“Dabble?” Lucy looked at her like a third eye had appeared onSpencer’s forehead. Turning to Rebecca, she went on. “She doesn’t dabble. Shecreates. She’s making me necklaces that reflect the colors of my wedding. I’mgoing to give them to my bridesmaids so they have something that nobody elsehas. Only the three of them.”
Spencer felt her face flush. “I mean, they’re not expensive. Ijust use glass and metal.”
“Stop trying to make light of what you do. You make gorgeousstuff.”
“Thanks, Luce.” Spencer was keenly aware of Rebecca watching. Listening.
Rebecca reached for the baggie, sifted the beads through her longfingers. “Great colors in here,” she said.
Lucy moved closer, stood on her toes, and pointed to the mauvebead. “This one.”
“Oh, nice.”
Spencer grinned at the two. Her friend and her…was Rebecca herfriend? A strange question that came out of nowhere. And one Spencer didn’tknow how to answer, especially when Rebecca looked up from the baggie andsnagged Spencer’s gaze with her own. Held it.
Spencer felt her heart rate kick up a notch. Or seven.
God.
Then, suddenly, as if a spell had been broken, Rebecca blinkedrapidly, seemed to make a concerted effort to tear her gaze away and force hereyes to the clock on the wall. “Yikes. Almost time for class. Better getready.” And then she very nearly race-walked away.
“She’s growing on me,” Lucy said, her eyes still on the baggie ofbeads.
Spencer nodded, her attention still pointed in the directionRebecca had walked. “Mm-hmm.”
“Come on. We’d better get changed.”
Spencer followed Lucy to the locker room, where Lucy continued totalk about the necklaces. Spencer had to admit it was incredibly flattering tohave somebody be so enamored of her work. It was one thing if it was herfamily. They sort of had to like her stuff. Or Marti, though she always seemedindifferent and had never asked Spencer to make her anything. It was quiteanother for it to be somebody as new to her as Lucy was. It was flattering,yes, but it also made her feel more pride than she had in a long time, andthatwas a nice feeling.
Once dressed and out in the gym area, they joined up with Willowand Bella. Before they finished their greetings, Rebecca joined them.
“Hello, ladies. No Brittany today, so it’s just the four of us. Iguess I’ll have to divvy up her workout and give you each a little extra.” Shewinked, and each of them let out a relieved sigh, then laughed when they heardeach other. With an amused shake of her head, Rebecca said, “Let’s stretch itout.”
The foursome eased right into their usual stretching routines, andfor the first time, Spencer realized she could do things more easily than whenshe’d first started the class. For example, the first step of the stretch wasfor her to bend at the waist, touch her hands to the ground, and walk themforward until she was very nearly in a push-up position. Next, she was to bringher left foot forward to meet her left hand, while the right foot stayed back.The first few times she’d done this move, she barely got her foot to her waist.She then had to scootch it in little skids to get it where it was supposed tobe. Now? One step. Push-up position, left foot to left hand, done.
“Your flexibility has really improved,” Rebecca said quietly, asif she was in Spencer’s head and reading her thoughts like a magazine.
Spencer grinned at the praise, and as she turned to meet Rebecca’seyes, she felt a warm hand on the small of her back.
“Keep your back flat here. Don’t arch.”
Spencer nodded, did as she was instructed.
“Perfect.”
Rebecca moved on down the line and Spencer again tried to ignoreher disappointment when the hand slid away.Whatis going on with me?She furrowed her brow.Better yet, what’s going on withher?Spencer was gettingwhiplash from the changes in demeanor. First, Rebecca hated her. Then sheseemed to tolerate her. Then she hated her again and in addition, wouldn’ttouch her. Then she liked her once more and touched her a lot. Switching legsin her stretching, Spencer mentally shook her head.I’m so confused.
The rest of the class went along in similar fashion. Rebecca wasfriendly and pleasant, and if Spencer didn’t know better, she’d think Rebeccawas trying to touch her any time a chance popped up. Adjusting her stance in astretch or tilting the angle of her elbow as she lifted weight or—Spencer’spersonal favorite, if she was telling the truth—shifting her hips during amove.
Standing at her locker now, Spencer recalled the feel of Rebecca’shands on her hips, moving them to the left, her voice very close to Spencer’sear. “Keep your hips straight. Don’t twist.”
Rebecca was causing her to gaze into space way too often.
Spencer shook herself, literally, and forced her brain back to thepresent. Lucy had left, Spencer moving way too slowly for her to stick aroundand wait. She’d given Spencer a funny look but then gathered her things andheaded home, so Spencer didn’t dwell much on it. Sucking in a large breath, shereleased her ponytail and brushed her hair, finished getting her thingstogether, and finally—finally—closedher locker.
Her determination to stop daydreaming and concentrate on the otherimportant things in her life was short-circuited by the sight of Rebeccasitting alone at her desk, staring off into space. Spencer had to walk rightpast her, and almost had when Rebecca shifted her focus and made eye contact.
Spencer lifted one hand in a casual wave.
