by Cass Lennox
“I’ll say,” he agreed.
“Thighs like Eddie’s, did you notice that?” Gigi remarked.
Tyler bit the inside of his mouth. He didn’t want to think about her thighs. “I don’t care about her thighs. Why do you? She’s promising, but she might be trouble. You still want to swap?”
Gigi laughed, then pretended to think about it. “Hmmm, Mark the hetero bro-child with hips, or Lady Chubs-Tottington with a shitty attitude. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to at least enjoy the view. No, not a chance, man. As Shakira says, ‘Hips don’t lie.’”
“Evie moved a hell of a lot better than Mark did.”
“Mark moves fine. He also doesn’t shout at people or expect formal introductions. And I like being able to lift the girls I dance with.”
For fuck’s sake. “Gigi, stop being a misogynistic dick and tell me I haven’t made a huge mistake by letting Derek make me a part of this.”
Gigi leaned in close, smirking. “She can move, sure. You know who else can move? You. The moment she was saying no, you were there quicker than a toppy daddy at a leather convention. She is so your type, and there is no way I’m stopping you from dancing with her.”
Tyler closed his eyes, mortified. That was true. He’d seen Jean’s face fall as Evie was clearly refusing, and before he’d known it, he was next to her and begging her to say yes. What the hell had come over him? Sure the auditions were going to close soon, and they’d been having trouble finding three people for the QS dancers, but Tyler wasn’t so invested in this that he had actually been desperate. In fact, if he’d had to pull out for lack of a partner, that would have been ideal. So why had the sight of her killing it on the machine given him a sense of hope? What had made him rush to convince her?
Really, it was like he’d been possessed.
Tyler’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out to see a text from Sarah: Join us for lunch?
Oookay, no. Hadn’t he (along with everyone else) made a terrible impression on Evie? Surely the last thing she’d want is to see him again . . . Hold up, Davis—they were dancing together now, so they had to see each other again. They had to organize the sessions. Tyler wanted to mash the screen at his own stupidity. What was wrong with him today? Yeah, he was joining them for lunch.
He responded to Sarah: Where?
Her reply came straightaway: Sushigasm. Opposite the fountain.
Gigi slapped his shoulder, because obviously he had no boundaries and had read Tyler’s screen. “Go make nice, and check she doesn’t overeat.”
Someone cleared their throat behind them. Tyler and Gigi turned to see Carmen standing there, hand on hip. Behind her stood Mark and his girlfriend. “You guys cuddled enough for today?” she asked archly. “Because I have a class, and I can’t babysit these two any longer.”
Oh God, that was embarrassing. Carmen had been paired earlier with a thin woman called Claude who sported an amazing undercut and many piercings, and she had been muttering about even leaving before Mark auditioned. And now she looked pissed.
“How long have you been standing there?” Tyler asked. Carmen’s eyebrows raised, signalling, Long enough.
Mark grinned at Gigi. “Hey, man, you mean that? About my hips?”
His girlfriend nudged him. “Babe, you got awesome hips.”
“Yeah, you know it,” Mark leered.
Gigi’s face fell.
Tyler could have gagged. “And on that touching image, I’ll leave you to get acquainted.” He patted Gigi’s shoulder.
He retrieved his bag, said good-bye to Jean and Derek, and jogged through the park to the fountain at the other end. He saw Sarah, Evie, and Bailey going into Sushigasm and hustled after them.
“Four people, please,” Sarah was saying to a server as Tyler lumbered through the door. They turned to look at him and Sarah gestured at him. “See, here’s our fourth!” He risked a glance at Evie’s face, but if she wasn’t pleased at him being there, she didn’t show it.
The server led the four of them to a table near the window and settled them with menus. Sarah ended up next to Bailey, leaving Tyler to sit beside Evie. She immersed herself in the menu, apparently more interested in the difference between the Sunshine Ramen and the Mountain Ramen than in talking to him. Wait, was this lack of a reaction actually her reaction? That boded well.
“Hey, Tyler,” Bailey said.
“How’s it going, Bailey?” Tyler asked.
Bay shrugged. “It goes.”
“I completely did not expect this to happen,” Sarah said. “What are the odds? And Evazilla, I’m so mad.”
Evie looked up, startled.
“You totally held out on us! You never said you could dance.”
“I can’t.”
“You beasted that machine.”
“The dance machine isn’t real dancing.” Evie’s eyes flickered to Tyler. “I only did so well because my uni friends and I didn’t have better taste in arcade games.”
At least she knew there was a difference between the stupid machine and the real thing. “She’s right,” Tyler said.
Sarah raised her eyebrows.
“I mean, about the dance machine,” he added. “I don’t know why they wanted to use that as a way of auditioning people. It doesn’t show skill.”
“It doesn’t?” Sarah looked hurt.
Ah, God. He was on a roll of saying the wrong thing. Was she hurt on Evie’s behalf?
He glanced at Evie—who was frowning at the menu. So . . . didn’t care? “I mean, it’s a physical game,” he clarified. “Dancing is more than timing the machine right.”
Sarah still seemed upset.
He sighed. “That said, it standardized the audition, a lot of people had fun on it, and we got an idea of how people moved.”
Sarah pouted. “Jean said she was good.”
“Jean’s the finance department,” Tyler retorted.
“She’s married to a dancer. Her opinion has to have some value.”
“Have you met Derek?”
Evie pointed at the menu. “You know, I think I’ll have the teriyaki salmon.”
“Same,” Bailey said.
Nope, she really didn’t care, and Sarah was distracting him. He had to rescue this. He turned in his seat to face Evie—who looked up in surprise—and pointed at her arms. “Your arms were good.”
She seemed unconvinced.
“You did these great unconscious movements with them during that song.” He demonstrated. “Like, you have rhythm, and you understand the beat. Maybe you think you can’t dance, but I can definitely teach you something in a week.”
Evie put the menu down. “Your teaching abilities aren’t in question here.”
Well, that was something. He still got a sense that she thought he was total scum.
More importantly, why did he care so much?
“Good,” he said uncertainly. “We, uh, we have to organize the practice sessions. We only have a week.”
The server took their drinks orders, and Sarah picked up the menu. “Oh, she’s got loads of free time.”
“Actually,” Evie sounded irritated, “we’re going to Niagara Falls on Tuesday. I also have a few meetings scheduled. So while I am generally free, I do have things to do.”
Right, she was a tourist. That would make things easier for him. She could accommodate his schedule better without the work commitments students usually had. He could keep his classes rolling and keep some of his shifts at the coffee shop. Awesome. One less thing to stress about.
“Okay.” Did he sound excited? Maybe he could sound more enthusiastic. “That’s cool.”
An awkward silence fell on the table. He opened his menu and scanned the lunch options, happy for an excuse not to talk.
“I’m glad it’s you doing this,” Sarah said abruptly.
“Me?” Tyler asked.
“Yeah. I haven’t seen you perform in anything for months. Definitely nothing partnered.”
“This wasn’t really my choice,�
�� he said. “Derek kinda steamrolled me into it.”
“Maybe you needed that though.”
Drinks arrived, and they ordered food.
Sarah stirred, then sipped her lychee juice through her straw. “We haven’t been out in ages. It’s so good to see you again.”
Tyler shrugged, not wanting to discuss Lucette in front of Evie and Bailey.
“Plus,” Sarah grinned, “you’ll be an amazing representative at Pride.”
Tyler waved dismissively. “I’m a fucking Venn diagram of representation.”
“That’s exactly my point.”
“And mine. Did Derek tell me to do this because I’m talented or because I fit the queer brief?” Or the ethnic-minority brief. Tyler was pretty sure Derek was looking out for him, but he couldn’t help having doubts about Derek’s motivations.
Evie sipped her green tea. “A bit of both, I imagine.”
“Exactly,” Bailey agreed. “But it doesn’t matter. You’re awesome.”
“Whatever the reason, you’re still doing it.” Sarah looked ready to hug him, she was so pleased. “I’m super proud of you, and I can’t wait to see you and Evazilla storm the stage.”
Evazilla. Seriously, what kind of nickname was that?
“So.” Evie seemed ready to have a conversation. “How do you know each other?”
“We met at a queer society mixer,” Sarah said.
Tyler smiled at the memory. He’d been attending college for dance, she’d been at university for law, and their respective LGBTQ societies had had a joint meet. He’d found her spiking the already-alcoholic punch with cheap rum, and the rest was history.
“You were as crazy then as you are now,” he said.
Sarah turned her happiness up to full beam. “Oh yeah. And you were such a Casanova.”
Tyler smiled wryly. He’d churned through a lot of curious queer girls, grateful for the attention. It had been fun at the time, but now he had mixed feelings about those memories. He definitely wouldn’t be grateful for that kind of attention now.
Their food arrived, and they tucked in. Quietly. When Tyler felt the silence had dragged on too long, he swallowed the sashimi he was chewing and asked, “How did you two meet?”
Sarah and Evie glanced at each other and grinned. Tyler didn’t like those grins. They seemed to hint at something he maybe didn’t want to know.
Sarah began to play with her straw, lifting it in and out of the juice. “We’re both on Tumblr.”
“And we like a lot of the same stuff.” Evie used her chopsticks to load a big mouthful of salmon and rice.
“I followed you because you reblogged so much Eren/Armin slash.” Sarah’s voice had gone dreamy.
Evie swallowed her food. “And I followed you back because you liked the same yaoi I did. Remember how you found that link to the Sekaiichi Hatsukoi OVA the day it was released? And how I went totally apeshit in your messages?”
“Yes! It was so disappointing.”
Evie nodded. “Anime creators love teasing fujoshi.”
Tyler hadn’t understood any of that beyond Tumblr. They were net denizens; that much was clear.
Evie must have noticed his confusion. “Basically, we met via social media about three years ago.” Her chopsticks somehow scooped a bite-size amount of rice, a feat Tyler had never quite managed to pull off. Dextrous fingers.
“And this is the first time you’ve met each other in person?” Tyler asked.
“Yup!” As she talked, Evie’s expression actually brightened. “It’s been so nice to finally meet her. I’d always wanted to come here and see the place where she lived.” Evie waved at the view out the window. “She described Toronto so vividly that I recognized places from her descriptions. I’ve been here for two days, and it’s everything I thought it would be and more. Sarah and Bailey have been wonderful hosts.”
Really? Maybe some people liked having someone with the energy of fifty million puppies around.
He must have looked unconvinced, because she emphasized the point. “Really wonderful. Sarah is as sweet and cheerful in real life as she is in her emails.”
“Oh, Evazilla!” Sarah stood, pattered around the table, and enveloped Evie in a tight hug. “Right back at you, honey! I’m so happy you’re here!”
Bailey smiled at the sight of them, and Tyler couldn’t help smiling too. Clearly Sarah had yet to show Evie her truly evil side.
“You’re over here for sightseeing?” he asked Evie once Sarah had returned to her chair.
“Yes. Also for Pride.” Her smile left her face. “I had an opportunity to come here, so I took it.”
Sarah waved her hand at Evie. “Forget all that stuff. You’re here now. Focus on fun.”
“Oh, I am.”
Tyler glanced at Bailey, hoping they’d know what that stuff meant, but they just shrugged. Tyler dug into his sashimi.
The conversation moved on to afternoon plans, which involved a photography exhibit Evie wanted to see at some gallery on Queen Street and a movie Bailey suggested. Sounded nice to be a tourist. Tyler couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone to the movies.
Near one o’clock, Sarah noticed the time, yelled something about being late, and threw down her chopsticks. She dropped money, hugged Tyler, promised to meet Evie for drinks later that evening, then ran out.
The conversation flowed a little more slowly after she’d gone, and Tyler noticed Evie rarely addressed him. Once they paid, left, and were strolling back over the green, he decided it was time to force the issue. His stomach churned at the prospect, but he shoved the feeling down.
“Evie,” he began, “when are you free for the first practice?”
She shrugged. “Whenever you’re free. I imagine you’re far busier than I am.”
So British. “You imagine right.” He pulled out his phone and checked his schedule. He had blocked off the next afternoon preemptively. “Tomorrow, 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.?”
“That suits me.” Out came hers and they exchanged numbers.
So far, so good. They could do this. He could do this. “Great. Wear comfy clothes and shoes, and bring water and a snack. And the forms and deposit for Jean.”
She nodded distractedly, still doing something with her phone.
“It was nice to meet you, Evie.”
She finally looked up at him. Blue eyes—and how was he only noticing those for the first time? What a deep blue. The churning in the pit of his stomach faded, to be replaced by a slow, pleasant heat that radiated out to his fingertips and toes.
Evie gave a small, oddly shy smile, and held out her hand. “I won’t say it’s been a pleasure meeting you, Tyler, but I look forward to getting to know you better.”
Oh hell, she was English all right. She sounded so polite he almost hadn’t realized what she’d said. “I won’t say it’s been a pleasure.”
Jesus.
Well, in fairness to her, the audition had been ridiculous. He’d take “I look forward to getting to know you better,” though. Tyler shook her hand, fist-bumped Bailey, and started walking towards the subway.
As he slipped earbuds on, it suddenly sank in that Evie, a tourist from England who was great at eating with chopsticks and making insults sound like a compliment, was actually the best kind of dance partner he could ask for. She didn’t live here. She didn’t seem to give a shit about being good. She didn’t even seem interested in him. She’d learn the dance, make nice for the cameras, wow Sarah and Bailey, then go home, and he’d never have to see her again. All he had to do was get through this one week with her. That was it.
He instantly felt better about the whole thing.
Evie and Bailey met Sarah at a bar near her office in the city centre, a place with exposed brick walls and copper pipes snaking along the ceilings. Bailey left to work in their studio not long after Sarah arrived, leaving Sarah and Evie to stare at the mess of forms for the competition.
“I can’t believe some of these.” Evie spread them out on the table b
eside their beers. “Injury waivers, fine, but an allergy form? A questionnaire for the dance school?”
“Just covering their bases, honey,” Sarah said.
“And this from Pride.” Evie held up the volunteer questionnaire. In addition to the statistics questions asking about her ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender, preferred pronouns, etc., they wanted her home address and email, which to her meant one thing: spam. Maybe she could leave that out.
It was still sinking in that she was even doing this.
“It’s so exciting!” Sarah wiggled in her seat.
Evie wondered if there was anything Sarah didn’t find exciting about this. “It will be an experience, certainly,” she murmured, looking over the temporary member form for QS Dance.
“You’re not into it?” Sarah frowned, instantly concerned. “Were those directors really that rude?”
Evie had actually forgotten about them in the wake of exchanging contact details with Tyler. Tyler, who seemed so diffident about this competition. Tyler, with the dark eyes and curly hair and perpetual frown. Tyler, who no doubt thought she was a complete lunatic. There were reasons Evie hadn’t shared her Tumblr account with her friends and family, and his reaction was exactly why. Evazilla. It had been funny at the time she created the account, and she did maybe sort of slightly like it, but good God, five years hadn’t aged it well. She’d never been more mortified.
Plus she’d snapped at him and his boss. Called them all vultures. She’d tried to be funny about it when she said good-bye to him, but as with a lot of things that sounded good in her head, it had come out awful in real life. He’d hesitated to shake her hand. Now she’d have to dance with the guy. What had she been thinking back in that stall?
New experiences, Evie. That’s what you were thinking.
Sometimes new experiences were better left new.
“Evie?”
“Sorry? No. No, they weren’t that rude. If anything, I was just as rude.” Evie couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so overwhelmed. That had to be the only reason for her behaviour. Her mother would’ve had a fit if she’d seen the way Evie had spoken to Justine.