Page 16 of The Virgin's Dance
“Yes.” Boh kept her tone even, neither friendly nor rude.
Eugenie smirked. “Are you even American?”
“Okay, that’s it.” Pilot grabbed Eugenie by her upper arm and steered her towards the door. Eugenie cackled. “She tells you she’s the principal, Pilot, but I suspect she’s just the help …”
Pilot, his face creased in anger, pushed her out of the door and slammed it. He turned to Boh, who was standing, shocked. Had that just happened? Had that scrawny bitch really called her thehelp? Boh had suffered enough racism in her life that she had come to expect it, but so out of the blue like that?
“Boh, I’m so sorry, I—”
“Who the fuckwasthat?” She looked at him with disbelieving eyes.
Pilot’s shoulders slumped. “My ex-wife.”
“Youwere married tothat?” Boh realized her voice was getting higher, but the shock of almost sleeping with him, then being interrupted by that …
Pilot nodded and she noticed how tired he looked, how distressed. Her face softened and she went to him, wrapping her arms around him. “It’s okay.”
He buried his face in her shoulder. “It’s not,” his voice was muffled, “but it’s my reality.” He looked up, and Boh was shocked by the pain in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Boh.”
“It’s not your fault.” She placed her palm against his cheek. He leaned into her touch and she stroked her thumb over his face. “What did she do to you?” Her voice was a whisper.
Pilot shook his head. “I really don’t want to talk about it, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.” She gave him a small smile. “We’re not at the sharing histories part yet.”
Plot smiled at her. “And, although there’s nothing more I’d like than to make love to you, Boh … we’re not there yet either. I’m sorry about earlier.”
She wasn’t stung; she knew he was right. “I know. Call that … second base.”
He chuckled. “I want to do this right,” he told her, his eyes serious. “Let’s work together, and date. Have fun before it gets too … everything is so fast these days. What about anticipation? What about slow burn?” He pressed his lips to hers. “And there’s so much to consider if we decide to give it a go. But, for now, what I’d like, what I so desperately need, Boh, is fun.”
She chuckled. “Then you’ve got it, handsome.” She sighed. “But I think I should go, now.”
He smiled. “Please stay. We can order pizza, watch old movies, talk about the pictures we took.”
Boh weighed how she was feeling. Her emotions were still roiling around inside her, her desire for Pilot overwhelming, but the mood had been ruined by his vicious ex-wife. Did she really want her first time with him to be sullied by that?
No.
But she also didn’t want to say goodbye. She touched his face. “I’d liked that.” She was rewarded by the boyish grin she loved. They settled on the couch when their food arrived, then watched movies and talked late into the night. They fell asleep on the couch, arms wrapped around each other. As Boh gave into unconsciousness, she smiled as she felt Pilot’s lips against hers and wished she could fall asleep this way for the rest of her life.
Chapter Ten
Kristof was celebrating. After Boh had left, he and Liz had finally sat down to discuss his show. “The Lesson,” he said firmly, and raised his hands before she could argue with him. “Non-negotiable. You know my reasons—it’s the ultimate sex and death ballet.”
Liz sighed. “And the most controversial.” She contemplated for a moment then turned back to him. “All right. I’ll agree on condition we include, in the other two parts, ballets with a softer side to them.Romeo and Juliet, andLa Sylphide.”
Kristof nodded. “Fine. La Sylphidefirst, thenRomeo, thenThe Lessonas the finale.” He remembered a promise. “Boh and Vlad forLa Sylphide, Serena and Jeremy forRomeo, then Boh and Elliott forThe Lesson. That’s who I want, Liz.”
“You’re promoting Serena to principal?”
“Hell, no. Soloist, but I need a different face for Romeo.”
Liz studied him. “Boh’s ready?”
“More than, despite what I tell her. Never hurts to keep them guessing.” Kristof sighed, absentmindedly rubbing his nose. Liz never missed a thing.
“You’ll remember to submit your urine sample for testing?”
