Page 33 of Shadow Dance

And that’s when I realize that we’re of like minds when it comes to Callum Barry. I’d suspected, but now I know. We have different motivations, different relationships with him, but all this circling we’ve been doing around each other just proves that we don’t trust each other because we don’t trusthim.

“Nah. It’s not like that,” I say, letting the seriousness of my tone strengthen my message. “I get why you think it is, but it’s not. I don’t repeat the shit people tell me in confidence.”

“Why not?” she asks, shaking her head. “You’re part of his crew. How can I trust you if your position depends on his favor?”

There’s truth to what she’s saying, though not for the reasons she thinks. “There’s a lot about me that you don’t know. I might work with Callum, but it doesn’t mean I approve of everything he does, okay?”

Now she looks at me, her seaglass eyes flickering with a tumult of emotion. She wants to believe me. I can see it.

“I promise,” I say, pushing. I don’t know why it matters to me so much. Maybe because I’ve started caring about her and I just want to help ease the burden.

“You’ll think it’s weak,” she admits, gnawing on her lower lip.

“Try me.”

“Have you ever been in love?”

I snort. “I’m probably not the best person to ask.”

She turns toward me, tucking her leg up. She’s wearing black and white high top Jordans today. Her sneaker game is always on point. Is that her thing, or Cal’s? “Why not?”

“Because I’ve seen a lot of shit, okay?” I laugh a little. “You could say I’m a little on the cynical side.”

“But you’ve dated?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, okay. I get it,” she says knowingly. “Nothing too heavy because that means being vulnerable, and you don’t like that.”

She’s pretty damn perceptive, though I wouldn’t have put it the way she did. “We’re talking about your love life, Dr. Maeve, not mine.”

“Fine, but if we’re going to be all up in each other’s business, we’re definitely coming back to this topic,” she says, poking my arm. “I can’t believe you’ve never been in love! You have to at least once before you die. It can beglorious.”

“Can’t wait,” I say wryly. I’m not sure how her train wreck of a relationship is supposed to encourage me to embark on one of my own, but whatever.

Tupac’s “I Get Around” comes on, amusingly appropriate given this conversation. I drum my fingers against the steering wheel, matching the rhythm of the track. “Look, if you feel like deflecting, just say that.”

“Ugh, fine. Being with Callum is familiar, right? For better or for worse, I know what to expect.” She rubs her face. “Usually. I think I’ve just gotten used to this life. To him.”

“You guys have been together a long time.”

“Over ten years, which is crazy,” she says. “You know how theperson I was when you met me isn’t really who I am? Like, we met during a shitty time of my life?”

I nod, glancing at her.

“That’s kinda like me and Callum. We were so in love, so into each other all through high school and college. I knew he was the one from pretty early on. But then we graduated, and long distance was hard, and even though he’s always been supportive of my dancing, he hated that it took me away from him. It got to the point where I was always traveling, always on planes, squeezing visits in between touring with my company. I was so exhausted, tired of arguing. So, I figured I’d come out here. We’d always wanted to live together, and it seemed like a good time to try.”

I wonder if Maeve realizes how typical this kind of situation is with guys like Callum. He could’ve followed her around while she lived her dreams, but instead he guilted her into coming here and living his. But I keep my commentary to myself because she’s not ready to hear that shit.

“And is it what you expected?” I prod.

“Not really,” she says. “But it’s easier to stay.”

“Easier than what?”

“Than acknowledging that maybe I was wrong and my family was right. That I invested all of this love and devotion and time into a relationship that isn’t what I thought it was.” Her voice wobbles, and she turns away, wiping her cheek. “I can’t believe I just word-vomited all of that. You might’ve missed your calling as a therapist, Jaime.”

“Maybe I’ll switch professions,” I joke. “It’s never too late.”

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