancer can achieve in the company.

“Should we grab a celebratory drink at Chancy’s Bar?” Dimitri asks.

The others nod and agree as they start to gather their bags.

“I can’t. I’ve got plans.”

“It better not be a date at another barre. B-A-R-R-E. Get it?” Dimitri’s laugh fills the practice room.

I laugh with the others. It’s a routine joke that while everyone else is out having fun, I’m drilling away in the practice studio.

The truth is, I couldn’t stay today if I wanted to. “I have Hannah’s rehearsal dinner tonight.”

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