Page 38 of Facing Off
He also signs a cast for the patient I’m sharing the room with, right in time because he’s getting discharged.
Afterwards, Nina comes around to stand in front of Hughes. “You’re the captain of the Vancouver Wings.”
“I am,” he answers smoothly.
“You’ve been dancing with our company for years. I can’t believe you never mentioned when you got married,” lectures Madame Kozlova. She’s talking to me. “I know I discourage wasting time talking about our personal lives, but it’s something I should’ve known.” She points to the discharge papers on the bedside table. “These are for you to read, Mr. Hughes. Make sure you do.”
“I will.”
Madame Kozlova nods, then…
Laughs?
Madame Kozlova never laughs like that. Warmly, showing all her teeth. It’s unnatural. Terrifying.
My mouth falls open.
“Now that I know you have a husband, make sure Mr. Hughes comes to our gala. It’s right before your big audition with Mr. Pepita,” Madame Kozlova tells me. “And make sure he brings his teammates. We’ve got high fundraising goals this year. Plus, I’m sure the director would love to meet him, Sonya.” She wags her finger at me. “You know there are a lot of moving parts when deciding who becomes principal?—”
Nina snaps her head in Madame Kozlova’s direction.
“—and while so much of it is skill, there are other politics at play. Such as what else a ballerina brings to the table when it comes to mass appeal.” Madame Kozlova smiles. “And I can’t think of anything more appealing than the audience wanting to see a principal who is married to an already very famous man.”
I can’t answer, but it’s okay. Fresh rage is chipping away at whatever strange, stressful quiet has caught me by the throat. Becauseno. The reason I become a principal won’t be because Adrian Hughes made it happen. That invalidates everything I’ve sacrificed up to this point.
I will not have my future success depend on anyone other than myself. Why should it? It’s not fair.
Come clean.Now, Sonya.It’s only going to get worse if you don’t.
Before I can speak, Hughes matches Madame Kozlova’s energy.
No, he outdoes it. Eyes half-lidded, his mouth tugs into a devastating grin. “As long as we’re not scheduled for a game, Miss…”
My dance mistressgiggles. “Madame Kozlova.”
“MadameKozlova,” Hughes corrects. “Then expect the whole team to come to your gala. We stand behind and support Sonya completely, so your fundraising goals don’t stand a chance if the Vancouver Wings have anything to say about it.”
My ears ring. A guttural roar starts up inside of me.
Caught up in all that, I barely hear Madame Kozlova and Nina say goodbye and finally leave. But then I snap out of it and look around. They’re gone and we’re alone. The curtain’s closed.
Hughes’ hands rub on his pants as he looks me over, his eyes going back to that hospital bracelet so fast I barely catch it. “You fell again? What’s going on? Are you okay?”
He needs to stop doing that, usingthatlow, worried voice again. Hearing it snaps something inside me.
Before Hughes comes any closer, I leap out of bed and grab the front of his jersey. “Who cares about that? Why did you tell everyone I’m yourwife?”
16
ADRIAN
Sonya’s handsfist in my jersey, knuckles white against the blue fabric. She’s pissed, but her skin’s pale, and her eyes are too bright.
I don’t know why she grabbed me, because it’s not something she’s ever done before. Gotten as aggressive as this.
Is it weird that I kinda like it? Maybe too much?
I’m getting a rise out of Sonya. Quiet, frowning, always-ignores-me Sonya.
