Page 34 of Devil's Thirst

“She doesn’t have a life, that’s how. Bet I know what her Mother’s Day plans are,” the voice adds snidely.

“Yeah, doubt she can stay away from this place. She practically lives here. I could have gotten the lead too if I was psycho-obsessed.”

They’re jealous. That’s what this is about. I got a principal role, and they didn’t. I know that’s at the root of the catty comments, yet I still feel the knife’s blade wedged in my back. The part that stings the most is that they’re right. I don’t have a life. Not really.

Dance is my world. It doesn’t ask questions or look at me strangely when I can’t stand the TV on. Dance doesn’t judge or ask anything of me. Dancing is happiness—is that so wrong?

Done listening to the criticism, I go back to the dressing room, where I find Hazel sitting on the floor in front of a mound of scraps.

“Whatcha doing?” I ask, joining her on the floor.

“Trying to organize this mess.” She glares at the beautiful glittering heap as if expecting it to move on its own.

“You planning on using the Force?”

She barks out a laugh, her eyes brightening as they find mine. “I wish. I don’t even know where to begin.”

“I’ll help. How about we pull out all the ribbon to start?”

“Sounds good. Any trim can go in that pile, too.” She holds up a length of delicate pink lace, then continues sifting. “You going to see Gloria this weekend for Mother’s Day?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve been invited to a lady’s brunch with Lina and her crew. If I have time after, I may run by to see her.”

“Who is Lina’s crew?”

“The Byrne ladies.”

Hazel looks at me quizzically. “That’s your family, right?”

“It’sherfamily. I’m not sure I’d call it mine.”

“You guys are so close, though…” Her voice lifts as though asking a question.

“We’re closer than we were, but an eleven-year age difference and living apart most of our lives always made her feel more like a cousin than a sister. Don’t get me wrong—I love her more than anyone in this world. Except for little Violet, of course …but don’t tell Lina I said that.” I tease with a mischievous grin, hoping to keep things light.

It’s hard to explain my relationship with my sister. I trust her implicitly, yet I tell her very little. In part because I spent the first seventeen years of my life keeping things to myself, but also because of the guilt. I’ve already put her through so much that I hate to burden her with more worries. And now that she is maxed out with Violet, I’d feel horrible to pile more on her shoulders. She’d be absolutely decimated if she knew the secrets I’ve kept.

“I forget that you were sort of an only child. It seems so foreign to me not to grow up with your siblings. We practically lived on top of one another.” A smile peeks like a ray of sun from behind her stormy words, diminishing their effect.

“I was definitely on my own, and to this day, I’m not very good at opening up. I don’t know if I genuinely prefer to be on my own, or if I’m just really bad at meeting people.”

“You made friends with me!” she offers as evidence otherwise.

“No,youmade friends withme,” I correct her playfully. “And I adore you for it. If there weren’t people like you to pick up strays like me, we’d never find friends.”

“Psh, you would, too. It just might take a bit of effort. Fortunately, therearepeople like me out there to make it easier.” A giddy grin splits her face. “You know, I could always set you up with my brother.”

“Actually,” I start hesitantly, “I’ve sort of started talking to someone. My new neighbor.”

Her jaw drops. “I. Need. Deets. Like yesterday.”

I laugh, my cheeks heating. “There’s not much to tell, I promise. It’s still new.”

“Girl, you best not be holding out on me.”

“I swear—"

Our conversation is interrupted when one of the dancers bounds through the door and nearly trips over us in her rush to get where she’s going.

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