Page 80 of When Hearts Awaken

Heavy footsteps echo down the hallway outside. “I-I got to go. Keep me posted, Emerson.”

I don’t wait for his response before I hang up and slide the phone back into my pocket.

“Taylor, I’ve been looking for you. I want to discuss the final lift with you. I think if you angle your leg—” Sir Ian frowns and cocks his head to the side, his startling eyes crinkling in obvious concern as he steps into the room. “Is everything okay?”

I shove my hands behind my back. “F-Fine. Everything is fine. Just a little homesick on Thanksgiving, that’s all.”

His eyes soften. “I’m so used to traveling around the world, I completely forgot today is Thanksgiving. I’m sorry you don’t get to spend it with your family, but Happy Thanksgiving, Taylor.”

My nostrils flare, my heart still racing too quickly inside me, but I think about Grace and Steven, who’re celebrating in LA with Steven’s family. Millie is also there because her shrewd billionaire brother, Adrian Scott, is married to Steven’s older sister, Emily. Belle and Maxwell are with the rest of the Anderson crew and Olivia has plans with her parents in Brooklyn.

I wish I were there with them.

“It’s okay. I should get used to this,” I square my shoulders and look him in the eye, “because if I’m going to be a principal ballerina, I will travel throughout the year as well.”

Sir Ian quirks his lips into a smile and I startle—the expression reminds me so much of Charles. “I like your gumption and spirit. Come with me.” He waves his hand, motioning for me to follow.

I quickly fall behind him.Focus on the dance, the performance. The past is in the past. Don’t let it control your future.

“I’ve seen improvement on your Odette. So, good job on that. I think you can do better, though. As I said, your lift should be…”

Discreetly, I power off my phone, needing to close the lid on the nightmare threatening to resurface.

The past is in the past.

But I can’t help but feel it’ll somehow taint my future.

Chapter 34

“Cheers!” Lisa throws herarm around my shoulder and hefts up her glass, the alcohol sloshing over the rim. “Oops,” she giggles, eyeing the large red stain on her white tube top, “I look like I got shot.”

I shake my head and hand her drink to Dev, who slides in next to us at the crowded bar top. “You’re so drunk, Lisa. Dev, save me from her.”

Dev chuckles, his eyes shining with love as he bends down and kisses his girlfriend, and that uncomfortable twinge in my chest makes a reappearance. “You’re such a cute drunk,” he murmurs.

You can have that too if you take a chance. Someone wants to take off his mask with you.

My pulse kicks up at the thought of Charles, who I haven’t seen since we wrapped up our last performance two hours ago. I distinctly remember seeing him in his usual box right before the performance, the fervor in his stare setting my skin on fire.

His lips curved into a ghost of a smile when he caught me looking at him before he turned to his companions in business attire.

Like all the times before, I felt reassured and comforted because of his presence. Somehow, I knew things would turn out okay.

The performance itself was uneventful, and while I wasn’t blowing anyone away with my Odette, I knew I was doing a great job as Odile. I was met with thundering applause at the end of my thirty-two turns.

During the curtain call, my eyes drifted over to Charles’s private box. He stood there clapping, a soft smile on his lips as he mouthed,“Good job.”

I felt the compliment right in my flurried heartbeats and wondered if, despite my efforts to keep my distance, to protect what was left of my broken heart, if he’d already snuck in and stole it away.

He left with his group after the performance, no doubt to some business dinner, then to the airport. I overheard from Lisa earlier that Charles had to go back to New York to take care of some business. I wouldn’t see him again for a few months.

I fought the aching disappointment settling on top of my chest.

Why didn’t he let me know?

Probably because you insisted on keeping him at arm’s length.

Isn’t this what you wanted, Taylor?

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