Page 37 of Liar
Everything I fear is everything he is, I remind myself.
“Don’t be angry with me.”
I blink. Have I lost my mind thinking abouthimat a precarious time like this?
“The music has stopped. Everyone is watching, Luciana.”
I dig deep and plaster on a fake smile.
Eduardo sees it first, recognizing it for what it is. “I’m sorry—”
“Not now,” I manage between clenched teeth. “Lift me up, please.”
He does as asked and sets me back on my feet.
People begin to applaud, and we take a bow and acknowledge them.
“We need to talk,” I manage to shout.
His eyes grow wide, message received. I don’t want to hurt his feelings. No one likes to be friend-zoned—or worse, ignored. But any awkwardness between us could possibly translate on stage, and that would be a disaster.
“Why did the band stop playing midsong?” a voice rings out as the applause fades off.
“Perhaps the musicians were afraid he’d drop her into the water?”
I look around at the curious faces.
“It’s probably too hot for the musicians in their traditional costumes,” someone else adds. “I bet they’re roasting like rotisserie chickens over a fire pit in that heavy material.”
I look to Diego, still over at the bar. He’s wearing thigh-length board shorts, a muscle T-shirt, and a “I-don’t-give-a-fuck” grin the women still surrounding him find appealing. It’s the reassurance I need that nothing out of the ordinary is going on.
“Luciana,” a woman calls out to me. Señora Rivera approaches, and I’m suddenly filled with hope. “Can I have a word with the two of you?”
We follow her over to the railing.
“I pulled you aside to personally thank you for your time.”
“Honestly, I could perform all day,” I politely respond.
Eduardo groans dramatically. “Please don’t encourage her.”
I laugh. “Thank you for inviting us.”
“You dance like a dream, my dear,” la señora continues, addressing me before she turns to acknowledge Eduardo. “And you are the perfect man to partner someone with such talent.”
It’s a backhanded compliment. She’s lessened Eduardo’s dance skills, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. He stiffens beside me, insult received. I grit my teeth, praying this won’t add to the growing awkwardness between us.
“Luciana, you remind me of why I love dance,” la señora continues, oblivious to hurting Eduardo’s feelings. “I’m looking forward to seeing you at Nacionales.”
“Us, at Nacionales.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s easy to overlook the male partners in the style of dance we performed today. But you’ll understand what an exquisite dancer Eduardo is when you watch us dance Salsa cabaret. His footwork is breathtaking.”
She claps her hands together. “Salsa cabaret. Now I’m intrigued.”
“We’ve choreographed several lifts,” Eduardo eagerly adds. “Two nine pointers and a ten.”
