He nods and sets the duffle next to the dressing table.
“I need to get my costume and to let—”
“No. Sit down. They’ll come to you.”
My heart flutters, but I try to contain my excitement over the fact that he thought my performance warrants this. I remind myself that everyone worked hard to make the show a success, including and especially Rachel. This isn’t all about me. “Connor, I don’t want anyone to think I asked for this dressing room on the second day of the show.”
His brow cocks. “Zoe, it’s all right to act like the star when youarethe star. But if it makes you feel better, I doubt anyone will think this was your idea. Wherever I am, people assume I’m calling the shots. Which I am.”
“But even that... people could get the wrong idea about us.”
“You mean Frank Palermo could? What’s going on there? Were you involved with him?”
“Involved?” I say, confused.
“Did you go to bed with him?”
I suck in a breath. “No! God, no!”
“Good.”
“But you’re in a war with him. And I visit his house. That could be awkward. Or worse.”
“Then you should stop going to his house. Rachel can come to your apartment. No reason you need to hang out in the Palermo mansion, is there?”
“Am I addicted to the sauna and swimming pool, do you mean?” I say with a bitter little laugh, thinking about how Rachel and I were encouraged to use and be photographed by the pool the summer before.
“Are you addicted to anything there?”
I shake my head. “Sometimes it was fairly sketchy to open my eyes and find a big camera lens pointed at us. I will miss swimming though. Maybe C Crue can buy the community center and reopen the pool. Since you’re in the revitalization business,” I say, swirling a finger to indicate the dressing room and theater.
“Maybe,” he says noncommittally.
I have no idea why I said that. I’m not going to be Connor McCann’s five-minute girlfriend and then be forced to desert my years-long relationships for the sake of a quick fling. I’m not even sure Frank would let me do that without some really horrible scene. And what if he decided I didn’t need to see Rachel anymore? Unthinkable. The best thing to do is walk the line until I can get out of this situation.
“I’ll be back,” Connor says before he walks out of the dressing room.
I turn toward the mirror.Concentrate on the show. Get ready for the show.
* * *
Connor
I send the backstage people in to Zoe. They transform her back into a beautiful bird.
For this performance, I sit at the far left of the front row. The music isn’t as intense and fantastic during this show, but Zoe’s just as amazing as she was the first time. After her bows, I walk backstage and wave away the guy who helped her get in costume.
I enter the dressing room with one thing on my mind.I want her.
She’s flushed and moving with barely restrained energy.
“What did you think?” she asks.
“I think you’re incredible.”
The smile she flashes is brighter than the stage lights.
“Did you notice anything different this time?”
