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“Sorry.” He rubs the back of his neck. “They wouldn’t let me tell any of my clients. I’m at Unframed Art now if you want another one.”

“Maybe I’ll take you up on that. If you can keep a secret,” I tease. His husband, Jayce, is irked by my tone and claims him with a kiss. Emmet knows my darkest secrets, but no one else needs that info.

“Emmet’s not a big believer in secrets,” Jayce says firmly. I understand Emmet has told them details of our past. Emmet’s expression assures me he won’t repeat the story.

“Will you be joining the dance?” I ask to change the subject.

Emmet grabs his wife’s hand, nods, and gives Jayce a pleading glance.

“Go on. The old guys will watch,” Jayce says, and I notice a heavily tattooed man next to him with a man who resembles Trevor.

“You’re not old.” Emmet kisses him and follows me into the dancing mob.

Hours later, I leave with a promise to set up time for Patrik and Trevor to come to the studio to practice their dance.

I collapse against the elevator railing, thinking I’ve escaped, but Mav barrels toward me and forces the doors open.

Chapter 3

Maverick Maher

“I have class.” Skylar sighs, giving the impression I’m a big inconvenience.

“We should talk,” I state the obvious. I’m so confused by his anger directed at me. Me! He’s the one who left. Even if he did leave a note, which I highly doubt, it doesn’t explain him dropping off the face of the earth.

“You have until my rideshare picks me up.” His eyes lock on to the descending numbers above the door.

The elevator’s too small for our tension, and the mirrors magnify it.

I used to read every thought that crossed his mind because his expressions gave him away. Now he’s stone-faced, and all I want to do is pick him up, bury my face in the crook of his neck and cry. I don’t understand what happened. Why he stopped loving me.

“I didn’t,” he whispers, and I’m startled because I must have said the last part out loud.

Sky checks the time on his phone, rubs his forehead, and faces me. “Here’s what’s going to happen. I’ll tell you everything, and you’ll let me walk away. After you figure yourself out, search my name and see what pops up.”

“I have. There’s nothing,” I insist, as my unease chokes me.

“My new name, from my dream job,” he clarifies, checking his phone again as the elevator doors open. Skylar drags me over to an alcove near the front but away from the doorman.

“I was at your house.” His voice sounds dead. “When you kissed me, I dropped the card you gave me, and I came back for it. I heard what you said to your parents.”

He’s so close his sweaty scent of cedarwood and honey floods my nose.

“Which was…nothing. You lied.” He pokes a finger at me. “They had no idea I was going to Boston, and they were happy we’d be away from each other and. You. Said. Nothing.”

Every word pierces sharper than a dagger. He’s right; I was silent, but what was the point of arguing if he planned on leaving?

Sky paces the tiny area. “It killed me, but I knew the life you promised was impossible. You’d never tell your parents about us and probably ask me to go back in the closet so your teammates at BU wouldn’t make assumptions. I couldn’t live that way.” He holds his hand up when I try to talk.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to deny it, but I can’t.

“I was giving up everything for you. My dreams, my goals, my identity, and the only thing I wanted in return was to stop living a lie. I explained this in two letters.” Two mysterious letters, I continue to listen, fuming. “But I did exactly what I dreamed of doing after graduation. I moved to New York City to pursue dancing and changed my name so my family couldn’t find me.” He knew he’d be a success and that his family would expect money from him.

I rub my sternum as distant memories flood in. Sky pushes past me, vaulting into a waiting car and taking my air with him. “What’s your new name?” I ask into the empty space.

After I say it, I rack my brain to remember more. He had dreams of joining a prestigious dance company in New York, but I’d forgotten. Did I forget his name change too?

The sinking pit in my stomach becomes a cavernous hole.