Page 6 of Skating the Blue Line
Satisfied with everything, I start making my way to the front of the theater where the cocktail hour is being held.
Along the way, I pass a few of my fellow dancers, who throw compliments my way. But it’s one dancer that has my smile of the night growing even more.
“Damn, Chlo. You look hot! I would definitely leave my husband for you.” Betty, a fellow dancer, and my best friend, says as I walk towards her in the hallway.
I give her a twirl, that way she can get the whole effect. “Isn’t the dress gorgeous?”
“The dress? Girl, I wasn’t talking about the dress, I was talking about you! You’re looking smoking hot right now,” she tells me, and I can’t help but to beam.
Betty always tells me that I look good. I can be wearing my most raggedy sweats and she will tell me I look gorgeous. For some reason hearing those words tonight, though, enhances this high I’m in.
I had an amazing night on stage, I feel absolutely gorgeous and my best friend telling me such makes me feel like I’m on the moon or something.
“Thanks.” I say, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Aren’t you heading to the party?” I ask, taking notice that she’s in sweats and still has stage makeup on.
Betty lets out a sigh. “I got a call from Cole. One of the kids is throwing up and he’s freaking out. I have to go and rescue him.”
My best friend is about three years older than me and has been by my side ever since I signed on to be a company dancer. That was almost eight years ago, and we have been at each other’s hips ever since. We’re very much alike, but while we are both professional dancers for the Chicago Dance Company, we’re in different stages in our lives.
Betty is married and a mom to two adorable kids and while she loves dancing just as much as I do, she has decided that this will be her last year. She is retiring as a dancer and putting up her pointe shoes.
All the while, I’m here at the peak of my career, nowhere near calling it quits or even close to thinking about having kids or getting married.
“That sucks. Who’s supposed to rescue me when I get approached by creepy old men?” I tease, knowing that her kids are more important than some silly party.
“Oh, please. You can handle them on your own.” She rolls her eyes all the while a smile plays on her lips.
I can’t help but laugh. She’s right, I can handle any creep that comes my way.
“I guess. Go take care of your babies.” I wave her off.
Betty closes the distance between us and plants a sloppy kiss on my cheek.
“Call me tomorrow with all the gossip,” she says when she pulls away.
“What gossip? I doubt anything is going to happen at a function put on by a suit company.” I say, laughing a little
Betty lets out a gasp like she can’t believe what I just said. “Hello. Half of Chicago’s elite is in that room. Anything could happen. Especially when everyone sees you walk in with that dress on. Not only will you be the talk of the town, you’ll probably have more than a handful of offers from old men begging to be your sugar daddy.”
I roll my eyes at her dancing eyebrows and at the smirk that is currently forming on her face.
“Don’t you have a husband to go rescue or something?” I ask, give her a shove.
She laughs before leaning in again and giving me another kiss. “I’m not kidding, text me all the details. I bet a coffee tomorrow that you go home with a hottie tonight. You look worthy of some toe sucking.”
“So gross. Go.” I say through a laugh, shaking my head at my best friend.
Betty lets out a laugh to match mine before giving me a wave and walking away.
Toe sucking worthy.
I knew I was looking hot tonight but damn that is another level. One that I really don’t want to reach.
Nobody and I mean nobody is putting their mouth on my toes. I have ballerina feet and half the time I don’t even want to touch them.
Just thinking about it makes me cringe.
So gross.
