TeddypouredErinaadrink, planning tea for himself. She’d already unpacked in the guest room, making herself comfortable with her heels kicked off, legs tucked under her on the sofa while Smudge sprawled on the cushion next to her to accept her scratches.
Teddy would have wondered how she could wear such tall and deadly weapons each day, but a dancer’s feet were made of tougher material than most people’s.
“You could have warned me,” he said from the kitchen.
“You would have told me not to come.”
“And you would have come anyway.”
“So why bother? Neat, please,” she said when he turned to the fridge to grab ice for her whiskey. Teddy always kept a few staples stocked in his liquor cabinet even though he rarely indulged.
Returning to the living room with the whiskey and his steeping tea, Teddy sat opposite his sister and handed her the drink.Smudge sniffed after it but deemed it unworthy to disturb his backrub.
“Don’t you have a show to prepare for, Dulcinea?” Teddy said.
Don Quixotewas one of the most famous ballets of all time, and Erina was set to play a pivotal role in the city’s upcoming performances—choreographed by Stewart Hartley. Teddy was surprised Hartley hadn’t used that against him yet in any of his text messages. He could admit that mixed with the pride he felt for Erina’s talent and fame was a shade of jealousy.
“Exactly why I’m here. This is my last chance to have fun before the Spring Season turns my schedule into a nightmare. When else was I going to visit? And don’t say never,” she rushed on, “you big grouch. You’re lucky Mother wasn’t up for the trip.”
Teddy didn’t dare say that Erina was far worse than their mother. She knew to give him space.
Out in the open on the coffee table, his phone buzzed with a text.
From Finn.
Hey! Let me know if we need to keep it down. You’re welcome to join us if you want.
Finn had people over again. If Teddy strained his ears, he could hear the thud of bass filtering over from next door, but only faintly.
“Who’s that?” Erina asked with a curious head tilt.
Nope. Not happening—even if Teddy had been thinking about Finn ever since leaving his appointment that day and still needed to apologize for being an asshole. He couldn’t do that over text, though.
“No one. Just my calendar reminder for physical therapy on Monday. I assume you’ll be gone by then?” He shot off a quick response without making it obvious that he was texting.
Pretty beat so headed to bed early. You kids have fun.
Why had Finn even invited him? Wasn’t he deterred by Teddy’s earlier outburst? Or was he just being nice? Regardless, Teddy couldn’t give into his curiosity—or his libido—with Erina around.
Finn texted back:
Sleep well.
“Teddy.” Erina reached across the sofa, startling him with a pat on the knee. “Be a good host or I’ll never leave. Now, tell me absolutely everything I’ve missed.”
Teddy managed to avoid saying anything about Finn, other than that he had a nice enough neighbor who didn’t annoy him and that he liked his physical therapist fine. She didn’t need to know they were the same person.
Sadly, the next morning, Erina’s presence was proven to not be a nightmare. She was rummaging in Teddy’s kitchen.
“Teddy,” she said, hands on her hips after letting the refrigerator door shut, perfectly polished and coifed for the day without a speck of makeup out of place, “you don’t have any food in this house. Other than garbage.” She waved the can of spray cheese at him.
“I have food,” he protested.
“Not breakfast food.”
“There’s coffee.” Usually that was all Teddy required, maybe with toast or a banana, but that wasn’t up to Erina’s standards, apparently.
“Get ready. We’ll find a bakery or diner so you can show me around town. Or are you too embarrassed to admit you haven’t explored at all since you’ve been moping?”
