He nods and steps closer to me. I wince as his hands touch my waist.
“You’re still in pain,” he murmurs, concern lacing his voice.
“It’s better than it was,” I fib. The
bruising is just beginning to surface, bringing with it more intense pain. Thankfully, nothing was broken. That would’ve put me out of dancing for weeks.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispers. I groan as his lips touch my neck, working their way up to my ear.
“I’ve missed you too,” I mumble. This is killing me. I’m still no closer to making my decision, but he deserves to know what I’m considering. I take a deep breath and close my eyes as my embrace on him tightens.
“I have the opportunity to dance in Paris. With one of the best ballet companies in the world.”
He stiffens, and pulls away slightly.
“Your father?” he asks, an edge to his voice. I nod. He slowly exhales. I study his face, trying to figure out what he’s thinking. “I thought the New York Ballet Company was the best in the world,” he deadpans.
“It’s the best I thought I could achieve,” I reply. “Dancing in Paris is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined—”
“And your father getting it for you doesn’t taint it?” His words slice through me like a knife. He sighs and reaches for my arm, but I pull away. “I didn’t mean—”
“What? To imply I haven’t worked damn hard to get where I am?” I shoot back.
“I’m just”—he stops and shakes his head—“can’t you see what he’s doing? He’ll do anything to keep us apart, even if it means sending you halfway across the world.”
I let out a laugh.
“Are you serious? You can’t make up your mind what you want and you’re lecturing me? One minute you want to be with me, and the next you can’t do that to my father. Now you’re angry because you think this is his way of tearing us apart?”
“Isn’t it?” he presses, his expression dark. “If you go to Paris, are we over?”
“Not if you come with me,” I say quietly.
His jaw drops open as he stares at me in shock. I’m shocked myself, because that is the last thing I expected to come out of my mouth.
“I can’t come with you, Lucy,” he whispers. Stepping forward, he wraps his arms around me. “You can’t ask me to leave everything I’ve ever been able to call a family and go with you. You’ll be training nonstop, and when you’re not training, you’ll be exhausted. Having me there will only be a distraction. You know that.”
He’s right. I do know that, but it doesn’t make hearing his words any easier.
“It’s not that I don’t believe in what we have—”
“You just cherish what you have with my father more,” I finish.
“Luce, whatever it takes for you to fulfill your dreams, I want you to do it. If you need to be angry with me for it, then so be it. I can handle that. But deep down you know I only want you to be happy.”
“So that’s it?” I laugh. I can’t believe after everything, we’re ending it like this. It doesn’t seem right.
“It’s not forever, Luce. Just for now.”
Tears stream down my cheeks as he leans in and kisses me tenderly on the lips. I savor the taste of him, knowing it might be the last time we ever kiss. My heart pounds as he pulls away from me, his fingers still laced in mine.
“I could never hold you back from your dreams, Luce,” he says, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips. “You deserve the world, a thousand times over. We can keep in touch. There’s phone, email, and I can visit.”
I nod, wiping away my tears. Maybe a long-distance relationship isn’t out of the question. Maybe we can make this work. His hand slips away from mine. I’m shaking as I watch him walk away. Part of me wants to stop him. I want to throw my arms around him and never let go. But I don’t.
Because he’s right. If I don’t do this, I’ll regret it. I’ll end up resenting him.
And I can’t stand the thought of hating him.