an hour ago, my entire body felt clammy with sweat. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t work with Blake again.
I remembered how he’d befriended me, talking to me each day during rehearsals and gaining my trust. It didn’t take long for me to develop feelings for him, and although I was aware of his reputation, I convinced myself that I was different. That maybe I’d be the one he’d change his ways for.
I know, I was an idiot.
By the time we finally slept together, I was completely gone for him, lost in ideas of forever and always. It was too bad that his forever and always only lasted until he’d achieved orgasm. When he cast me aside I’d been heartbroken, but at least I’d gotten out early. And sure, I’d recovered from the hit my feelings had taken, but I was still raw. I definitely didn’t want to have to see his face every day for the next several months.
Blowing my nose with a tissue and splashing some water on my face, I regained my composure and decided it was time to face the music. Just before I was about to emerge, I heard a hesitant knock on the door.
“Rose?” It was Damon.
I cleared my throat. “I’ll be right out.”
One final look in the mirror, a deep inhalation, and I strode toward the door. Damon stepped back when I came out to avoid a collision. His eyes flickered over my face as he studied me in concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.” No.
“That’s him, isn’t it, the prick who — ”
I silenced him by quickly covering his mouth with my hand. “Don’t say it. The walls have ears around here, and I don’t want any rumours starting. But yes, that’s him, and I’m fine, truly. I don’t need any coddling.”
His eyes flicked down, sharpening on my fingers pressed against his mouth. I felt a tingle between my thighs when his gaze turned hot, and withdrew my hand. Damon wore a very masculine expression as he surveyed me, his brows drawn together and his mouth a straight line. It took him a few moments to come to the conclusion that I wasn’t about to break down in front of him.
“Okay,” he said, seeming hesitant to continue. “About Friday — ”
Nervous tension coiled inside me as I cut him off. “We can talk at lunch.”
He frowned. “We have a few minutes.”
“No, I…I’m just not in the right frame of mind to talk now, but at lunch I promise we will. I’ll explain everything.”
“There’s nothing to explain.”
“At lunch, Damon,” I stated firmly, shooting him a meaningful look before heading back out into the studio. Almost the entire cast was there, and I noticed Alicia in a far corner chatting with a few of the dancers. I quickly took note of where Blake was and did my utmost to avoid him. When Damon joined us, he went to talk with Eddie, and then I saw Jacob approaching him with Blake. He began introducing them, and though I couldn’t hear what was being said, I saw Damon’s posture go decidedly rigid. He’d never met Blake before, but he’d already decided he didn’t like him because of how he’d treated me. The thought gave me a warm feeling in my belly.
I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time they spoke, and I could have killed to know what was being said. Trying to stem my curiosity, I started stretching, and a few minutes later, Iggy was there, calling everybody to order. They all began taking their places as he came to whisper in my ear, “Have you seen Bob’s replacement?”
I nodded and spoke quietly. “Yes, and I’ll be doing my best to avoid him. I don’t know what Jacob was thinking casting him anyway. Blake’s far too suave to be the Duke. The Duke is a snivelling weasel, not to mention old.”
“Quiet now, Rose. I might begin to think you care,” Iggy chided me. “And anyway, the whole point of acting is to portray a range of characters. He’s hardly going to play himself, now, is he?”
Iggy’s logic peeved me off, but I didn’t let it show. Jacob, his assistants and Maura, sat at their table at the head of the studio, while Iggy and I went to stand in front of the cast. Almost as though I could feel his eyes on me, my attention was unwittingly dragged toward Blake, who stared at me like he’d just noticed a friend he hadn’t seen in a