I click on it and wait for it to load. My annoyance picks up the longer it takes—hell, I don’t even know if I’m on the right path here. I’m completely winging it.
When it does load, the music is immediately familiar.
And what might be even worse? The dance is familiar. Especially when the music switches, the frenzy of the song picking up. It’s the same moves, as far as I can tell. The same choreography.
Where would she have learned that?
Thereis where she stumbled. Just at the end.
Something isn’t adding up here. Choreography she doesn’t have a reason to know, muscle memory. How long does it take for that sort of thing to stick? How many hours of practice would she have needed to do to cement it in her memory?
Even if hermemoryisn’t there.
I let out a ragged sigh and rub my face. I believe her when she says she doesn’t know how she knew it. But now it’s a mystery that will nag at me—so I’ll figure it out for both of us.
And I have a feeling that means digging more into her past than she’d want.
Whatever. I’m going to do it anyway.
52
VIOLET
Today is the day. I know it before I even open my eyes.
I barely slept last night. The anticipation was almost too great. Grey didn’t seem to mind that I kept rolling over, tossing and turning like my sleep problem was pillow-related. He was as awake as me, I think, holding me until I found a comfortable position.
Which lasted only an hour before I was shifting again.
At one point, probably close to three in the morning, he slid inside me and fucked me into a dream-like state. We both slept after that. But now, as I twist toward him and stretch out, reaching, I realize I’m alone.
His side of the bed is cold.
I sit up and press the blanket to my bare chest. His bedroom door is open.
Silence reigns through the house, but I still wait a moment, then slip out from under the covers. I find a Hawks sweatshirt, my panties and shorts, and pull everything on before I wander into the hall. Still nothing.
I brush my teeth, take care of business, and shake out my limbs. The nerves return with a crackle—not that they ever left. Grey’s disappearance just temporarily distracted me.
Crown Point Ballet is holding company auditions at nine o’clock. It means I’ll probably be there all day. But there will be plenty of time to stress about that… after I eat breakfast.
At this point, it feels like this house is partially more like home. We’ve been here for a while, and the guys have adjusted. They cleared out a cabinet in the kitchen for us and space in the fridge. They stock our preferred liquor. Knox and Willow are still going back and forth like a seesaw, but I told her I wouldn’t interfere. They’ll work it out.
There’s a piece of paper in the kitchen, a handwritten note from Greyson.Went for a run. See you soon. -G
I smile and turn away. There’s already coffee in the pot. I make myself a cup and slink into the living room, curling up in a ball. I should’ve grabbed my phone when I was upstairs, to run through the music, but I’m so tired.
I just woke up and it feels like I’ve been awake for a year.
My eyes close, and I sink deeper into the cushions.
Before I know it, someone is brushing my hair out of my face. I blink up at Willow, who just shakes her head at me. “I was going to leave you here, but I heard some guys are coming over to watch a hockey game.”
I make a face. “Yeah, probably don’t want to be caught sleeping by any of them.”
“You okay?” She sits next to me, stealing some of the blanket.
I sip my coffee. “Just nerves. I didn’t sleep well.”