Page 19 of Handsome
His parents’ yacht was big enough for forty. I wasn’t sure about Cyrus or even how to help on a ship, but I had to ask, “Is it safe for Joshua if we have to, um, hoist a sail?”
An older woman who was clearly the instructor came in and set up the music.
Cyrus didn’t even blink as he said, “The rocking boat should help him sleep, and we have our own bedrooms, plus the staff that handles all the heavy work. And it’s just for two days, until we get to the island.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. In a minute he’d touch me. The house with lived-in furniture and pictures of the parents with the children showed his family really lived here, like normal people who were lucky enough to have more. I stilled as soft music cycled in the air, and said, “My life before you was riding the subway to catch a bus to get here.”
Cyrus offered his hand to walk with me to the center of the room as he said, “Well I’m happy you made the sacrifice. And speaking of, we have bicycles if you want to venture out on one again. For now, our teacher is ready for us.”
The woman walked toward me, and my jitters made me blurt out, “I’ve never had a formal dance lesson.”
She directed me to put my arm on his muscular shoulder, sending a rush through me while he lifted my other arm and locked his elbow higher. The teacher reached behind me to adjust my stance and hold as she said, “You let him lead. He steps forward, you step backwards.”
He took a step forward and I stepped on his foot. My pulse zipped and I shook my head, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he said, sounding like he meant it.
The teacher put her leg back like I should have done and demonstrated the step as she said, “Just be graceful.”
“I’ve never been that,” I said, but I studied her.
Cyrus squeezed my palm and said, “You’re a natural, Sarah. Don’t belittle yourself.”
All my life I’d gotten eyerolls if I shared my thoughts and jabs at how ridiculous I was. Grace was something women had in movies, but maybe it was me who wasn’t sure what anything meant or how I fit in it. I lifted my eyebrow and said, “I truly don't have any skills.”
He whispered and made a gesture he was about to take a step again as he said, “Sarah, be kind to yourself, the way you are with Joshua.”
Kind, and not the one who ruins all plans when I never said a word or joined in on a scheme. My eyes widened, but I stepped backwards as he went forward. It was like he understood me, as he guided me to go one way and I followed. I let out a sigh and asked, “How do you know that about me?”
He rested his head next to mine and said, “You’re easy to read.”
My heart raced, but I continued to follow him as I said, “Probably true. I never learned how to run my mother's scams. She thought I was a hopeless idiot. So did everyone else in the family. Being alone taught me I didn’t have to hear about how stupid I sounded all the time. I liked the silence, but not the loneliness.”
Cyrus was like a truth fountain, and I couldn’t stop letting everything tumble of my mouth.
The teacher clapped and said, “You’re a natural.”
I could feel the blush reddening my face as the music ended and we stopped. I shook my head and said, “Now you’re both being kind.”
Cyrus pressed against my arm and the goose bumps swarmed again while he asked, “Do you want to be my dance partner in the competition at the end of the month?”
Partners with Cyrus made no sense. I wasn’t anyone’s partner. I squinted as I said, “I’m not that good.”
He winked, a grin lurking around his mobile mouth as he said, “We’ll practice every day, so we don’t fall down, but it’s mostly for fun. I don’t need to win.”
Maybe I’d get to live out a little of my fantasy of being Cyrus’s for real while we danced. And if we weren’t going because we had to win, there was no pressure. I nodded, “Fun is something I’d love to have more of in my life.”
“Then you’re in,” he said, and nodded to the teacher.
I did the same and smiled as I said, “I’m in.”
The teacher and he discussed a schedule and virtual meetings online until my rumbling stomach announced it was time for lunch—in spite of my best efforts to keep it quiet.
A moment later the teacher left, and he rested his hand on my back again as he said, “Now you must be hungry.”
Perfect. I walked beside him, past a huge dining room that must hold a hundred people. My eyes widened at the one table. I’d only seen tables like it in historical movies and thought they stopped making them centuries ago.
I held my breath until I burst out with, “This is all too much for me.”
