Page 23 of Twilight Echoes
“You’re impossible,” she muttered. “I pranced around in my bikini and he didn’t even look. Not even when my parents weren’t home. So, one day, I marched right up to him, grabbed him by the face, and planted one on him.”
“That’s one way to get a boy’s attention.”
“Only, it turns out he was gay.” She shook her head. “Story of my life since my next crush was on Brandon.”
Darrell nuzzled his face in her neck. He kissed her sweet skin. “Your mate is not gay and you’re the only woman I’ll ever desire.”
“Let’s get back to this.” She tapped her computer screen. “Looks like Faza’s working on Broadway as a choreographer. I’ll have my father check out her coven.”
Darrell sighed. “While I don’t remember too many names, I do remember that in that class, there were only a couple of soliddancers who had a promising career, but most were at best, good teachers in the making.”
“Except Regan Wilcox. She was a snot and a half and one big mean girl.”
“Who was she?”
“She was the oldest girl in the class, and it was her last shot, and I took the spot. She never got the chance to dance with you that day. After I went, that was it. The directors had made their decision.” Avery shifted the screen, showing an archived image from the dance studio. She pointed to a tall girl standing in the back. “That’s Regan.”
“Oh God. Yeah. I remember her. We took classes together when I first came to the studio. That day, when I left, she was in the bushes. I have no idea why, but I figured maybe she was smoking or something and thought she could hide it. That girl was weird.”
“Wait. What?” Avery’s fingers paused, hovering over the computer. “She was where?”
“Remember those big purple bushes in the back parking lot?”
Avery nodded.
“I’d seen her hide back there a few times over the years, and once or twice, I’d see a puff of smoke. I thought it was one of those e-cigs. Gross habit, but she wouldn’t be the first dancer to pick up that nasty shit. One way to deal with the stress of it all. But she was the same age as me.”
“And you’re sure you saw her that day?”
“My memory could be off. But I believe I was waving goodbye to you, noticing her, which gave me a sudden chill, and then I got into my parents’ car. With both parents being wolves, they sensed I’d imprinted and we went right into that discussion, so I didn’t think too much more about the weirdo in the bushes.”
“I got a chill that day, too,” she whispered as she pressed a button. “It was Regan.”
“How can you be so sure?”
She turned the computer screen. “Because there is nothing about her anywhere. No social media. Nothing except one mention from the studio archives.”
He reached for his phone. “Let’s call Miss Tammy and see if she knows what happened to her.” Tammy had been gracious enough to give them a list of students from that year, so he hoped she’d be willing to share whatever she could about Regan.
“Hi, Darrell,” Miss Tammy said as he hit the speaker button. “Twice in one day. I’m flattered. Does this mean you’ve given some thought to making an appearance, and have you talked to Avery about it?”
“I’m sure we can arrange something in the future,” he said, lacing his fingers around Avery’s, caving to his desire to feel her smooth skin and enjoy a little fairy dust, although whatever Trask had done controlled how much she produced. “I was hoping you could tell me whatever came of Regan Wilcox.”
“Regan? That’s a name I haven’t heard in years. Why do you want to know about her?”
“I can’t really get into that, but I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important, and we can’t find anything on the internet about her.”
“The only thing I can tell you is that she quit when she didn’t make the company. Her parents showed up a few days after the audition and informed me that neither Regan nor her sister would be returning. I haven’t heard from or seen any of them since.”
“Thank you, Miss Tammy. Avery and I will get back to you with some dates that might work for us.”
“Thank you so much. I was thrilled to see you’d taken the job with the New York City Ballet and are working with Avery. I wish we had videotaped that audition. It was so moving.”
“In more ways than one.” He smiled as he pulled Avery closer. “Talk soon.” He ended the call and tossed his cell to the cushion next to him. Tracing her lower lip with his finger, he leaned closer.
“Darrell,” she said in that soft, sweet voice that started a fire deep in his gut. “I know we’re mates. But I don’t want to push this too far. Not until we have a handle on all this.”
“Shhhh. We’re alone, and I want one kiss.” So much for being respectful.
