Chapter 2

Adrian caught up with me at the coat check as I collected my coat.

I thought he'd finally realized I was hurt.

"What will people think if you leave without me?"

He didn't ask if I was tired of waiting. He was questioning me because he was worried about what other people would think.

"Finished recording?"

"Yes." He reached for my coat. "Everyone's booked a table. Let's eat, then go home together. Okay?"

I draped my coat over my arm.

"I'll carry it."

The restaurant was just around the corner.

Adrian pulled out my chair. Vanessa sat on his other side.

He poured me some water, then asked if I wanted the roast cod I liked.

I nodded. That small, familiar gesture of care made me reluctant to say anything for the moment.

When our main courses arrived, Matthew's phone lit up.

"Is Amy here?" Vanessa asked.

"She's not coming." Matthew set his phone facedown. "She's uncomfortable with me still dancing with my ex. I'm going to find a new partner next season."

Someone asked, "Didn't you two just make the finals?"

"We did. But I can't have her feeling awful every time she comes to watch me compete."

Vanessa put down her fork.

"That's the right thing to do. You can find another dance partner. A wife shouldn't always be the one making compromises."

Adrian nodded.

I watched him, waiting for him to realize what he'd just agreed with.

Instead, he passed Vanessa the bread basket.

"What about us?" I asked.

Her hand stopped mid-reach.

I set down my water glass.

"Why is Amy allowed to be upset, but I have to be reasonable?"

Vanessa glanced at Matthew.

"Claire, we're talking about his situation."

"I know. You just said the wife shouldn't always have to compromise."

"But Amy was never okay with it. You knew Adrian and I danced together when you met him."

"So because I knew you danced together, I'm never allowed to have a problem with anything?"

Adrian pressed his hand against my knee.

"Enough. Don't turn a professional partnership into a personal argument."

I moved his hand away.

"When Matthew talks about his marriage, you all say he's being considerate. When I talk about mine, I'm causing trouble?"

The table went quiet.

Matthew set down his knife and fork. "Adrian, she's just asking you—"

"We'll handle it ourselves," he cut in.

Vanessa looked down, folding her napkin.

"I don't want to make everyone uncomfortable. If you really have such a problem with me, I can stop coming to these dinners."

Adrian answered immediately. "No one's asking you to leave."

I looked at him and stopped arguing.

When the bill came, most of the cod he'd ordered for me was still on my plate.

He didn't speak the entire drive home.

Once we were in the garage, he switched off the engine.

"Happy now? By tomorrow, everyone at the studio will think I treat my wife like dirt."

"Then why wouldn't you answer me?"

"There's nothing going on between Vanessa and me."

"Matthew didn't say he was cheating, either. But he can still say no to things because his wife's feelings matter."

He got out and slammed the car door.

Once we were inside, I opened the bottom drawer in the study.

An old photo album lay beneath a few warranty papers.

Adrian followed me in. "What are you doing now?"

I found the photo from my last competition and set the album in front of him.

In the photo, Owen had a hand at my waist. I was up on my toes, smiling so widely my eyes crinkled.

That dance dress had been in a garment bag ever since.

"Remember this?"

His gaze settled on Owen's hand.

"What does this have to do with tonight?"

"You said that because he'd once had feelings for me, staying his partner was disrespectful to our marriage."

He looked up.

I pushed the album a little closer.

"Adrian, do you remember why I quit?"