Page 78 of Facing Off
“Hey, I’m really excited to be here,” says his sports psychologist. “Thank you for having me.”
“We’re going to figure this out,” says the performance coach. “You can count on us.”
I point to the shirts. “Youdon’thave to wear those if you don’t want to.”
“Is it okay if I do?” says Hughes’ massage therapist. She’s touching the material. “It’s really good motivation. So we remember what we’re all here for.”
“How did he convince you all to help?” I blurt out.
It’s like I need them to admit this is for money. Bribery. Influence or power. I’ll take any of those answers.
“He told us your story,” answers the physiotherapist.
What story?
“If you land this audition, you might get promoted to principal dancer, right?” asks the performance coach.
“He told you that?” My tone is one of complete disbelief. I don’t think I’ve said it out loud to him. The reason why this audition means so much to me. How it’s my chance to become the first South Asian ballerina to be promoted to principal dancer.
“No, my wife loves ballet so she guessed it.” She gestures frantically. “But she won’t be told any confidential details about Project Nutcracker, I promise. She’s actuallybeen following Bob Pepita’s career on her own. Was it last month where she told me the rumors that this is his last piece? It’s wild to think a master like him won’t create again. The chance to dance for him would be?—”
“Irreplaceable,” I mumble.
“Yeah. The wife and I are going to scout tickets when they come out, but I know they’ll be impossible to get?—”
“I’ll find a way to reserve some,” I find myself saying, feeling so out of my depth and scrambling to find a way to repay them, too. “Um—for all of you.” I look at the team of experts around me. We’ve formed a loose circle. “For helping me, regardless of what happens. I can do that. I can get you tickets. And anything else you need.”
“Our reward is that we’re going to succeed,” says the massage therapist.
A chorus of agreements ring out.
“Let’s do it!”
“We’re going to help you make history, Sonya!”
“Count on us!”
Everyone is nodding fiercely at one another. Some of them fist bump. I glimpse more than one brow furrowed with genuine determination.
And suddenly, across the room, I catch Hughes looking at me. Those piercing blue eyes.
He smiles.
My heart skips a beat. I have to move fast and cover my mouth with my hand to prevent the most catastrophic, most ghastly, worst imaginable thing from occurring.
Me smiling back at him.
30
ADRIAN
“The GM is tryingto reach Eric Jung,” Coach Forrester tells me after we’ve spent the last six hours going over different ways to close the gaps in our defense. “To have a conversation with him.”
The whites of my knuckles stand out.
“Breathe, son.” Forrester folds his hands together and leans forward on his desk. “Remember, we’re on the same side. I’m telling you this because I think it’s best if we connect with Jung before the GM does. We can loop in his sports agent and coordinate how to present a united front.” He pauses. “But to do that, we need to find Jung. He hasn’t been answering any of my calls recently, but I think he’s vacationing overseas right now.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find him.”
