Page 32 of With You

River

Can I bring a friend?

If I can drag Damien along, at least I’ll have someone to talk to while my parents spend the night networking.

Mother

Of course! We’re so excited to see you my love

River

Me too

I close out of our texts and scroll through e-mails from my father. He sends weekly updates on the business, details on his investments, and general updates from the other staff. I have no interest in any of it, but I’ll need to be aware of it once I graduate. Although he has a more relaxed approach now to my involvement in his business, I’m still meant to keep on top of things just in case anything happens. I avoid as many meetings as I can, though, always using university as an excuse for why I’m busy. It worked well in first year, but with only three years left, I worry when that excuse will stop sticking.

I put my phone away, rubbing my temples as a headache threatens to form from looking over all the numbers my father sent over. Grayson’s head lolls against his shoulder, eyes closed as he takes a nap. He should have just stayed at the hotel if he was going to sleep, but I think he worries about missing out on things with us.

I glance over at Amelie, the reason we’re even here, as she stands en pointe with her feet out turned, the assistant sat on the floor behind her.

I’ve never been jealous of anything or anyone in my entire life. I’ve never wanted for anything I can’t have. But right now, watching this man trail his fingers down Amelie’s calf as he squeezes her heel, maybe I am jealous.

It’s completely irrational. I’ve touched her in places this man never will, and I will probably end up touching her like that soon, when we start rehearsing. But still, seeing his hands on her makes something in my head tick in all the wrong ways.

“I’m going outside,” I announce, standing to leave the room. I need to get some air.

“I think this is the pair,” Amelie says, dropping flat on her feet before she walks over to me. “Let me change and we can leave together.”

“Whatever,” I say, some emotion I can't name bubbling inside me. I turn my attention to one of the store assistants. “We’ll take two dozen pairs. Please send them to d’Étoiles.”

“I don’t need that many,” Amelie interrupts, placing her hand on my arm. I glance down at her, but have to look away just as quickly.

“It’s fine. Better to have more than less.”

I step away from Amelie, her hand dropping from my arm as I do, and it suddenly feels cold there. Taking my wallet out of my jacket pocket, I pass a card to the attendant.

“I can pay for them,” Amelie says, going over to where Grayson is still sleeping to retrieve her bag.

“I know,” I tell Amelie, before smiling at the assistant and gesturing for her to continue the payment. “We’ll be back in a few months to get some more, so please make sure they’re in stock.”

The attendant nods, and a few seconds later I tap my card and am a few thousand euros poorer. It’s only a small amount to make sure Amelie is comfortable.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she says, as we make our way out of the store.

Grayson trails behind us, still wiping sleep from his eyes, and it’s impossible not to send him back to the hotel alone. But we have a dinner reservation Evie will kill us for missing.

“It’s the least I could do,” I tell her. “After all, I am your partner.”

“It sounds weird when you say it like that,” she remarks, pulling a face.

“What would you prefer I called myself then?”

“I don’t know, but not something that makes it sound like we’re on some kind of mission.”

I shake my head, fighting back the smile that wants to appear on my face. Although we’ve opened up a bit more with each other, Amelie is still as sharp as ever with me. There’s a lightness to it now, though, making it feel like harmless teasing rather than venomous like it was before.

When we get to the restaurant, the others are already there. I pull out Amelie’s chair for her to sit before taking the one next to her.

“Did you manage to find some?” Zena asks, taking a glass of water from Layth’s outstretched hand.