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He shrugs “I have no idea I know they like theater, so you should be able to talk to her about that if nothing else”

“Lovely”

He’s looking at lint in his eyes, like he’s a e and I’m the one he blames

“Let’s go,” hefor ht ahead We take the elevator down to the lower level, get into the back of the limo, and then we’re away

The truth is, I’ indifference to hiaze undid me the moment I saw him at the Calla Club, and it’s only more potent now that I know the passion that lies behind it Flashes of that night, of the things he did tomy mind as we sit in the back of the limo, and the spacious car suddenly feels as crah school and college

We sit through the ride in silence until we pull up in front of a sprawling ets out, and Dante looks atin the seat across from him

“Sit over here so they can sit next to each other,” he says, and I quickly move over to the seat beside Dante’s

“You don’t have to sit all the way over there,” he says in a wry tone “We’re at least supposed to act like we can somewhat tolerate each other”

I take a deep breath and scoot a little closer to Dante, and then the door opens and an elegant woown slides into the seat across from mine, just as a man in a tux seats himself across from Dante

“Stunning as always, LeeAnn,” Dante says, briefly shaking the woman’s hand “Nice to see you, John,” he says to the oatee to match “LeeAnn and John Carver, this is my friend Samantha Day” I shake hands with both of the with John and LeeAnn and I start gushing about the shoe’re about to see We’re at the theater before I know it, and I’ve decided that I like LeeAnn a lot She’s as eek as I am, except that she’s seen more live shows

An usher guides us to our seats, except of course we’re not sitting where everyone else sits He leads us to a private VIP balcony There’s a door, and the usher closes it behind hi seats, and we have an ae I expected LeeAnn and John to sit next to each other, but it ends up that Dante and I are sitting beside each other, John next to Dante, and LeeAnn next towith her distractsDante so close tofro ht I spent with hiet it

I can alh, once the show starts Every , every dance, hasThis, what these a, is what I’m meant for

At one point, I swear I can feel Dante’s eyes onme intently, and I blush and look away

The first act wraps up, and the house lights come up

for the interet a drink and ask Dante if we’re co Dante shakes his head and says he’ll see them in a while When they leave, Dante and I sit there in aard silence for a bit He’s watching me, and it’s almost like a caress