“Pizza, jelly beans, what are you going to ask for next? Ice cream?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re making me fat, young lady. I’ve gained at least fifteen pounds in the last year.”
“I know, right? Me too. At least you’re not alone. It’s us against the world, right, Owen?”
“Yes, it is indeed you and me against the world. But I’m still trying to fatten you up from before, so the extra weight looks amazing on you. Me, not so much.” He’d pushed his belly out, trying to appear bigger. He was very fit and didn’t have an ounce of fat on his body. He just loved to tease me.
“You said you were going to teach me some new survival skills. Is that still happening?” I asked eagerly.
“I will, but only if you hand over some of the good jelly beans. Quit being stingy, now.”
I dug in the bag and picked out the last of the red ones. There were about twelve in all. “I was saving these for you.” I put them in his hand, and he smiled at me, his brown eyes making me feel at home.
That was what Owen was to me:home. And now I was alone once more.
He had taught me so much over the years we were together. I’d learned everything from basic life skills to survival skills. I could hunt, fish, field dress an animal, use a variety of weapons, and more. All thanks to him. Had it already been two years without him?
I shook myself from the memory as Sarah put herself in front of the mirror and waved her hands in my face. “Do you feel any different now that you’re officially legal?”
It looked like no matter how much I’d rather forget it was my birthday, Sarah, the closest thing to a friend I had these days, wasn’t going to let me.
“You have no excuse now. You, me, the club, tonight. It’s going to be epic.” Her blond hair was tied back in a ponytail, and it swung rhythmically as she warmed up at the barre.
Stepping away from her, I chose not to respond. Instead, I focused on warming up. A year ago, I met Sarah at the dance studio. I couldn’t believe it had been that long. Pain wrapped around my chest, squeezing it in a vise grip, and I knew it had everything to do with the unopened envelope sitting on the kitchen table at home.
I’d told myself I’d open it after dinner tonight. It took everything in me to walk to the safe this morning and pull it out. It had been sitting in there for at least three years. Since I hadn’t asked him anything about the rescue or how we were connected by the time I was eighteen, Owen had written it all down.
I knew ignoring the contents would never help free me from my past. I wished now I would have had him tell me himself. Somehow, reading his words only felt like it would enhance the feelings of loss. I didn’t want to think about it anymore, reminding myself that the envelope wasn’t going anywhere. What’s one more year in the grand scheme of things?
The music pulsed through the system speakers, and I counted out the beats, pulling my legs and executing a perfect grand jeté. The two years I’d spent in captivity performing nothing but ballet had taken its toll. Having it forced upon me only made a once-desired dream something I could barely stomach.
Instead, I now focused on all other forms of dance. Dancing was still my passion, and there was freedom in it being my choice, since I was forbidden to practice any other dance styles while being held captive.
I once dreamed of being a prima ballerina, but not anymore. That hope died when I left that hellhole behind. Instead, I now focused on the energy surging through my veins and used my skills for warming up.
Moving into pirouettes, I allowed my body to act on autopilot. I swiveled my head around, keeping my spine straight, and continued to spin over and over. Sarah called my name, and I came to a stop.
My chest heaved, and I sucked in air to ease my breathing as Mr. Dulaine called the class to the floor. Sarah and I made our way over, and I took a seat next to her as our instructor waited for everyone to quiet down. There was a buzz in the air, and the class was full of energy.
She nudged me and said, “I tried to get us into this one place, but you have to have an invitation, and apparently, those are rarely given. Rumor has it the owners are hot as fuck, but I got us into the next best club. I promise we’ll still have fun. Oh, and if you even try to cancel on me tonight, I’ll tell Jackson you think he’s hot. And then he’ll never leave you alone,” Sarah teased.
“You wouldn’t? And don’t worry. Unless the world ends and the zombie apocalypse happens, I’ll be ready to go.” I meant it. There was no way I wanted to be alone tonight. I needed the distraction, and even though I was almost 100 percent positive that the club scene would not be for me, the alternative was simply pathetic.
“Maybe we’ll even get you laid. When was the last time?”
“I mean,” I stammered, trying to figure out how to respond.
I had never had a boyfriend, so I was still the proud owner of a V card. Living remotely with Owen for all those years, along with my past, made exploring that avenue a bit difficult. I didn’t exactly run into many guys in the off-grid cabin we lived in.
Not to mention, after Owen died, I was more preoccupied with learning to live alone for the first time in my life instead of finding a boyfriend. But this was not something I planned to discuss with Sarah. Thankfully, Mr. Dulaine began the class, and she stopped talking.
“Ladies, gentlemen, I know you remember me mentioning I had something special coming a few months back, and today is the day.” Mr. Dulaine’s booming voice had quieted everyone.
“What do you think it is?” Sarah whispered. I shrugged my shoulders, as there was no telling with our instructor. How this little town got someone of his caliber was beyond me, but it was one of the primary reasons I’d moved here a year back.
Mr. Dulaine was thirty-five and stood about five feet eleven. He was married to the sweetest woman, who would often pop in to watch him dance. Specializing in a variety of dance styles made taking classes with him not only interesting but also provided the perfect escape at a time when I needed it the most.
