Page 75 of Entirely Yours
Louie looks at me like I’ve grown three heads. “The apartment, Jules. Upstairs? Kathy told me it’s ready to go. Figured Thea and everyone would be moving back in soon.”
“I…”hadn’t heard that, is what I want to say. “I’ll have to ask Thea. Been busy so we haven’t discussed it yet. I-I should get back to her now, actually. Thanks, Louie.” I lift the bag in my hand, waving it awkwardly in goodbye.
The apartment is ready.
The apartment is ready and Thea hasn’t told me yet.
Maybe she doesn’t know.
But if Louie knows, of course Thea knows.
I’m more than ready to bring it up to Thea when I get home, however I’m effectively silenced when I find her curled up, sound asleep in my bed.
Here. She belongs here, with me.
I debate waking her up to ask, but I know that wouldn’t go over well. My concern will have to wait until tomorrow. Even though my body is tired, my mind is racing.
It takes a very long time for rest to find me, and when it does, I dream in vignettes of raising our family. Birthday parties, family dinners, more kids.
I want it all, and I want it with her.
The apartment is ready.
The apartment is ready, and I need to tell Jules.
The apartment is ready, and Idon’t wantto tell Jules.
Something is wrong with me. I’ve gotten comfortable here in this little unit we’ve built. That should terrify me, but for some reason it doesn’t.
Jules has done everything right. But my brain keeps telling me that surely he has some flaw I’m not seeing.
Maybe I should ask his mom about a therapist recommendation…
I’ve been at the studio a lot this week while Dad watches Chloe. I know he’s going to miss his little buddy when she starts kindergarten, but I also know he’s ready to have some freedom back.
Summer dance classes have been going so well, I truly couldn’t have asked for a better community to come into. We’ve been working on choreography for our firstever studio performance over Labor Day weekend. Sassafras apparently goes all out at their end of summer festival. I still have several things I need to do to prepare for the show and know that summer will be over in the blink of an eye—it always goes too fast!
During my lunch break, I decide to wander over to the local craft store. I want to see if there’s a simple costume I could throw together. Maybe I can rope Jules and Dad into helping me make bows for all of the girls…
I’m so lost in thought about all of the bullet points on my to-do list, I don’t even register my name being called until the third time she says it.
“Thea? Thea Rose? Is that you?” she asks.
I look around, trying to identify the source of the voice. And then I see her. “Melissa?”
Fuck. Melissa Howard. We danced together in the company at Ballet Boston. She is a few years older than me, and I am fully convinced she hates my guts.
“Oh my God!” She beelines across the street, a teenage girl on her heels. “Thea fucking Rose. What are you doing here?” Melissa eyes my stomach but has the decency not to say anything.
“I…I?—”
Before I have a chance to gather my thoughts, Melissa continues. “Shoot, sorry! This is my sister, Olivia—she’s visiting Hawthorne! I’m trying to convince her to join the ballet, but she wants to go to a four year university.” Melissa rolls her eyes as if that is the dumbest idea she’s ever heard. Olivia looks like she’d rather be anywhere else, which, honestly, same.
Melissa’s hand reaches out and clutches my arm. “But really”—her look turns pitiful—“how have you been? Since, you know, everything?” She gestures vaguely toward me.
Which is confusing because she shouldn’t know the reason I left the ballet. Guy was insistent that I kept Chloe a secret,eventually forcing me to leave the company for vague “personal reasons.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “What do you mean ‘everything’?”
