Part 11 (2/2)
”But you didn't marry her. Did you?”
”I did not. It's a very strange claim.” He shook his head. ”I think perhaps she is a bit unhinged. All the more reason to have as little to do with her as possible. She is also demanding that I tour in support of the alb.u.m. I refused but agreed to do a new residency in Vegas, which will be simulcast into movie theaters, pay-per-view, and livestream on the web.”
”And that will satisfy Ferrara?” I sat up to look at him.
”I hope so. The thing to understand about Ferrara is that she is quite motivated by the upkeep of appearances. Everything she has tried to force me to do has always been within the confines of a contract, an obligation. She's learning that I have limits, though, and when she pushes too far, she may push me to say to h.e.l.l with the contract, which would be bad for everyone.”
I brushed his damp hair back with my fingers and it fell in soft, straight sections as it dried. ”But the marriage thing... it sounds like she wants more than money.”
”She's a complex creature.” James pulled a water bottle from a compartment in the door and offered it to me. ”I mostly have to convince her that she wants the money and the continued rights to my record catalog more than she wants to f.u.c.k me.”
I almost choked on the water when he said that. I'd been tiptoeing around the actual issue and not saying it out loud. ”Do you think you can?”
”I believe so. I've held her off for years, Karina. I just have to do it a little longer.” He took the water bottle from me and drank a few gulps himself. ”I have a proposal for you.”
”I'm all ears.”
”I don't want to only tell you about my life, Karina. I want you to join it. Be a part of it. That means being a part of what's happening in Las Vegas.”
”What do you mean by 'be a part of it'?”
”Answer me a question first. What's happening with your university now?”
”I have to speak to the dean. Best case scenario, they accept my thesis as is, rubber stamp me with a PhD, and tell me to get the h.e.l.l out. Worst case scenario, they make me start over with a new advisor, writing a new thesis. Honestly, if that's what they want... I don't know if it'll be worth jumping through those hoops. If other opportunities are beckoning me, I don't have a lot of incentive to go back. Other than pride and not wanting to have wasted five years of my life.” Not to mention the student loan money.
”I see. Well, I am hoping you might be able to defer whatever might occur there for another semester so you can join me in the performance.”
”You mean-”
”As a dancer.”
I shook my head instantly. ”I can't measure up to a troupe of professionals. I'll look ridiculous.”
”I a.s.sure you you're wrong about that. Well, if the performance were tomorrow, maybe. But we have a few months, Karina, and I'll be expecting you to work with a trainer every day. I need to get back in shape myself.” He stretched one arm toward the far window and unfurled his hand elegantly, probably thinking about dance exercises. ”I haven't danced or sung since the night we met.”
”Have you missed it?”
”I have, a little. I don't miss the grind, though. I don't miss having to keep up the facade all the time. I never realized how exhausting it was until I stopped.” He leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. ”I'm an incredibly lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
”Are you?”
”Yes, because if I had let my guard down for anyone but you, it would have ended in a ball of flames.”
”It nearly did anyway.”
”But it didn't, because of you. Because of the wonderfulness of you. You're special, Karina.” He offered me the bottle again and I took another sip. ”How much longer do you think you'll be in Ohio?”
”I'm not sure. My aunt Tera called today to announce she's showing up tomorrow to stay for two weeks. If that's true, I won't have to stay.” I did have to get back to the city. To deal with my landlord and the university and who knew what else.
James was looking at me thoughtfully.
”What? What is it?”
He smiled. ”I'm just noticing how many strong, independent women you seem to have in your life.”
”Well, I don't know if I'd count my mother as strong... though it seems like she picked up a backbone in the hospital!”
”She raised you and your siblings on her own. I'd say she can probably lay claim to independence if she wants.”
”True. And her opinions are never weak. Those are always quite strong.” I glanced in the direction of the house. ”I guess I should be getting back.”
”Well, if you think you'll be staying more than a few days, I'll contract a dance trainer for you here, to start getting ready for the performances.” He folded one of my hands into his. ”That is, if you agree to my proposal. You still haven't said yes.”
Of course he would notice that. ”I think it's questionable I'm good enough to get on stage with you. Maybe you ought to have someone besides yourself look at me. I don't think you're exactly an impartial judge.”
”And you're far more talented than you think. How about this? We'll hold an audition for princ.i.p.al dancer. I won't tell the judges who you are. We'll let them give their opinions. The final decision will still be up to me, of course, but you can get an honest evaluation of where you stand in relation to others. If they think you look ridiculous, they'll say so without hesitation.”
I slipped my shoes on. ”All right. When?”
”Let's say in a month. That'll give you time to prepare.”
”Okay. I mean, yes. That sounds like a plan.” I slipped my arms around his neck and kissed him. ”Now, are you and Stefan planning to sit out here all night?”
”I defer to Stefan on our security plans. If there is any hint of trouble, though, promise me, Karina, that you'll contact us immediately.”
”Yes, of course.”
”Good. Then you should probably sneak back into the house.”
I kissed him on the forehead and grinned. ”You know, I never did this when I was a teenager.”
”Did what?”
”Sneak out of the house after my mother was asleep to have s.e.x in a guy's car.” I kissed him on the mouth then. ”Something tells me it was worth the wait.”
Seven.
Look Out, World Aunt Tera blew into town the next day like a summer storm, flattening everything in her path, though in a good way. It was great to see her, but within an hour of her arrival she had us cleaning out the entire pantry, getting rid of canned goods that had been there more than a few years, vacuuming under the couch cus.h.i.+ons, you name it. Tera had gotten rid of a few leech boyfriends in her time, she said, and the best therapy was a thorough turning out of the house. I think my mom's purge of her closets and jewelry boxes had been the same idea, but Tera extended it to the whole house.
By dinnertime we were all too tired to cook, so Tera took us out to eat. I brought up the e-mail I'd gotten from the head of the art history department about needing to schedule a meeting with me. They agreed that I should get back as soon as possible. I'd invested too much in my education not to fight for reinstatement.
I told them I could go back the next day. With James.
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