“Ugh, you don’t need to know more. It’s all a cliché anyway. Just turn on Intervention on cable and there we are. High-functioning children, artistic, achievers, and one of them ends up shooting up junk and blowing men for twenty dollars.”

“While the other is an international ballet sensation who has danced some of the most challenging and sought-after roles.”

“Right. Why are we talking about my brother again? You were just trying to help me not think Raven was the kind of girl who’d f**k you again because she was lonely and didn’t understand the promise you made to me. Not because she wanted to break us up or anything, but because she wanted to have sex.”

Raven had come on to him at Thanksgiving, and no, she hadn’t understood his promise to Elise. Part of him had been very sad that she’d wanted him to break a promise to anyone else. He’d said no, and Raven would be out of Seattle for a while, but Elise Sorenson was a very smart lady. A smart lady with a guilt-trip the size of Rhode Island. “This is very heavy.”

She laughed, but bitterness edged the sound. “Yeah. Maybe it’s easier with a woman who just shows up when she wants sex.”

“Heavy in a good way. Raven is my friend in that way you like your eccentric aunt. But you and I are friends on a different level. More intimate. I’m too old to want easy and I’m glad you shared all that. But I think you take on a lot of things you can’t possibly own. What were you like as a kid?”

“I liked everything orderly, but it rarely was. My parents are old-school in some ways, but decidedly modern in others. We had a lot of arts education when I grew up. We traveled. We went to museums in every city we visited. I started ballet classes when I was three. I went to very good schools. I got good grades. I rarely got into trouble because I probably would have been more upset than my parents if I had disappointed them. I loved school. I loved music and art and poetry and dancing. We were raised to understand learning came from all directions, and I loved that. We were sheltered in some ways. We never felt any type of want; though we did have to work for things, we lived well. Matty didn’t start getting into real trouble until he went to college. He had to work really hard, and for a boy who’d been good at everything he ever tried, that was really difficult to accept.”

He took her wineglass and refilled it. “Why did you really stop dancing?”

“I’d been wavering on quitting for a while. The divorce had been complicated. Rennie was getting older and it was harder to work around my touring schedule. Then I got hurt. My leg was broken in two places, the femur was shattered. I can’t dance the way I have to. I don’t have the strength or endurance I did before. So it was time. And while I miss the stage, I don’t regret my choice.”

“Still, must have been hard to deal with. The injury and knowing you had to stop doing something you loved so much. I have all this back pain I didn’t have before. I have to take more time away from doing tats so I don’t get all bunched up. I hate that. Makes me feel old.”

“And yet, I’ve driven by your shop when Rennie and I go to Woodland Park Zoo and it’s always packed. You’re in demand. I searched for you on the Internet, I’ve seen all the articles. Talk about a kid who was good at everything he tried. How many times do you think the word ‘genius’ has been applied to your work?”

He burst out laughing. “Enough that it makes me happier when I’m having a shitty day. I’m lucky. I’m good at something I love to do. It’s something special to have that.”

“Yeah. I won’t dance Giselle again, or Swan Lake, but I can still dance and I do every day. My studio is growing so well, I’m thrilled. I took a chance and it’s been wonderful. If I had to do something like run an athletic club or teach dance theory at a local college, I don’t know if I’d be as at ease with my choice.”

“I’m glad you didn’t have to go that way, then. What are your plans for next Friday? Your mother informed me that you needed to get out more with friends and that they were quite happy to sit with Rennie while I made that happen. We do pool, barbecue and beer at the tavern. I thought I could see just how good a pool player you really were.”

“Like a date?”

“Yeah, why not? I mean, about ten people will be around, but everyone knows we’re sleeping together, and Adrian said I make cow eyes at you, so it’s not like people would be surprised. Plus, everyone likes you, and I like you.”

“Okay then. I’ll talk with my mother to work something out.”

“I think we have time for some smooching at the very least.” He grinned, putting his wineglass down.

She placed hers next to his and clambered up into his lap. “Probably just a bit.”

14

“Hey there!” Erin called out as Elise opened her front door the following Friday. “Ready to play pool?” Elise smiled at the sight of her new friend. The woman was like rainbow sherbet or a sundae with sprinkles. Today her hair was a fairly normal shade, brunette, but with streaks of pink here and there.

“Were you lying in wait over there? Looking through Brody’s windows to see when I got home?” She opened the door wider and motioned her inside.

“Totally. I think the boys got a little jealous that I was more interested in when you got home than them.” Erin laughed and hugged her.

“I haven’t been on a date in a very, very long time,” she told Erin as they started to walk across the street to Brody’s house. “I know it’s not a romantic candlelit event or anything. It’s a group thing with beer and pool. God.” She stopped and grabbed Erin’s hand. Erin squeezed. “What am I doing? I don’t know what I’m doing. I should go home. I’m not young. I’m not hip. I’m thinking this is a date, but he doesn’t!”