They finished filming the interview, and then all the skaters stood in a semicircle while Michelle announced the first challenge.
“This week, you will all be performing a swing dance. Your program should be no less than three minutes long and must include at least one stationary lift and a not-touching step sequence of at least fifteen seconds. Good luck!”
“Sheesh.” Sawyerlooked at Robbie somewhat wide-eyed. “Your hair.”
Robbie huffed and placed his hands on his hips. “What about my hair?”
“It’s all…” Sawyer waved his hands in the air. “Woosh and modely. It looks amazing.”
“Are you suggesting that my hair isn’t always amazing?”
“Well—”
Robbie scuffed Sawyer’s head. He took care of his hair—he had no desire to be a compelling argument for all men to have buzz cuts.
“So….” Sawyer eyed him from his homework spot at the kitchen island. Robbie would claim it as evidence of his successful parenting, but Sawyer was too damn curious to not learn and also maybe too sassy to pass up the opportunity to show up a teacher.
“So?” Robbie grabbed a fizzy water from the fridge and eyed the rest of the contents as he considered dinner. Leftover pasta or stir-fry?
“So.” Sawyer sighed with great exasperation. “How was the first day?”
“Fine.”
“That’s it? Just fine?”
Robbie paused to consider. He wasn’t going to tell Sawyer he’d asked if Finn would sit on his face in public. “Sure.” He shrugged.
Sawyer made a noise like a stepped-on cat.
“Well, what do you want to know?”
“Did you meet Finn? Did you go on camera? Did you skate?”
“Yes, yes, no.”
“Robbie!”
“We have to practice off ice first. I met other people involved in the show, including the competition, and learned about the first challenge.”
“And Finn?” Sawyer leaned forward a bit and then caught himself and slouched again.
Robbie narrowed his eyes but didn’t call him on the weird behaviour. “What about him? He was there. I told you I met him.”
“Obviously.” He rolled his eyes. It looked painful. “What do you think of him? I mean you have to work with him. Is it going to work, do you think?”
Robbie pulled the leftovers from the fridge as he considered. Even when Sawyer was a little tot and first talking, Robbie always did his best to take his questions seriously. He couldn’t seem to break the habit, even if fourteen-year-old Sawyer should learn to mind his business.
“Yeah. I mean, it’s a bit weird, and Finn mentioned needing to adjust the style for two men, but he’ll probably find that harder than me, since the only ice dancing I know is what I’ve not yet done withDance Your Ice Off.”
He opened the container of pasta and dished it onto plates for reheating.
“So you like him?”
“Sure, he seems nice.”
“Just nice?”
Jesus, what was he angling at? Robbie was trying to get them dinner, here. “Seriously. What—is this about Imogen? Are you worried I’m gonna hate him? Even if I did, you don’t think I’d pull a Romeo and Juliet on you, do you?” He eyed the book open on the counter. “I’m not going to forbid you from seeing your Capulet, no matter what I think of Finn.”
