“Ladies and gentlemen,” it said. “The Benjamin Wright Orchestra will now play their rendition of one of Tchaikovsky’s most revered pieces. The tempo of this song has a similar pacing for what some of you may know as the waltz. Please join us on the floor for this classic homage…”
I grabbed her hand and entwined it with mine, securing my free hand around her waist.
“What are you doing?” She hissed and tried to pull away. “I’m not dancing with you.”
I tightened my grip around her. “ Yes you are.”
“Please don’t make me scream, Andrew…”
“What makes you think I wouldn’t love to hear that?”
She tried to move away from me, but I held her still.
“Five minutes,” I said.
“ Three,” she countered.
“Fine.” I loosened my grip and swayed her to the music. “Are you aware that your boyfriend is a male ballerina?”
“The correct term,” she said, rolling her eyes, “is a danseur.”
“He’s a fucking ballerina…” I dipped her to the floor. “Is this what you’ve been doing for the past few months?”
“Living out my dream free from a certain asshole?”
“I expect more from you if you’re going to date someone else.”
“I don’t give a damn what you expect.” She hissed. “He’s everything you’ll neverbe…”
“Because he kisses you in public?”
“It’s more than that…But that’s on the never-ending list of things he has on you.”
“Does he make you cum?”
“He doesn’t make me cry.”
Silence.
I felt her pulling away from me, but I held her still. “Are you fucking him?”
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t. I just want to know.”
“We haven’t had a conversation in months and you think you’re entitled to know who I’m sleeping with?”
“I wouldn’t necessarily use the term entitled.”
“No.” She pressed her chest against mine. “No, I am not fucking him, but you know what? I will be soon.”
“You have no reason to if I’m here.”
She burst into laughter and stepped back. “You think I would sleep with you? Seriously?”
“Aubrey—”
“Do you really think I’m that stupid?” She cut me off. “I don’t want anything to do with you, Andrew. You’re nothing but a muse for an orgasm, a good visual for a hand-fuck, and I may miss you, but—”
“You miss me?”
“I miss the ideaof you—of what you could’ve been.”
“We can’t be friends?”
“We can’t be anything.” Her lips were close to mine.
“Why am I finding that hard to believe?”
“You shouldn’t.” She glared at me. “Because in order for me to ever entertain you outside of this dance, I would have to take you back.”
“Then take me back.”
“ Please!” She scoffed, looking angrier than I’d ever seen her before. “You would have to beg me to take you back, Andrew. Fucking begme…”
“Hey Aubs.” Her ballerina boyfriend interrupted us. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” She stepped away from me and kissed his cheek. “Everything is more than okay.”
“Who’s your friend?”
“ No one,” she said. “Just some guy who made a donation.”
“Thank you for your donation.” He shook my hand like a woman and turned to Aubrey. “Are you ready to go home?”
“More than ready.” She took his hand and walked away from me without glancing back.
I stood on the balcony of my hotel room, completely confused about what had happened a few hours ago. I was expecting Aubrey to leave with me, to come back to my hotel so we could fuck and catch up.
Unable to stop thinking about it, I sent her an emaiclass="underline"
Subject: Your Address.
We need to finish our conversation. Tell me where you live so I can come over and talk.
—Andrew.
Subject: Re: Your Address.
I highly doubt you only want to talk. You just want to fuck.
Nonetheless, I’m pretty sure Brian wouldn’t appreciate you coming over tonight.
—Aubrey.
Subject: Re: Re: Your Address.
He’s more than welcome to watch. He might actually learn something.
—Andrew.
No answer.
She didn’t respond for a long time, and when she finally did, all she sent me was a text:
“Leave me alone, Andrew. Please.”
I couldn’t. I emailed her again.
Subject: Sponsor.
I bought golden level season tickets. One of the benefits is getting a tour from the cast-mate of my choice. It will definitely be you.
—Andrew.
Subject: Re: Sponsor.
Thank you for that pointless information. If you do choose me, we won’t be alone, and I’ll make sure that our tour ends in the exact time allotted.
Now, please leave me alone. I’m out with someone who admires my brain more than my pussy.
You had your chance, you fucked up, and I’m not sure why you’re in New York right now but I really don’t care.
I seriously don’t want to hear from you…Please go away.
—Aubrey
I sighed and scrolled down my contacts. I knew she was simply being difficult, and I wasn’t going to let her get the last word. I pressed call on an old number and held it up to my ear.
“Who is this?” the old voice said over the line.
“I need an address.”
“Who is this?”
“I need an address. Now.”
“Liam?” There was a smile in his voice. “Is that you?”
“It’s Andrew.” I rolled my eyes. “Are you going to help me or not?”
“Well, since you asked so nicely…” There was a familiar humming sound in the background. “You know, I haven’t heard from you since the last time I saw…” He stopped himself and cleared his throat. “What’s the name?”
“Aubrey Everhart.”
“Do you know what borough?”
“No,” I said. “But the address can’t be more than a few months old. She just moved here.”
He was silent for a little while, tapping and touching buttons.
“Found it,” he said. “7654 Fifth Avenue.”
Five blocks away…
I thought about whether I should wait until morning to stop by, but I was already putting on my coat.
“It was nice hearing from you again, Liam…” the old man’s voice brought me back to the present. “Good to know you’re well and…getting over what happened.”
“I’ll never get over it.” I hung up and headed outside, signaling for the town car driver to open the back door.
“Where to, Mr. Hamilton?” he asked.
“7654 Fifth Avenue.”
“Right away.”
It took less than twenty minutes to get there, and when we arrived I stared at the brownstone for a while. It looked like something I would’ve purchased years ago when I lived here, something far out of budget for a ballerina, so I figured her parents were paying the rent.
Stepping out of the car, I adjusted my coat and walked to her door—knocking five times.
“Coming!” She yelled.
The door swung open, but she wasn’t standing behind it. It was her boyfriend.
“Um…” He looked confused. “Did you leave the pizza in your car or something?”
“I’m not a fucking pizza guy. Where is Aubrey?”
“It depends. Didn’t we just see you at the gala?” He crossed his arms as Aubrey stepped into the doorway. “Who are you?”
“He’s no one, again,” she said, standing on her toes to kiss his lips.
He looked at me with his eyebrow raised as he returned her kiss.
“My cock has been in every inch of her mouth.” I gritted my teeth.
Aubrey gasped, her cheeks turning bright red. “I am so sorry, Brian… Can you give us a moment please?”