Chapter 38 Welcome back
He left.
He made love to me for the last time, got dressed and kissed me.
Then he left.
I don't know what the hell I was expecting.
A declaration of love?
I don't know. Confusion is still swimming in my mind.
My limbs and core are sore, so I soak into my tub for a long time before I go into my studio and stretch.
When I make my way to the theater, the receptionist is beaming when she sees me.
"Madison!" She squeals and comes around the front desk to give me a tight hug, surprising me. "We missed you so much! We're so happy you're back, Gregory has not been very friendly since you've been gone."
This surprises me. I haven't even heard from Gregor all that much apart from the occasional text to ask me about my ankle. I've also been avoiding Simon because I just didn't want to hear any of the behind the scene gossip of who is sleeping with who.
Because I'm jealous that I couldn't be there.
"And there are two flower arrangements waiting for you" Kate, the receptionist's eyes widen with excitement. "You are such a lucky girl."
"Thank you Kate, it's good to be back." My smile is strained when I make my way to the dancer's lounge, taking a deep breath to prepare myself for the million questions I'm sure I'm going to get about my injury.
Sure enough, there are two flower arrangements on the table. Luckily, there are no other dancers around, so I pick the card of the elegant red roses.
"You've got this. I love you, Benedict."
The ever-present guilt of what I'm doing behind his back stabs me with shards of regret.
I'm a selfish brat. I shouldn't have slept with Miguel after I found out it was him. Yet, I wanted to chase that high I feel whenever I'm with him. I wasn't even thinking of Ben when Miguel was balls deep inside of me numerous times during the night and this morning.
I'm even scared to read the next card. It's screaming Miguel. Whereas Ben's flowers are expensive and demure, the arrangement of wildflowers look wild and untamed. It probably cost a fortune, too, but the design is deliberate.
"I can still smell you all over me. This is not over."
No name.
There's no doubt it's from him, and I'm not surprised that he knows what my favorite flowers are.
I put the cards in my bag before someone nosy reads them.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in." I spin around to Simon's voice, and my smile is automatic when he walks over with his usual flair.
Where I like to be understated and avoid attention as a principal dancer, Simon thrives on it. He wears designer clothes that are gifted to him every chance he gets, and I'm not gonna lie. I actually missed him.
"Looking as stylish as ever, I see." I walk into his open arms and hug him tightly.
"Well, some of us have to look like we belong here." He squeezes me one more time before holding me at an arm's length, a serious look in his eyes that's almost never there. "Are you good?"
"Great." I genuinely smile.
I wish I could tell him about the shitshow that's my love life, but I'm not sure if he'll go tell every dancer, so I keep my mouth shut.
"I have sooooooooo many things to tell you." He holds his hand over his heart. "I have fallen in love, it has finally happened for me."
"Do tell." I chuckle, relieved that I could listen to someone else's life for a change.
He proceeds to tell me about one of the students at the Academy who started following him on social media as we walk to the studio where the principals train.
It all sounds so simple, a contrast to whatever the fuck I'm doing with two men.
I train with the other principals like I never left, and I'm so happy after the class that my ankle feels as if it never gave me problems in the first place. I curtsy on a laugh when the other dancers applaud me, some coming over to hug me to tell me that they're happy I'm back.
Gregory nods at me from the corner of the room, my signal to stay behind after the other dancers start filtering out.
"Do you want me to stay?" Simon asks me with concern in his eyes and I realise I've been such a big bitch to him. He genuinely looks like he cares, and I was thinking that he just wanted to use me all along.
"No, I'm good." I wave him off and take my place in the centre of the room.
"Good to see you back on your feet." Gregory struts over to me, and I hold my breath as he circles me, inspecting me from head to toe.
I know for a fact I didn't gain any weight, so he can look all he wants.
"Are you sure you want to be back here?" He stops in front of me with his hands behind his back, looking like he's the one who doesn't want me back.
"Of course." I go down into a deep curtsy. "It's been an honor to work with you, and I would love to continue that journey."
"Up." He orders. "Flattery gets you nowhere with me, miss Smith, you ought to know that by now. Let's do your solo from the last show."
My heart hammers in my chest when the pianist starts playing the familiar music. Gregory can't exactly fire me, I have a contract, but he could put me on the sidelines for back up roles. And having an injury at only twenty-five is not exactly ideal.
But my feet does what it always does, my body moving to the rhythm of the piano keys. I will my feet to be light, and my upper body to be elegant and flawless. And I can't help but smile when I do the last pirouette and the music softly does down.
"Welcome back, miss Smith." Gregory says with not much emotion, and then he leaves me there with a ridiculous grin.
"You know we should celebrate!" Simon hooks his arm into mine when we leave the theater. "You can come over to my new place, you haven't been by yet."
I want to tell him that it's a good idea, when the man waiting in front of the building waves at me.
My heart plummets to my shoes.
"Nevermind!" Simon kisses me on the cheek. "Your man looks good enough to eat, see you tomorrow."
My feet that just felt so light feels heavy as I walk to where Ben is standing in front of a sleek black limosuine.
"My lady." He opens the door with a grand gesture. "Your chariot awaits."