“Don’t starve because of something that’s hours away,” he says. “I’ll pick you up at eight-thirty. Does that work?”
I shrug.
He leans in close to me, so close I can smell his aftershave. “We can talk about us then.”
I turn my head to meet his determined gaze. “What if the timing isn’t right for that?”
“Then we’ll find a time that is.” He reaches for a scallion pancake. “I want to know everything about you, Savannah. I especially want to know the reasons why you push me away, even though I know you like me.”
I bite my lip as he raises his eyebrows.
“And tonight will be our first date,” he says confidently as he takes a huge bite of his pancake.
I stare at him until he breaks into a chuckle. “You’re cute when you’re not sure what to say,” he says. “Don’t worry—we’ll have fun.”
“No!” I say too loudly. I glance back at my open door and lower my voice to a near whisper. “Tonight is NOT a date, Cam. It’s a business function. One I’m being forced to attend. We can’t combine a business event with dating.”
“Call it whatever you want to,” Cam says as he swallows his bite of food. “But you know the truth, Savannah. It’s a date.”
Chapter Fourteen
The rest of my workday goes by in a blur, and before I know it, I’m at the dance studio. Our troupe of eight warms up together, and then we drive to Apollo’s Restaurant in Clarissa’s van.
We’re just pulling into the parking lot when my phone chimes with a text.
I open the screen and glance at the message. It’s from a number I don’t recognize.
Hello Vannah,
I hope this text finds you well. How about coming to the game this year? We could get together after. I’d love to see my favorite daughter.
I clutch the phone so hard I can see my fingers turning white.
Daddy.
My father’s had my number for the last six years. He never once contacted me. I tried his phone after he left, and it had already been disconnected.
“Savannah?”
I tear my gaze off my phone and look up into the worried eyes of Marcia, a fellow dancer.
“Are you all right?” she asks me. “You look like you’ve heard from a ghost.”
That’s because I have.
I take a deep breath and assure her I’m fine. Even though I’m so far from fine it’s ridiculous.
We climb out of the van, and Clarissa leads us to the restrooms in the back so we can change. I take the cover off the coat hanger to reveal my sequined, silky, lavender halter top and long skirt. With belly dance, the lines are important, especially showing off your hips and torso as you move. We’re all wearing the same colors, but we each chose our own patterns for the costumes.
As soon as the music starts, we make our entrance onstage. I follow Marcia’s lead, who’s right in front of me. Like every time I dance, I relax into the music. I start to forget about my father’s text, and I focus on the moment.
Hip sway, figure eight, rib slide, turn. I was so scared of forgetting my routine, but the first two go perfectly. I’m enjoying performing more than I’d thought.
As we’re shimmying in one long line winding amongst the tables, I feel a hand grab my ass.
I snap my head around and make eye contact with a drunk old man. And his hand is still clearly stuck to my ass.
“Back off,” I say to him in a low voice.
