Chapter 3

Adrian looked at the photo and reached to close the album.

I held the page down.

"The competition was two weeks away. You remember that, don't you?"

His hand stopped.

We'd just gotten married.

Owen and I had been practicing for four months. The hotel was booked, and our coach had scheduled extra sessions for the final two weeks.

Adrian came to pick me up and saw Owen adjusting my shoulders.

When we got home, he brought up the fact that Owen had once told me he had feelings for me.

I told him I'd turned Owen down, and Owen had never brought it up again.

"But he wanted you," Adrian said. "Every time he touches you, that's what I think about."

I was desperate to reassure him.

"I'll find a new partner after the competition."

He pulled his hand away.

"Why do my feelings have to wait another two weeks?"

He slept in the guest room that night. The next day, I withdrew from the competition.

My coach asked me twice over the phone if I was injured.

"No. It's personal."

Owen asked if we could compete as planned before ending our partnership.

I sat in the car, staring at my dance shoes on the passenger seat.

"I'm sorry."

There was a long silence on the other end.

"You should have told me sooner."

He didn't yell at me. I almost wished he would. At least then I could explain that his hard work hadn't meant nothing to me all along.

When I got home, Adrian had bought flowers.

He held me and thanked me for putting our marriage first.

Now he stood in front of me, frowning. "It was different with you and Owen."

"How?"

"He pursued you."

"Vanessa is your ex."

"That ended a long time ago."

"Owen and I never even started."

He let go of the album and walked around to the other side of the desk.

"Do you have to drag up the past?"

"Does that rule still apply?"

He didn't answer.

I slid the photo out of its clear sleeve. The date of our next competition was still written on the back.

"If it does, we both follow it. If it doesn't, tell me why I was the only one who had to give something up."

"Fine." He rubbed his forehead. "I'll find a new partner at the end of this season."

I looked up at him.

"Will you tell her yourself?"

He took out his phone, called her, and put it on speaker.

Vanessa answered almost immediately.

"Home already? Is she still upset about tonight?"

Adrian glanced at me.

"There's something we need to discuss. At the end of this season, we need to find new partners."

I heard a glass touch down on a table.

"Is this your decision?"

He hesitated.

"I need to take care of my marriage."

My grip on the photo finally loosened a little.

"Of course," she said. "I understand."

The call ended, and he set down his phone.

"Can we go to bed now?"

I nodded and started to put the album away.

Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang.

Vanessa stood outside, holding a brown envelope.

"My share of the entry fee." She held it out to him. "Start looking for a replacement tomorrow. I'm done."

Adrian didn't take it.

"I said at the end of the season."

"I know."

She took a key off her key ring and laid it on the envelope.

It was the spare key to the studio they used for extra practice.

"Vanessa, there's no need for this."

She looked at me, then quickly looked away.

"I don't want to have to check whether your wife approves every time I show up."

Adrian took a step toward her.

I was still standing in the study doorway, the old photo still in my hand.