Whistlingandhumming.
Last night had been better for me than I’d even realized.
I looked Mom in the eyes. There was no way I could lie to her. Not about anything—she was my mom—but especially not about this. She’d see right through me.
I did want to see Felix. I’d wanted to see Felix since I’d woken up alone this morning.
“Fine,” I said. “Umm. Thank you,” I added, saluting her with the box.
Mom waved me off. “What are mothers for? Nowgo.”
Felix was dancingwith his eyes closed again when I stepped into the studio. I’d bribed Amelia with coffee and one of the blondies she’d been raving about to anyone who’d listen since Iggy put them on the coffee shop’s menu to let me go without announcing myself first, and I was glad now I had.
The way Felix moved was breathtaking. I’d watched a lot of ballet with Benji by now, I knew what it was supposed to look like, but I’d never seen a real professional dancing in person—not like this, anyway.
He had so much control over the way he moved. I wasn’t an expert, but I could see the skill in it, the work he must have put in. Benji’s dedication impressed me, but Felix’s left me in awe.
Which was why watching him stumble came as a surprise. I took a step toward him, instinctively wanting to catch him before he fell even though I was too far away.
Felix saved himself, hand pressed flat to the mirror, shoulders heaving as he panted for breath.
Before I could process how I felt about seeing that, his eyes met mine in the mirror. I smiled sheepishly, holding up the box Mom had given me and the two coffees I’d gotten from Iggy.
Felix turned, leaning back against the barre, still catching his breath. He must’ve been at it a while, since there were one or two stray strands of hair plastered to his forehead and his cheeks were flushed with exertion.
He really was beautiful. That was my first thought every time I saw him.
“Cooper,” he said, still breathless, cheeks flushed. “What are you doing here?”
I hesitated, suddenly wondering if I was intruding. If maybe he didn’twantto see me. If maybe last night felt like a mistake in the cold light of day, if maybe he didn’t want to acknowledge…
“Umm,” I said, looking between him and the coffee and pastries in my hands. “Mom baked. She told me I had to share with you.”
What if he didn’t want me here? What if he didn’t want me anymore at all?
The surprised smile he broke into eased the worst of my fears. “Your mom baked… for me?”
I shrugged. “She likes you. Enough to go to a lot of trouble to make sure I’d come see you today.”
Felix chuckled, pushing away from the barre and crossing to me. I tried not to notice the way he favored one leg, but I couldn’t help hurting for him. It was impossible for me to imagine what it’d feel like to have something you’d dedicated your entire life to taken away. I hadn’t dedicated my life to anything.
It wasn’tfair. But then I already knew that fairness was not one of the guiding principles of the universe.
“So you wouldn’t have come to see me on your own?” Felix asked, sitting down on the bench opposite the mirrors.
Heat rose to the tips of my ears again. “I didn’t say that.”
Felix raised an eyebrow.
“I wanted to see you,” I confessed to the floor, shuffling over to sit down next to him, setting pastries and coffee between us.
“Good,” Felix said, picking up his coffee. “I thought I’d have to wait until Benji’s next class on Monday.”
“You don’t mind not waiting?”
“Coop,” Felix said. “We had some of the best sex of my life last night and you’re bringing me coffee and baked goods the morning after. Does that sound like something most people would mind?”
“It’s almost four in the afternoon,” I pointed out, but I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. Best sex of his life?
