I give her a squeeze, and Erik bends down to kiss the top of her head as she untangles herself and goes to hip-bump Meg, where she is putting together a salad, pointedly ignoring the Earls.
I take a deep draught of the whiskey as I clasp Erik’s shoulder.
“What do you think about all this?” I ask, nodding to the new throuple.
“I think they should take Meg back to their place and leave Tianna out of it.”
“Dude, never gonna happen. You're going to have to deal with it.”
He shoots me a disgruntled look and raises the glass to his lips.
“I am going to feed the dogs,” he says as he heads into the butler’s pantry.
Dinner remains a fairly quiet affair. The Earls are abnormally silent while Meg is picking at her food.
Ruiz had come in earlier, taken the temperature of the room, and said he would be outside until it was time to secure the house for the evening.
I’m tired of the tension.
“Meg, I already know,” I tell her, hoping to alleviate some of her nerves.
She glances at me and gives me a small smile. “I figured. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you, it just didn’t seem pertinent.”
“It’s important to me. You knew I wanted a talented choreographer and ballet mistress.”
“He’s been going on about it non-stop for over a month,” James chides.
Meg’s spine stiffens, and she shoots them both an icy look.
“I've been clear. I don’t want to follow in my mother’s footsteps. I don’t know why you can’t respect my decision.”
“Because you are wasting your talent,” David blusters, while James says, “You have a rare gift, and while your injury prevents you from being a prima ballerina, you can still utilize it in the dance world.”
“Where my mother is renowned. I, do you hear me, I don’t want to.”
“You haven’t thought it through,” David protests.
“Have you considered…” James starts when Erik interrupts.
“Give it a rest. You can’t hound her into being your choreographer.” He eyes David before turning to Meg.
“Can you tell me your reasons to ignore your gifts?”
She pauses, tilting her head as she considers. Christianna reaches over and squeezes her hand in support.
“My whole life was dance. I love it, but I also hate it. It stopped being art and became obligation. There was no other option. My mother always knew injury was possible, so she insisted on a backup plan. It turns out I’m very good at managing, and no one assumes I have my job because of her.”
“Why is it all or nothing?” Erik asks.
“What do you mean?”
“From what I’ve observed, you’ve done most of the choreography to the pieces I’ve played here. Correct?”
She nods slowly.
“Then teach what you’ve already created. The parts you loved enough to shape yourself. Let someone else handle the rest.”
Meg nods slowly. “I’ll consider it. Please excuse me. I’m going to turn in. Today has been unexpected.”
