Page 71 of With You

I step in front of Amelie, urging her behind me as I move closer to him. Surely, I must be hallucinating.

“Damien let me in,” he answers, dropping his hands from his face to look at me. “I wanted to apologise, I didn’t realise…”

He doesn’t finish his sentence, the words trailing off as he glances over to Amelie.

“I can leave,” she says quietly, her fingers squeezing my arm in reassurance.

“No, whatever he wants to say to me, he can say in front of you. You’re owed this apology, too.”

I say the last words to him, letting him know exactly what I expect of him now that he’s here. Making me go to Madrid didn’t just take something away from me; he took it from Amelie, too.

“Amelie, I didn’t realise how important this was,” he starts, standing and turning his attention to her as she moves to stand by my side, lacing her fingers with mine. “River tried explaining it to me, but I was too stubborn to listen. I’m sorry if my actions caused any harm to you.”

“I don’t need an apology from you. I just have one request,” she says, and I glance down at her, wondering what it could be. “Trust your son more. If River says something’s important to him, then believe that. I know you have your own plans for him, but he’s his own person, and he contains multitudes. He can dance and do whatever boring business stuff you want him to do.”

She says the last sentence with a wave of her hand, and I stifle a laugh, but Amelie digs her elbow into my side.

“It’s extremely boring, Dad,” I say, dragging out the word.

“Do you think I’m not bored, too? The way those old men speak, I’ve had more exciting conversations at funerals,” Dad laughs.

“Some of them look close to their own,” I add, and Amelie bursts out laughing, setting off Dad and me.

The mood lightens, sun shining through the window as the three of us laugh at the ridiculousness of the entire situation.

“I’m sorry, River. I’ll try to reel it in in the future. You don’t have to attend all the meetings if you don’t want to, and if you have other commitments, I’ll respect them.”

“Thank you,” I say with a smile, relief settling in my chest at knowing that it won’t always be like this anymore. It’ll be easier now to talk about everything with him, not just whatever investment he has his eyes on, and that I have to feign interest in.

“You’ve never looked happier, son,” he remarks, his eyes darting down to where Amelie’s hand is joined with mine, the barely there gap between our bodies as my arm presses against hers.

“I’m so happy, Dad. Ballet has never meant this much to me before,” I tell him, and Amelie squeezes my hand tightly.

“Are there any tickets left for tonight?” he asks, and it feels like my heart is going to burst.

“I’m sure we can get you one,” Amelie tells him, her smile matching mine.

The two talk about the performance, Dad asking questions about the showcase, and Amelie happily answering them. I’m content to watch in silence, the weight that’s been pressing down on me for god knows how long, finally lifted.

It’s a scene I never imagined in my head, but as it plays out in front of me, it feels right. One aspect of my future speaking with another, the two finding common ground, and holding space for each other. I don’t have to choose between them anymore, don’t have to worry that picking one over the other will compromise either relationship. Dad will always have my back, and Amelie will always be by my side.

Chapter 29

Amelie

The sound behind the curtains is electrifying. The loud whispers of hundreds of people waiting for the showcase to start, the buzz of excitement, the rustling of everyone finding their seats.

I take a peek from side stage, looking out to find where our friends are seated along with River’s dad, all of them a few rows from the front. Immediately I spot Grayson, standing alone while the others sit. He aims his phone at the stage while Damien yanks his jacket to pull him down.

“Are they here?”

River’s warmth covers my back as he stands behind me, one hand resting on my waist. I point them out, River’s laugh vibrating against me as Grayson fights Damien to stand up again. Somehow he spots us and starts waving frantically in our direction with both arms above his head, and I can’t stop the laugh that escapes me as I wave back. This time Evie is the one who’s had enough, and she yanks his arm down. Grayson doesn’t fight her, and we don’t see him stand up again before we head farther behind the stage.

“He’s going to whistle at the end, isn’t he?” River says, and I nod, knowing all too well that Grayson doesn't care for propriety. “We really need to work on him.”

“He’s fun,” I say with a shrug.

“That’s one word for it,” River says, rolling his eyes.