“For real? Awesome! We always need more people.”
“So you teach it?” I said.
“I’m one of the coaches. There are several of us. Have you done it before?”
“No, I have two left feet. But Christy’s been dancing since she was four.”
“Mostly ballet,” she said.
Terri brightened immediately. “Ballet? Me too!”
Christy swallowed hard, and I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling.
“What about you?” Terri asked Trip and Wren. “Are you going to join the team?”
“Not us,” he said. “Sorry. We’re both slammed with work and other classes.”
“Aw, too bad. Are you sure you won’t give it a try?”
“No, sorry. Paul and Christy can represent us.”
Other students had started filtering into the room, so Terri gave us another warm smile. “Take a seat wherever and we’ll get started in a few minutes. I’ll talk to you after class about the ballroom team.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “We can’t wait.”
The “classroom,” such as it was, occupied one end of the court. A movie projector sat on a small table, with a portable screen behind it. The desks were arranged in a semicircle around the table. We chose a block of four and slid into them. Wren looked resigned and Trip slightly annoyed, but Christy’s eyes never left Terri.
I leaned close and whispered, “Relax.”
Christy glanced at me in surprise but then nodded and inhaled slowly.
“She’s cute,” I added with a grin. “And very… exotic.”
“Oh my gosh, is it that obvious?”
“Probably not to anyone else. But still… chill out.”
She nodded and smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her jeans. “I knew I should’ve worn a skirt,” she said in a low voice. “Or a dress! And heels.
Remind me next time.”
“No problem. Your legs look awesome in a skirt and heels. Your cute little butt too.”
The start of class returned to familiar territory as Terri handed out the syllabus, schedule, and a list of viewing assignments. She mentioned the ballroom dance team and invited everyone to an informal practice after class.
She also added a plug for a modern dance group. Christy looked hopeful, but I shook my head. Our schedule was already full.
Please, she begged with her eyes.
We’ll see.
I’ll make it worth your while. Please, please, please!
We’ll. See.
Her expression fell. Yes, sir.
The rest of the class was a fairly straightforward introduction to dance and a review of our assignments and exam schedule. Wren slowly lost the will to go on as the work piled up.
Trip put a hand on her arm. “We’ll get through this, okay? We’ll do whatever it takes.”
She gave him a grateful smile and nodded. Terri wrapped up a few minutes later, and Trip shouldered Wren’s backpack in addition to his own.
“I don’t know how long we’ll be,” I told them, “so go ahead and eat dinner without us.”
Wren nodded. “I’ll keep something warm for you. It probably won’t be anything special, though.”
“I kinda figured. You’re going to be super-busy this quarter, so gourmet
meals aren’t a priority.”
“Thanks. I knew you’d understand.”
“We do,” Christy said. She impulsively kissed her cheek. “We love you,”
she said quietly. “We’ll help as much as we can.”
“Thanks. I love you too.” She included me with a tired smile. Then she added, “I had great plans for us. Now I think I’ll be lucky to survive.”
“You will,” I assured her. “We’ll make sure of it.”
“We will, babe. Now c’mon,” Trip said. “Let’s get home. I have the perfect mix tape to help you relax.”
“Don’t forget the wine,” Christy added.
“Thanks, y’all,” Wren said.
“I hope she’ll be okay,” Christy said as she watched them leave the gym.
“And I know this sounds horrible, but I’m sorta glad she’s going to be so busy for the next few months.”
“I know what you mean,” I said. “It’ll give us time to figure out if you’re ready for you-know-what.”
“I am in my head. Although… not really. Ugh! Why am I like this? It’s all so easy when I think about it, but then I get scared. What is it you say?
‘Life isn’t how we imagine it’?”
“No,” I chuckled.
She slid into my arms. “Thanks for doing this. Dance class, I mean. And the ballroom dance team and modern dance and everything else.”
“Who said I’d agreed to modern dance?”
“You will. You just don’t know it yet.” She propped her chin on my sternum as she gazed up at me. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Oh? Bargaining for sex?”
“Bargaining with sex.”
“Who’s the word expert now?” I teased.
“You are. I just know what I want. And… what I’m willing to do to get it.” Her bright blue eyes twinkled. “You’ll see.”
“Come on,” I said noncommittally. “Let’s go see about this ballroom dance team.”
“And the modern dance group?”
I sighed and surrendered to the inevitable. Then I adjusted my attitude and told myself that it was only free time. Why have it if I couldn’t spend it with someone I loved?
“And the modern dance group,” I agreed.
We spent the next two hours whirling around the basketball court with about twenty other couples, mostly students and grad students. The team had a pair of faculty advisors who’d both been professional dancers. They also had two spry emeritus coaches, husband and wife professors who’d retired about the time I’d been in kindergarten.
All the other students had been part of the team for months or years, so Christy and I had a lot of ground to make up. Terri and another graduate student named Roberto taught us the basic waltz. Christy picked up the steps and timing right away. I was a bit surprised when he asked her to dance, since I thought we’d dance together, but then Terri drew me onto the dance floor.
“You don’t have two left feet,” she said. “You’re good, especially for a beginner.” We started dancing, and she glanced over her shoulder at Christy and her partner. “You don’t mind…?”
“No. We have a pretty solid relationship. Besides, I’m not the jealous type.”
“Is she?”
I decided to flirt a little, so I grinned. “Why’re you asking?”
“No reason,” she said, but her eyes betrayed her interest. “Just curious.
So, how long’ve you been together?”
“Friends for years, but only four months as a couple. How about you? Are you and Roberto…?”
“No. He’s married and has a baby. Besides, he isn’t my type.”
He was tall and tan and sported a mustache, like a younger Tom Selleck.
In other words, nothing like yours truly.
“Ah, okay,” I said. “So, anyone special in your life? Boyfriend?” Or girlfriend? I silently added, for Christy’s benefit.
Terri pursed her lips with a grin of her own. “Why’re you asking?”
“Just being polite.” I smiled to show my own interest. “And getting to know my dance partner.”
She studied me. “No one special,” she said eventually. “I’m too busy for a relationship.”
“Translation: I haven’t found a man who can keep up with me.”
“Maybe,” she laughed. Her eyes lit up when the next song began. “Ooh, a tango. Here, I’ll teach you.” She showed me how to hold my arms and then guided me through the steps. “Ready to give it a try?”
“Sure. Let’s do it.”
She arched an eyebrow at my choice of words.
I played it cool and nodded toward the dance floor. “Walk, walk, tango close? Right?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Ready when you are,” I said, and we joined the swirl of dancers.
The basic tango was fairly simple, and Terri made it seem effortless. She felt good in my arms, too, a petite package of sex appeal. I chuckled to myself when I realized that the tango was basically foreplay if both dancers were interested, and we definitely were.