“Please wait for me,” I whispered. “Don’t leave until I’m done.”
He nodded and I walked up to the step and repeat to join the entire team of skaters in front of the cameras. I played along during the silly Q&A session, keeping one eye on Ben to make sure that he didn’t try to sneak away.
I could sense his unhappiness despite the wall of people between us. The dim lighting didn’t hide the furrow between his eyebrows.
“Do you mind if I head out?” I asked Erica and Kayla as we were herded away from the cameras. “I’m just not feeling this tonight.”
“Aw, are you sick?” Kayla asked, frowning at me.
I shook my head. “I’m tired, that’s all. I could use a couple of hours of quiet.”
With Ben.
“Okay. I’m staying here until they kick me out, so enjoy the alone time,” Erica said.
“Same,” Kayla echoed. “This is the last fun I’m having until it’s all over.”
“Enjoy. Make smart choices,” I cautioned, staying true to my chaperone roots.
I caught up to Ben in the lobby that was so tricked out with red, white, and blue that it felt like a political rally.
“Ready?” I asked. “They know you’re leaving?”
“They do. But you’re not.”
He fixed me with a glare that made me wonder if something had shifted between us. Instead of answering I walked to the coat check and handed over my ticket, staring at him with a “try me” expression. I made a show of putting my coat on and buttoning it all the way up while he watched.
“Let’s go,” I said, striding past him as fast as my stilettos would allow.
My hand was on the door when he caught up.
“I carpooled with them so I was planning to walk back to my hotel.” He nodded toward my feet. “Those aren’t walking shoes.”
I pursed my lips at him. “Every jump I land puts pressure on me that’s five times my body weight. Ononeleg. So I think I can handle a few blocks in Louboutins. Anyway, my toes no longer have feeling.”
“Hey, at one point I wanted to shave off my pinkie toes because of the pinching, so I get it.” He paused. “But are yousureyou want to leave?”
I answered by pushing open the door and pirouetting out. I’d dressed for a “cab to curb” night, forgoing a hat and gloves to be cute. Now I was going to pay the price, but it was worth it.
Ben caught up to me and I finally saw a smile.
The quiet night felt like the perfect antidote to the energy of the party. I hadn’t had much time to sightsee other than our side quest to the countryside, so I craned my neck to take in the beautiful moonlit architecture all around us. It was a place where medieval, lace-front churches coexisted with glass skyscrapers.
“What’s the vibe with the crew?” I asked as we fell in step. “Is it going well?”
“Definitely,” he answered a little too quickly. “The coverage has been phenomenal.”
I smacked my forehead. “Oh my god, I’ve been meaning to ask you where Neil and Hailey are! I thought they were coming too.”
“Things change all the time in production,” he said, staring at his feet as we walked. “Just like we experienced with your show. I haven’t connected with them in a bit but I’m pretty sure they were reassigned.”
“Bummer,” I said. “It seemed like they were excited to come.”
“It’s a tough business,” he answered with a shrug.
The streets turned to cobblestones as we walked through amore crowded part of town. One of the busy restaurants had a speaker mounted outside that was playing a lovely piano song with a woman singing in Italian. I paused to listen.
“It’s a waltz,” I said.
