by Staci Hart
Rose stared Astrid down. “I don’t know if Lily would appreciate this conversation happening without her here.”
Astrid waved her off. “Please. I don’t think Lily sees what’s really going on, and she needs somebody to look after her. Bastian’s watching her from the inside, but she’s going to come to all of us for advice, and we need to know what we’re dealing with.”
I had a million questions, but I was torn between wanting to know everything and wanting to respect her privacy. “Lily’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. Why shouldn’t we let her make her own choices?”
“Because she’s blinded by his douchesparkle. This guy is trouble for Lil, and she doesn’t see it. Blane and Nadia break up all the time, so chances are, it’s only a matter of time until he goes back to her. And when he does, he could tell her everything. I can’t imagine that knowledge would make Nadia happy, and she’s already got it out for Lily.”
I fumed. “She cut the stitches in Lily’s ribbons at a show last night.”
Rose’s eyes shot wide. “She what?”
I nodded. “Lily said she couldn’t prove it or she would have told Ward.”
“That bitch.” Rose muttered.
Cooper spoke up, face tight with concern when he asked Astrid, “What do you suggest we do about it?”
Astrid shook her head with her eyes on her drink. “No idea. She’s not going to hear us if we try to convince her, so I guess we just prepare for the end of it. Nadia is ruthless, and I think she’s jealous of Lily. Plus, she knows about Lily’s crush and loves to make her look bad, especially in front of Blane. If she figures out they’re hooking up, it’s going to get ugly.”
I picked up my beer, but my stomach turned at the thought of someone hurting her. I set my glass down again. “This sucks, Astrid. What the hell are we supposed to do with this information? How are we supposed to watch her back?”
“Arm yourself with knowledge, Weston. She’s fulfilling a fantasy right now. I mean, she’s been about Blane since she was fifteen. Just the ultimate crush of her entire life. No big deal.” She shook her head. “You don’t just walk away from that. She’s going to have to see it through. I don’t doubt she’ll figure him out — she’s too smart not to — but I can’t imagine a scenario in which there’s a peaceful ending for Lily and Blane.”
I rubbed my face, wishing things were different. Lily deserved to be loved, not dicked around by some beef-headed asshole. “Are you saying there’s absolutely no chance he could care about her?”
“There’s always a chance, but from what Bastian’s told me, the guy’s a self-absorbed narcissist. Throw Nadia in on the whole situation, and it’s a time bomb.”
Rose and I glanced at each other, the worry on her face mirroring my own. “All right,” I started. “Then we’ll be there for Lily and try to help without getting involved.”
Cooper nodded. “You guys try to steer her without her realizing. Maybe there’s some way to head off the train wreck.”
Rose sighed. “Maybe it’ll work out. Maybe he really cares about her.”
The thought made me feel even sicker. “Maybe. We’ve just got to try to trust that she knows what’s best for her.”
Astrid drained her drink and set it on the bar with decision written all over her. “What if I can convince her to come to Noir and to bring Blane with her? Then we can judge for ourselves.” She picked up her phone with bright eyes as her fingers flew. “I’ll tell her to ask him to come. If he says yes, she’ll definitely come with us.”
Patrick picked up his drink. “It could work.”
I hated this plan. “Or maybe her ‘rehearsal’ tonight will be a mess, and the whole thing will work itself out.”
Astrid looked a little sad as she put her phone down. “We can hope.”
7
SPIN OUT
Lily
I PULLED OUT MY EARBUDS as I approached Blane’s studio with my nerves all over the place. The building had been converted from apartments to private studios that the owner rented out for classes and lessons and was beautiful in its own right — lofted ceilings, big windows, old, polished wood floors. I’d been thinking nonstop about this moment, the one that approached with every stair I climbed, and when I reached the door, I took a deep breath, smoothing my sweater.
I hesitated with my knuckles hovering in front of the door.
Do it, Lily.
I held my breath and knocked.
Blane opened the door, blond hair in disarray, and I caught the crisp scent of soap. I stood there staring at him for a moment, eyes on his full lips, teeth bright when he smiled at me. He looked so good — tank stretched across his broad chest, straps lying over the thick muscles of shoulders, jersey shorts hanging low on his hips. I smiled back up at him innocently, adjusting my bag on my shoulder, and he shifted out of the way to let me pass, closing the door behind me.
The studio was nearly dark, just like the last time, and I walked across the room to set down my bag. I pulled off my sweater and lost my pants, leaving me in my booty shorts. I turned when I felt his hands on my hips.
“Hey,” he said, smiling.
“Hey.” I slipped my arms around his neck.
“So, I’m sorry we haven’t had a chance to talk about everything.”
I shrugged and lied. “It’s okay.”
“And I’m sorry about last night with Nadia. It won’t happen again.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“No, really. I know how to get what I want from her. If she messes with you again, let me know. I’ll take care of it.”
The sentiment made me feel better. “Thanks, Blane.”
His arms tightened around my waist, bringing my stomach flush with his. “Thanks for keeping this between us. I know you get how complicated it is.”
“I do.” The words were a little sad.
“And who knows what Nadia would do if she found out.”
My chest tightened at the mention of her name. “What did she say when you talked to her?”
He glanced away, shaking his head. “She denied it, but I know it was her.”
I mustered the courage to ask him the question. “What happened between you two?”
My arms on his shoulders rose and fell as he shrugged. “She didn’t like us partnered together, and I’m sick of being bullied by her. The combination of the two ended in a fight where we both walked away.” His hand found my ass, and he smiled. “So now I just want to have fun, you know? Nothing complicated. You’re into that, right?”
The explanation was enough for me, and optimism washed over me. I could have fun and be not-complicated with Blane. “Works for me.” I remembered Astrid’s text and smiled up at him. “Oh! So, Saturday night, we were thinking about going to this new club. My friend got us in VIP. It’s called Noir, or something.”
Blane’s face lit up. “I keep hearing about it. The lead singer of Paper Fools started it. Apparently, his wife is an artist and designed the whole place, set it up as an investment.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Who got you on the list?”
“Cooper Moore.”
He gaped. “You’re friends with Cooper Moore?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, Astrid Thomas is my sister, remember?”
“Man, I totally forgot they dated. I’d love to go.”
“Sure. I thought it might be fun to go out. But,” my smile fell, “with Astrid and Cooper, there might be paparazzi. I don’t know how much of a secret we’ll stay.”
His brow dropped for a split second before he wiped the look away. “No worries. We’ll play it by ear.” He kissed my cheek and walked across the studio to the stereo. I felt like I was drunk as I sat down and pulled on my leg warmers — we were going on a date this weekend, and we were about to get freaky, for real this time.
I wondered what kind of music he’d turn on. Maybe Tchaikovsky or Chopin. Schubert — I loved Schubert.
Thankfully, the studio was dark because my face bent in a frown at the sound of
the experimental electronic music, a trancy, repetitive loop of atmospheric sounds that made me feel like I was on drugs. Or at least I imagined it would be something like that, since I’d never done any myself.
No, not even weed. I know, I know. Professional ballerina, remember? Goals. Aspirations. Eyes on the prize and all that.
I shook off my disdain. Blane’s lame taste in music couldn’t bring me down — I could be flexible in more than my hips.
He strutted over to me like he knew he was hot, and I pushed away the fleeting thought that he sort of put out a patronizing air, like he was doing me a favor. But that was silly — he wouldn’t have invited me over if he didn’t want me. I think.
He didn’t stop until he was so close that I couldn’t breathe, and my lids fluttered closed when he slipped a hand into my hair and pressed his lips to mine.
God, it was so nice. My only complaint was that it didn’t last long enough.
He pulled me down to the ground until we were kneeling, held me against his hard chest as his hands roamed my ass. Within seconds, his hand was in my shorts, to my disappointment. Look, I know my boobs aren’t the biggest, but they’re not bad for a ballerina, and they really, really wanted his attention. But Blane didn’t seem to be interested in much above the waist.
I almost forgot about the slight entirely when he slipped a finger inside of me.
I sighed, leaning into him, rolling my hips against his hand. This was definitely better. Last time, he’d gone straight for the gold.
“Lie down,” he ordered.
Oooh, bossy. I like it. I smiled, biting my lip as I did as he asked. He grabbed my shorts and pulled them off, leaving my leg warmers on. My brain went crazy, hoping to God he was going to go downtown like I’d imagined.
Magical.
And then, he pulled a condom out of his pocket and dropped his pants.
Thirty seconds of foreplay. That’s what I got.
So not magical.
I was so surprised and disappointed, I wasn’t even sure what to do other than lay there like a limp noodle, staring at the ceiling as he tried to prime my poor, neglected vagina to the sound of bad techno. He straightened his arms, locked his elbows so he could watch our bodies meet with each thrust. I tried to get in the zone. Thought about the too-short kiss, but it pissed me off because that’s all I’d gotten before he took me to Pound Town. Next thing I knew, he was about to come and glanced up to watch himself in the mirror.
After he slowed down, he finally looked down at me, smiling. I’m pretty sure my expression read something like, You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. But my lady bits wouldn’t take that as the end.
I put a hand on his chest and shifted to roll us over, and thank God he complied because I didn’t really want to fight about it. I’d been revving up my libido for days, and it was my turn. I settled in on top of him, hands on his chest as he laid there looking sort of … apathetic was the best word I could find in the moment. I guided his hand to my boob and tried to concentrate.
Blane Baker would get me off, goddammit, or I’d do it myself.
He gave it minimal effort, squeezing it gently, neglecting my nipples all together. I closed my eyes. There, that’s better. I put every ounce of concentration that I had on that spot, working and working until I finally I felt it coming, and then I let that hard-earned orgasm go.
Things I learned: My middle finger is a much better lover than Blane Baker.
My heart slowed down, but I was already ready to leave. I was disgusted — he’d used me, and I’d used him right back. I needed to think. I needed to talk to Rose. And I most definitely needed to get out of Blane’s studio.
Another shower wouldn’t hurt, either.
I dismounted, wishing I had the cheer of a gymnast as the word implied, and grabbed my shorts, tugging them on before I walked over to my bag. The leg warmers came off in a flash, and my sweater and leggings were on before Blane had even finished getting rid of the condom.
I picked up my bag, and when I stood, he sidled up behind me, nuzzling into my neck. “Thanks, Lily.”
“Mmhmm,” was all I could manage. I didn’t know if I was mad or hurt or what. All of the above. Too many things to verbalize in that moment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kissed my forehead and turned away, dismissing me.
I stared at his back, not even sure why I was surprised. But instead of giving in to the impulse to throw my bag at him, I gripped it tight, charged out, and ran down the stairs and to the subway with my mind spinning like a pirouette.
West
I leaned on the bar, laughing at something Cooper had said, but my smile fell when I saw Lily walk into Habits. I felt like she’d just left, and I checked the time. She hadn’t even been gone an hour. Her face was tight, lips flat, body coiled up and ready to spring. She wasn’t just annoyed or angry — she was pick-up-a-bar-stool-and-chuck-it-through-a-window pissed.
Rose hauled ass around the bar to the door, and we watched with no idea what was going on. Lily’s hands flew, cheeks red. Rose grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug, and Lily closed her eyes, nodding at something Rose said in her ear. Rose let her go, giving instructions before Lily nodded once more, eyes on the ground as she turned and left the bar just as quickly as she’d entered it.
Rose ran a hand through her hair as she walked behind the bar again, and a barrage of questions came from all of us at once.
She held up a hand to stop us. “She’s fine, okay?” We all shut up and waited. “Thank you. Her date didn’t go well, and she’s upset. I can’t leave right now.” She turned to me, eyes pleading. “Will you go talk to her?”
I was already getting up. “Of course.”
She relaxed a hair. “Thank you.”
I nodded and blew out of the bar, hoping for Blane’s sake that he didn’t hurt her. The street was dark and busy enough that I couldn’t see her until I was almost on her, despite my anxious scanning. She’d been walking fast enough that she was almost to our building.
“Lil,” I called.
She turned, looking a little confused, then annoyed as it dawned on her that I’d followed her from the bar. “Ugh, dammit, West. Did Rose send you after me?”
I searched her face. “She’s worried about you, and so am I.” I pulled her into my side, hanging an arm on her shoulder as we started walking again, trying for calm, even though the question burned in my chest. “Did he hurt you?”
“Not like that,” she mumbled.
I let out a breath. “What happened?”
She huffed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
I smiled over at her, but she kept her eyes on the sidewalk in front of her. “I know you better than that. Just tell me what happened.”
She was quiet for a second. “It’s embarrassing.”
We reached our building, and I pulled open the door for her. “I’m not gonna judge you. You know that.”
She was quiet again as we climbed the stairs.
“Lily?” I prompted.
“I know, I know. I’m getting there. Just … maybe a tiny drink would help.”
“Fair enough.” I pulled out my keys and unlocked her door for her, since she was too distracted to have gotten her keys out.
“God. Thanks, West.” She stepped in and flipped on the light, tossing her bag by the door.
“No prob,” I said as I closed the door. “What are you drinkin’?”
“Just a tiny bit of gin.” She sat down at the table and picked at the placemat hem, looking crestfallen.
I opened the cabinet for a glass, then made my way to the fridge for a little ice and a lime to twist, just how she liked it. I snagged the bottle, taking it with me to the table where I sat next to her and poured a shot. She took it gratefully, knocking it back without flinching.
The second she swallowed, she blurted, “I slept with Blane.”
I’d already known that was where she was going, and that it wasn’t the first time, but hearin
g it from her lips stopped my heart for a split second. Somehow, I kept my face straight. “And this is a bad thing?”
Her cheeks were so red, her blue eyes were electric. “Well, I hoped it wouldn’t be, but it was. It was a very bad thing. Like, an epic fail of epic, horrible proportions.”
I relaxed considerably, even though I felt like a traitor for it.
She wouldn’t meet my eyes, just looked down at the ice in her glass. “It’s just … I mean I don’t know whether he’s that inadequate in bed or if he’s just not that into me.”
I poured another shot, but drank it myself.
She chuckled and reached for the glass to pour herself another drink.
I watched her knock it back. “What exactly is going on between you two?”
Lily sighed. “He said he just wanted to have fun, which I assume also means no commitment. But whatever that was, it certainly wasn’t fun.”
I shifted in my seat. “You know that means he’s probably seeing other people, right?”
She looked uncomfortable. “Yeah. I hadn’t really entertained the thought before tonight. I knew he wasn’t trying to get into another serious relationship, but in the back of my mind, I hoped he would be so into me that he would want more. Now I don’t know if I even want more, not if he’s not genuinely into me.”
“If he’s not into you, he’s either blind or stupid. And if he’s either of those things, you should dump him. If he’s bad in bed, you should definitely dump him.”