“Mae, I care about you, but I’ve known Tristan for twelve years,” I say, interrupting her. “It’s like hearing sex stories about my brother, and that’s a no-go. Tell me everything, but leave out the gory details, okay?” I make a face at her, and she shrugs and laughs.
“Okay, fair enough. But I can tell you that he has amaaaaazing stamina, can’t I?”
I nod and can’t help but smile. “You may.”
“Thank you.” She grins and then sighs longingly. “It was so good with him. Not just the sex, but everything.”
“So are the two of you an item?”
“We haven’t talked about it yet, but I think so... Oh, Zoe, he’s so sweet and kind, and I think I’m really falling for him.” She blushes, and I squeal with delight as I jump up and hug her.
“That makes me so happy. Honestly, Mae, I think it’s perfect. You two are good together.”
She regards me skeptically for a second. “Really? You don’t feel weird about me being with a friend of your brother’s?”
I shake my head firmly and hug her a little tighter before letting her go again. “No, not at all. I think it’s very, very nice. Tristan is one of the good guys, and you’re my best friend. That’s just lovely.”
She breathes a sigh of relief. “Okay, good. That makes me feel better.”
“Does he make you happy?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m satisfied.”
She smiles broadly. “Me too. And how was your weekend?” She turns back to the mirror and concentrates on her makeup.Unfortunately, she can still see me blushing. She looks at me with narrowed eyes as she applies her foundation.
“Zoe? How was your weekend?” she repeats her question, this time more emphatically, with a teasing undertone in her voice.
I’d like to lie, but I don’t think that would help. Not when she looks at me like that. Embarrassed, I start to bite my nails. “That’s a really good question,” I say.
“I know. And I want an answer.” Eyebrow pencil in her hand, she turns to me again.
“You’ll get one. Just not today.”
She makes a disappointed face. “Why not?”
“Because... it’s all kind of complicated.”
“It would be too easy if it weren’t complicated, wouldn’t it?”
“Probably.” I rub my forehead in frustration and stare at my hands.
“Hey, Zoe.” Mae’s voice softens, and I look up. “It’s going to be all right, okay? Whatever’s going on between you and Jase, you’ll work it out.”
I bite my lower lip uncertainly, and then I realize why I went to see Mae this morning, as much as I don’t want to admit it. It wasn’t because I wanted to be a good friend but becauseIneeded a friend.
“I hope so,” I say quietly.
“I’m sure of it.” Mae puts her makeup aside and grabs my hand. “Now come on, we’ve got to go or we’ll be late.”
* * *
Somehow, I manage to get through my first few classes without freaking out. I mainly have Mae to thank for that. In every momentthat we’re not concentrating on ballet, she helpfully distracts me with details about her weekend with Tristan. Even if part of me really doesn’t want to hear the gory details, another part is happy that Mae ignored my complaint about it this morning.
But in the end, no distraction in the world does me any good. After all, the pas de deux class won’t be canceled just because Jase and I have a problem.
Mae’s voice fades into the background as we enter the studio, and my eyes dart around the room looking for Jase. He’s not here, and my stomach cramps. He wouldn’t skip class just to avoid me, would he? The room fills up, Francesca tells us to sit down, and Jase still hasn’t shown up.
