dance lessons

Chapter  12

   DANCE LESSONS……

                                                                 

Wednesday night.

I am leisurely getting ready for dance; I have to be there in one hour. Distracted by the past days and nights events. I just can’t step away from my thoughts, his mouth his eyes, making love. Delicious. I’m ready again now, just replaying it in my mind, I just wish I could stop hitting the relay button. He is so engrossing. It’s been three days since I saw him and a thought of calling him enters my mind but, I quickly dismiss it. I sweep my shirt from Sunday night off the floor. Touching my nose to it at first then letting it engulf my entire face, I breathe in his scent. Stop you have to get ready you silly romantic girl. Petunia what am I doing? Talking to my imaginary friend. I throw my pale blue dress on and without any more hesitation I urgently rush out the door to work. I feel good to wear this dress, it’s flowing and when I dance it swirls and floats with the movements making me seem like Ginner Rogers. Briskly I walk to work, feeling good how I look, I arrive late, and I quickly slide my jacket off my shoulders and throw it on a chair. Being at dance is always such a lift in my week, I anticipate the music, the moves, and it takes me away from everything. Through any darkness in my life dance has saved me.

 “Where have you been, you’re late.” Walking over to Chris I sense he is angry with me for my tardiness.

 “Hi honey bun,” I throw my arms around him, “I’m sorry I’m late.”  He steps back.

 “Let’s get started.” Chris clicks his hand held remote and the music begins. We have been dance partners for three years. We know each other’s moves so well; we can anticipate each other’s next move. He’s so knowledgeable about different types of dance, he taught me innumerable amount of techniques and styles.

“It’s just you and me tonight, I cancelled the lessons. Gerry is coming home tonight and I’m too excited. He’ll be here around 8:30. So let’s just practice our moves for the competition.” He still seems tense.

 “Ok I’m into that”…..    He floats across the dance floor, if he wasn’t gay I’d be seriously in love with this guy he’s so charming.

 “We only have 8 weeks till we compete and frankly, I’m a little nervous.” Cranked up loud the music takes hold of me and my body starts to move it’s a Latin beat of Santana. A tango and he’s so smooth. We are so great together, spinning, dipping, and I brace my body against Chris’s. 1, 2, cha, cha, cha. 3, 4, cha. Cha, cha.   He grabs around my waist and spins me to the left then the right. Over and over we practice. Then out of the blue.

 “You’re boyfriend is here.” His mouth stays in a ‘not too happy’ flat line.

 “What?” I gasp.

 “Shhhh! The guy who picked you up for the salt room thing the other night. What’s his name Jackson?” He’s holding me so I can’t turn to look.

“Concentrate,” he dips me, I try and turn “Libby concentrate!”

“Let me go Chris!” I step away and look at the door he’s gone, I turn back to Chris, with my hands held out flat in front of me as if to question him.

“Are you teasing me?” I’m scowling.

“No he was right there, the guy from the bar.” I run to the door and he’s gone. I speak out the door to the street and he has vanished if he truly was there. SHIT! I walk back to Chris.

 “I hope he doesn’t think I’m with you.” I frown.

“What’s wrong with me?” he winks. “If he’s that interested he’ll come back. Come on lets finish.”

“I spent the night with him Chris, not Penny, no one can know that!” I shoot Chris a wicked grimace.

“I know.” He cracks me a reassuring smirk and winks.

“What!?”

“Your secret is safe with me, Lib.”

We dance for another 15 minutes and in walks Gerry, tanned and a full beard. Christian hand tightens on me, I know its Gerry, I can’t see him but, just the way Chris holds me, and I know he’s there. I turn, break free and run to Gerry jumping up I hug him.

 “I missed you.” I kiss him and he lets me down.

“I missed you too, sissy.” He strides over to Chris and I see the roses something he always does when he comes home. 2 dozen long stemmed white roses, behind him, for Chris. They love each other insensibly.  As I watch them embrace I hear a sound behind me, I twist my head.

“Jack.” I whisper.  He beams that huge white smile at me. “Where did you go?”

“I stepped outside so, you and your boyfriend could be alone,” he smiles.

 “He’s not my boyfriend, he’s my roommate. I thought you left.” Sounding a little disappointed.

 “When you’re finished I have a surprise for you.” He touches my face and I instantly know what boneless chicken feel like.

 “A surprise! For me? What!?” “You’ll see when you’re done.”

I shout to the boys “Are we finished here?”

 “Yes.”

I turn back to him. There is feeling I get from him like he produces a warm safe aura “you can be so innocently childlike. It’s sweet.”

“I am finished I just want to introduce you to…..” I turn to Gerry and Chris but, they are caught up in a very passionate embrace. I suddenly feel coy and look down at the ground, embarrassed.

 He reaches over and grabs my hand, “come on, I’ll say “HI” another time. They look like they haven’t seen each other in a long time.”