chapter six

12 March

Her stomach tightened.

How was she going to handle the extra expense? She couldn’t let one of her best students be forced out of class so close to the recital just because her father had been laid off. But the owner would never allow her mom to keep charging lessons. They were already behind. Somehow, Susie would find a way to pay for them herself, just until they could pay her back. And if the owner found out … well, she would deal with that when the time came.

Susie forced a calming breath and pulled her street clothes over her leotard. Nearly five. Close enough. She could walk over to the gym instead of making Evan and Duncan come for her again.

Waving goodbye to Janet, she peered out the glass doors. Rain was threatening. It didn’t look like a storm, though. Of course, she hadn’t brought an umbrella, as usual, preferring not to be too weighed down. After another quick glance, she started across the parking lot.

Not quite reaching the door before the clouds opened, she pushed her damp hair back from her face. The gym was cool and she shivered even in her jacket.

“Susie … hi! I haven’t seen you recently. What have you been up to?”

She paused at the front desk, glancing in farther to try to see Evan. “Hi Shelly, just working. What about you?”

“Same here, but it just got more interesting. You’ve got to see the new guy Evan hired – talk about gorgeous!”

“Long, dark hair?”

“Did he tell you already?”

“I’ve met him. He’s staying with Evan.”

Shelly’s mouth dropped open. But not for long enough to let Susie escape. “He’s living across the hall from you? Can I move in?”

She answered one of the regular patrons who said hello and patiently turned back to Shelly. “What about Gary?”

The receptionist rolled her eyes. “We broke up last week.”

“And you’re not dating again yet?”

“I’d go after Evan if he wasn’t already taken.”

“Evan’s not dating anyone.” Oops, wrong thing to say.

The redhead looked puzzled. “I thought you two were an item.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Everyone here talks about how inseparable you two are. There are even rumors of a wedding.”

A wedding? Where on earth would that have come from? “Shelly, we’re just friends.”

“Serious?”

Susie nodded. “Serious.” She backed away from the counter, trying to give her a hint.

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I asked him out?”

Asked him out? Why not? He wouldn’t go out with her. She shrugged as if she didn’t care either way. “It’s none of my business who he dates.” She kept her eyes averted. “But I think he may be a little too tame for you.”

Shelly leaned in closer, propped her forearms against the counter, and lowered her voice. “Sometimes the ones who are the tamest on the outside are the wildest inside, once you get close enough. And I’ve always had a feeling about him.”

Susie was uncomfortable with the conversation, and she didn’t want Shelly thinking about getting that close to Evan. Actually, she didn’t care to think about anyone being with him and had always been polite to his dates but preferred to keep her distance. “Isn’t there a dating policy here between management and employees?”

“You are interested in him.” She pulled back again, with a mischievous grin.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. Don’t worry, I’ll stay away. Maybe I’ll go for the new guy instead. He looks plenty wild enough.”

“Do you know where Evan is?” Another conversation avoided.

“I think he’s in the weight room.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”

She ignored a whistle from some guy she’d never seen in there before and continued on to find her friend. Stepping in quietly, she was glad the room was mostly empty and grinned as Evan looked up to greet her.

“Hey, come on in.”

She walked over to where he was spotting his friend on the weight bench. “Working hard?”

Evan returned her grin as Duncan set the heavy bar loaded with four fifty-pound weights back on the posts. “Training.”

“Looks like it.” She smiled at him until Duncan stood. His muscles were well-primed now and she couldn’t keep from glancing at his arms and chest. And his T-shirt was again perfectly fit to his shape. Raising her eyes to his face, she hoped he hadn’t noticed where they had been. “You didn’t have to stop on my account.”

He had noticed. She could tell from his expression. “I always stand for a lady.”

A lady? The term was surprising. “Thank you, but Stu’s right. I’m used to being one of the guys. You don’t need to be so formal around me.” He had definitely been taught manners and had a natural charm to complement them.

“Are you done for the day?” Her friend touched her arm.

“Not really, but I’m leaving anyway. I have the kids tonight, so I’ll have to come in early tomorrow and get some things done.”

“I thought you were cutting back on your babysitting hours until after the show.”

“Well, I was going to, but … not right now.” She wasn’t about to tell him that she couldn’t afford the pay cut. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah.” His look said he wanted to know why, but he turned to Duncan instead. “If you want to walk her out, I’ll stop at the office and be right behind you.”

“Sure.”

Evan led them to the door and held it, touching her back lightly as she passed him. He must have been showing off as well. His forehead glistened slightly and his T-shirt was damp in the middle of his chest. And his arm muscles were even more pronounced than usual.
Duncan stayed close as they made their way through the hall, his arm nearly touching hers but just slightly behind. “Do you always spend a lo’ of time together?”

A lot of time? Susie shrugged. “Whenever it fits our schedules. Why?”

“Just wondered wha’ exactly your relationship was.”

Their relationship? Why was he asking? Had Evan said something to him? If he was trying to get information through his buddy it wasn’t going to work. “We’re friends. I spend a lot of time with all of the guys.”

“Have you ever dated any of them?”

She stopped walking before they got any closer to Shelly, hoping her inability to meet his eyes wouldn’t tell him how nervous he was making her.

“Sorry, it’s none of my business.”

Good, he just thought she was offended. “Why did you ask?” Susie greeted another of the regular guys by name as he walked past and said hello, glancing curiously at Duncan’s ponytail.

Duncan ignored him and waited until he was out of hearing range before answering. “I wanted to know if it would bother anyone if I were t’ ask you out.”

She finally had to look up. “You don’t even know me.”

“I would like to.” His eyes peered into hers, holding her in silence until Evan joined them.

“Ready?”

Susie pulled her eyes away and nodded, not sure what to make of Evan’s friend. She was used to getting looks, but most guys didn’t even approach her until they were used to having her around, and then it was just in casual greeting. Especially the gym regulars who knew she was Evan’s friend and greeted her out of courtesy to him. But this one … was so direct … and so unnerving.

During the ride home, again sitting between them, Susie thought about how Evan had been keeping so much physical contact the last two days. Why? Was he just trying to show Duncan that they were close, or maybe reassuring her? Or were the occasional looks that had passed between her and his buddy bothering him? Had Duncan told him that he wanted to ask her out? If so, why would it matter? Evan only wanted her friendship. At least, she was pretty sure that was all he wanted. His expression, though, when he saw them standing so close together, alone in the hallway…

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

She looked over at her friend. For a rare moment, she couldn’t speak to him.

“Suse? What?”

Swallowing hard to break herself out of her trance, she shook her head. “Nothing. Just … dance moves.” Which was the truth, figuratively. Their whole relationship recently seemed to be a dance; she was never sure which of them was leading, though.

13 March

Evan fidgeted with the pencil he was holding. He checked the time. Only four-fifteen; she wouldn’t be off work for another forty-five minutes. Something was different with her, but he couldn’t quite grasp it. She was tired – too tired. He had gone over to help with the kids the night before, after the band’s practice, and tried to talk to her in between, but she was avoiding him. Well, not him, but conversation. There had been plenty of eye contact, and more than once she had sat close to him after putting the baby down. She had said the show was going well and things were fine at work. She hadn’t mentioned Duncan; in fact, she side-stepped the issue the one time Evan had tried to get her thoughts about him. Possibly, she was still wary of him and only being courteous because he was Evan’s friend. If he was going to stay around, though, Duncan would have to earn her trust.

Checking the time again, Evan had a thought. He put the pencil down and picked up the phone.

At four-thirty, he locked his office door and went to find his buddy. It wasn’t hard. Duncan, unlike most of the gym employees, could always be found actually working. At the moment, he was organizing the equipment from the mess left by the kids who had been in earlier. Evan had noticed them setting barbells on the floor, or in the wrong slots, after using them, but had just sighed and kept walking. The owner prohibited anyone chastising a customer.

He helped Duncan straighten the mess, then grabbed his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“It’s no’ five yet.”

“We’ll make up for it tomorrow. I want you to see something.” Calling to his assistant manager to take over for the night, Evan waited for Duncan to change out of his required gym employee tank top and into his own T-shirt and leather vest, then led him across to the dance studio.

The studio’s manager grinned when they entered, and broke away from the other teachers. “Evan, it’s been a while! I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”

“Not at all. We’ve been taking our own cars a lot since our hours haven’t been matching often. How are you, Janet?”

“I’m well, thank you. Maybe I should change her hours?”

Evan chuckled. “Not on my account. And I have more help now so I shouldn’t have to stay so long.” He introduced her to Duncan, wishing she could cover her thoughts better. It grated him to have people look at his buddy that way, as if he was trouble waiting to happen. She barely accepted his outstretched hand.

“Do you mind if we walk down to her room? She’s with her fours and fives now, isn’t she?”

Janet shrugged. “You know her schedule better than I do. I know she’s in class, but not sure which. I’ll go with you, if it’s okay.”

She discreetly moved to the side away from his buddy, but did speak to him. “Susie told me Evan had a friend staying with him, but she never said where you were from.”

Duncan returned the gaze of a couple of the teachers walking past checking him out, then gave Janet his attention. “Here and there. My last job was in Chicago.”

“Really? I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s an exciting place. Didn’t you like it?”

“It was interesting for a while; too crowded.”

“I couldn’t live in a big city. In fact, I don’t think I could ever go much further than Lakewood. I’m not much for traveling. Here we are.” She stopped in front of a large window.

Susie was standing in front of several small girls in leotards and short dance skirts, slowly demonstrating positions. Now and then, she stopped to assist one student or another, correcting arm and feet positions. She had infinite patience and a constant smile. Finally, she went to the record player and returned to face the mirrors against the back wall. Watching her reflection now, Evan couldn’t pull his eyes away to see how her students were doing. She was so graceful … so beautiful.

The mothers who were watching their daughters through the glass commented to Janet about the choreography. They were very happy with it, and with the song Susie had chosen for their upcoming recital. They were also watching Duncan with curious stares.

Duncan didn’t bother to notice them. His eyes were completely fixed on the teacher.

“She’s good with them, isn’t she?”

He only partly turned to Evan, and nodded.

“She’s our best teacher. But you didn’t hear me say that.” Janet winked in his direction.

Evan returned the smile and looked back through the window. Susie’s multi-colored gauze dance skirt floated along with her as she demonstrated a perfect pique turn, then she grinned and did a simplified version. The little ones daintily, though a bit clumsily, touched their right toes to their left knees, stepped down again and turned a circle.

Evan returned his thoughts to business, motioning Janet away from the others. She followed willingly.

“Do you have plans Saturday?”

Her confused expression turned into a smile. “No. Why?”

“Do you like baseball at all?”

“Sure. Who doesn’t?”

“I have four tickets to see the Red Sox and thought I’d ask Susie and Duncan. Would you be interested in going with us?”

“I would love to, Evan. Thank you.”

Her look confused him. It was just a baseball game, not the Metropolitan Ballet. She was over-appreciative for something so simple. His whole purpose was to create a casual environment for his friends to be able to chat. They were both baseball fans, which would give them some common ground other than music, and Susie having a girlfriend with her would make things easier. Janet was as close as Evan could come to that, other than Kate, and he had no interest in taking Kate to a baseball game just to draw attention to herself. Besides, he wouldn’t set Duncan up that way. Janet wouldn’t make a play for his buddy. She was safer.

“You think she knows him?”

“Janet does, doesn’t she?”

Evan barely caught the women’s whispers and looked over. They were peering at Duncan, and he’d heard them. They suddenly turned their heads away at his glance. He met Evan’s eyes just briefly, then went back to watching Susie.

Well, class was over, as Evan could see from the little girls running to line up at the door, and the nosy women could leave. The girls waited for their teacher to catch up. She came out first, making sure each one found her parent.

She grinned at Evan. Then, she saw how they were keeping an eye on his buddy. “You’re early. Have you been here long?”

“A while.”

She turned her attention to Duncan, walking purposely closer to him. “So he’s been forcing you to stand here and watch my class?”

Duncan, to his credit given what she was wearing, kept his gaze focused on her eyes. “No force was needed. You’re incredible to watch.”

“Oh … well … thank you. That was nice.” One of her students interrupted to give her a hug. “Bye, honey. Great job today!” The girl’s mother pulled her away quickly, keeping as much distance as possible from the man she was talking to. Susie moved even closer to him. “So have you seen the rest of the studio?”

“Only the hallway t’ get here.”

She nodded, turning her head. “Evan, do you mind if I steal him for a while? We’ll meet you out front.”

He shrugged, not bothering to answer more, since she was only asking for the sake of the mothers who were still trying to put street clothes on their daughters. She was incredible.