“That was incredible!” Law exclaimed as I made my way over to where he stood. He held the sunflowers away from us and picked me up with one arm and spun me around in his excitement. I laughed as I playfully slapped his chest.
“Put me down!” I giggled and my feet gently touched the ground, but Law’s arm never left me.
“She was, wasn’t she?” Leah tossed a wink over at me as she and Axel made their way to our side. I let an inward sigh of relief, knowing Leah wouldn’t bring up my missteps to Law.
“We’re headed for food and then back to my place,” Axel interjected. “Want to grab a bite?”
I looked up at Law to judge what he wanted to do, but instead he answered for the both of us.
“We were going to head back to the apartment. I leave in the morning.”
My face fell at the reiterance of Law’s statement. I wasn’t ready for him to go just yet.
“I get it,” Axel spoke up, and I watched him pull Leah closer to his side.
I loved seeing how possessive he was over her. Law’s arm was wrapped around my waist. He stood there half turned toward me with the same dominance, so no one would ever dare to think they could come over here to get me.
I chuckled to myself watching Axel and Leah. You could always see how much he loved her, not just in the way he treated her, but from that look in his eyes. Law had the same look staring right back at me. I knew these two were going to get along just fine even if Leah or I wasn’t around.
“Let’s go.”
I didn’t need to reply. Wherever Law was going to take me was where I was going to go. I made a grab for my flats that were placed next to the side of the stage and put my hand in the one Law held out to me, ready to take me on his journey.
“Don’t worry about me coming home tonight!” We had just turned away from Leah and Axel, but she decided to yell it across the theatre so every bystander could hear just what she was hoping would happen between Law and me tonight.
Law led us out of the theatre into the cool night air. Most of the crowds had disappeared, but when I went to walk toward the apartment, Law stopped me. He tugged on my hand and wordlessly pointed over to a car parked on the side of the road.
“I didn’t want you to worry about walking home tonight.”
“Thank you.” I stood up on my toes to reach Law’s cheek. Instead, though, he caught my lips with his own. I let myself get lost in his kiss, not caring that anyone from the production could walk out at any moment.
“Come on, sugar.” Law finally let me go. His hands moved from my waist to holding my face. I had been so in the moment that I hadn’t even realized my arms were wrapped around his neck.
“Okay,” I spoke softly and made my way into the back of the car Law had opened the door of. When I sat in the seat, my foot kicked a bag, which I realized when picking it up was my work duffle. I had completely forgotten I’d needed to grab it back in the theatre. I had no idea how Law knew it was mine, but if I knew Leah, she probably made sure he had it with him before I left the building.
“Leah made sure the driver brought it to the car.” Law again answered my unspoken question.
I pulled the bag into my lap and checked my phone that was in the side pocket. No missed calls or texts. The only other person who would be checking on me was going out with her boyfriend and knew I was headed home. My parents rarely called me, especially on performance nights. Even though they didn’t approve of how I danced they knew the importance of focus.
“I’d lose myself if it weren’t for you guys.” I smiled at him and thought of how many times Law was going to have to watch out for me, just like Leah had.
“You know I’ll never let that happen.”
I shifted with my back toward Law and leaned into him. The ride to the apartment wouldn’t be a long one, but I wanted to be as close as I could to Law for as long as I could. The closer we got to the apartment, though, the more the pertinent questions filled my head.
“What time do you leave tomorrow?” I was glad we were in the darkness of the car and not back at the theatre where each shining light would put a spotlight on the tears that were forming in my eyes just thinking about Law leaving me. I stayed facing away from him, scared that even with this darkness he’d be able to see just how much pain was written on my face.
“My flight leaves at eight in the morning.” He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
“What time will you be leaving tonight?” I tried to ask the next question as steady as I could, but I knew the crack in my voice gave me away.
“Anya.”
I sighed at the way Law said my name.
He pushed me up and his hand came out to turn my face toward him. “My travel bag in is the trunk.”
I was startled by his response.
“I don’t plan on leaving you until I have to go to the airport.”
“We’re here,” the driver announced, and watched as he got out of the car to the trunk to grab Law’s bag, but here we still sat.
“I told you.” Law caught my attention again.
I looked him in the eyes this time, anticipating what he was going to say.
“Tonight I treat you like the queen you are to me.”
