Laura had moved away from Otter Bay long before Benji was born, like I had.
“We were in the same year in school,” Anna said. “Stayed in touch after. Just Facebook updates, that kind of thing. I was sorry to hear…”
“Yeah,” I said when it became obvious she couldn’t figure out how to end that sentence. “Yeah, umm…”
“Coop!” Benji called out, rushing over to me. Class, apparently, was over. I held my arms out to catch him, squeezing him a little tighter than usual as he flung himself around my neck. “Did you see? I did it! Felix said I got the arabesqueperfect.”
“I did see it.” I smiled at him, the wave of grief that’d been threatening to pull me under a heartbeat ago washing away as though it’d never been there. “But I already knew you were perfect,” I added, booping his nose. “We ready to go.”
“If I might have a moment?” a familiar voice said over my head. Felix.
Beside me, Anna made no attempt to hide the way she looked him up and down.
I couldn’t blame her. Felix was beautiful. All lean, elegant lines. To me, he was every inch the career dancer. Everything about him.
I nodded. Judging by the way the corner of Felix’s lips turned up and his ridiculously blue eyes glinted, I knew what was coming.
He folded himself down onto the floor in one motion I couldn’t have hoped to copy, sitting cross-legged in front of me, with Benji between us. Benji turned to look at him, uninterested in me now that Felix was around. The thought made me smile again.
“I have a favor to ask you, Benji,” he said, glancing at me. I gave him a nod. I knew Benji could handle it, and if I had to rob a bankandsuck a hundred dicks to make his dreams come true—whether he stuck to ballet or got into something else—I’d do it. No questions asked.
“Okay,” Benji said, as serious as any six-year-old had ever been.
“I want to put you in the lead part for the competition,” Felix said. “But only if you want it.”
I didn’t need to be able to see Benji’s face to know what it looked like—the way his little shoulders pulled back was enough to tell me that he was staring at Felix wide-eyed, mouth hanging open.
Felix’s eyes glittered as they flicked over Benji’s face, a slow smile spreading across his lips as Benji started to nod. He had an incredible smile.
“Yes,” he said. “Yes! Yes, please? I’ll work harder thanever.”
Felix laughed, holding up a hand to stop him. “I know. I know you will, which is why I’m asking. I have to have someone I can rely on, and I know I can rely on you.”
Benji nodded again. Felix glanced at me, which was when I realized I was grinning at the two of them.
“Congratulations,” a voice murmured from beside me. Anna.
I’d forgotten all about her with my attention on Benji and Felix.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said, turning to her. “It’s all Benji.”
A look I couldn’t quite read passed over her face, but it ended in a wry smile that didn’t feel unkind. “Laura would be proud,” she said, standing and taking Sarah’s hand. “Of both of you.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I nodded silently. She nodded back, then turned away, heading for the studio door.
When I looked back to Benji, he’d turned around to face me again, beaming so wide he’d run out of room on his tiny face. My heart swelled at the way his eyes were sparkling, lit up with excitement. I wanted him to look like that every day.
“Did you hear?” he asked.
“I heard,” I said, so proud of him I almost didn’t have room in my chest to fill my lungs with air. “And I know you’re gonna be amazing.”
Felix rose behind Benji. I didn’t know what to say to him. He’d made Benji’s littlelife.Thank youdidn’t seem to cover it.
I stood while I was thinking, grabbing Benji’s dance bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
“He’s earned it,” Felix said. “Before you thank me. This isn’t a favor.”
“Of course not,” I said, sure it genuinely wasn’t. I didn’t think Felix was the kind of person who’d do that—it wouldn’t be fair to Benjiorthe other kids if he wasn’t the right person for the lead. It wasn’t about being nice to Benji, and it definitely wasn’t for my sake.
