“So, do you and Claire dance together, or how does that work?”
As I began to answer him, for the first time ever, I felt inadequate. “Claire is the lead and I am her understudy.” I was surprised at how disappointed I was with myself as I told him what we did. That had never happened to me before. Maybe it bothered me more than I realized.
Claire reached out and grabbed my hand. "She's my understudy for now. Her day will come where she will be the lead. Abby is an extremely talented dancer.”
I didn’t want it to turn into a pity party for me so I changed the subject.
“You guys are big in New York?”
“Yeah, I’d say we have a pretty big following. The fans are pretty loyal.”
“That’s really cool. So, where do you live?”
“I’m in the Village. Been there for about five years. What about you guys, where do you live?”
I didn’t even want to say it because I knew how people reacted when they found out, but I couldn’t lie. “We’re on the upper Eastside.”
I saw the look that I had seen far too often when I told people where I lived and I didn't want Zane to think any differently of me.
“Wow, being a ballerina has been really good to you, huh?”
Claire and I glanced at each other. “Something like that.”
Thankfully the drummer came over and we were able to change the subject. I didn't really feel like getting into explaining my background to Zane, and I was sure that he had questions.
“Zane, introduce me to your two beautiful friends.”
Claire’s eyes were fixated on him and I almost laughed because I had never seen her like that.
“This is Abby and Claire. Ladies, this is Logan.”
“You girls must be trouble for the men, you’re drop dead gorgeous!” Claire giggled like a schoolgirl and he was totally focused on her when he said that. She seemed to be in heaven.
“You were incredible tonight!” Claire was totally gushing and I could tell that she meant it.
He winked at her. “Thanks, darlin’.”
Zane lightly touched my arm. “Hey Abby, do you want to step outside with me and get some fresh air for a minute?”
My tummy flipped at the thought of being alone with him.
“Sure.” I told Claire we were going outside for a minute and that I would be right back. She seemed totally fine with me going off with Zane because she was all about Logan and she barely looked at me.
We went outside and he pulled me around to the side of the building where no one could see us and pressed me up against the side of the building. His body was inches from mine and he reached out and gently stroked my cheek. I couldn’t breathe.
“I have not been able to stop thinking about you since yesterday. Something about you, Abby, drives me absolutely crazy.” His eyes traveled all over my body and then settled back in my eyes. “Where did you come from?”
Every fiber of my being was screaming out for his touch and I tried so hard to fight that feeling but it was useless. I wanted to feel his hands everywhere, and I was speechless. I couldn’t answer him because the words literally would not come out of my mouth.
I shifted my body away from him and tried to step away but he shifted with me and blocked me, gently pinning me between his thigh and the side of the building.
“Trying to get away from me already? It’s not going to be easy now that I’ve found you.”
I finally found the words and was able to speak. “I don’t think we should be out here like this Zane, we should probably go back inside.”
“I don’t want to go back inside, at least not yet. I want to know more about you. Talk to me, tell me more about you.” He turned and leaned his right shoulder against the wall, arms crossed, facing me.
I really did enjoy being out there with him so I decided to give in and play along for a bit. I figured there was no harm in talking to him for a couple of minutes, especially since I knew that things with us would never go anywhere.
"Well, I was born and raised in New York, and dancing is my life. I've been doing it since I was six and it is all that I want to do. It’s actually all that I know how to do so it’s a good thing that I enjoy it. I have a younger brother who is still in high school and my mom and dad are still married and are very happy. It’s been a really good life so far.”
He looked at me for a minute, not saying a word and then gave me a small smile.
“You just told me about your family and what you do, I want to know more. I want to know about you, what you like, what you don't like, favorite places, things like that. I want to know you. I want to know everything.”
"Why?" The word came out before I could stop it, but I didn't understand why this superhot lead singer of a really cool band was so into me in such a short amount of time. I mean, I know I was a pretty girl but I’d never had attention like that from a guy.