“Really?” I said sarcastically. “After what happened the other night?”
Kingston looked guilty and ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, about that…”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m waiting for an apology.”
“Sorry,” Kingston said sheepishly. “Mav and I… we went too far.”
“No kidding,” I said as I switched to a side split and slowly lowered my upper body to the floor.
“Are we cool, though?” Kingston asked hopefully.
“I guess,” I said with a shrug. “I did get you back pretty good.”
Kingston chuckled. “I didn’t think you had the balls to pull something like that.”
“Remember that the next time you’re thinking about messing with me,” I threatened.
Kingston grinned at me. “You won’t be able to get us again.”
I chuckled. “Really? I can just wait until you’re wasted and draw all over your face in permanent marker.”
Kingston laughed, and I thought I saw respect in his eyes. I could have been wrong, considering that I was currently threatening him and his brother, but I think he liked the challenge.
“We’ll see,” Kingston replied mischievously. “If you want to start a prank war, then it’s on.”
“I wasn’t the one who started it,” I pointed out.
I looked up at Kingston as I stretched, but I didn’t see any animosity on his face. I wanted to ask him why he was here, but I decided it would be better to let him lead the conversation and see where he went with it. I wasn’t stupid enough to think he just came in here to chat. It was entirely possible that Maverik had sent him in here and was listening to every word.
“You look hot when you dance,” Kingston told me with a flirty grin. “And when you’re doing this stuff.”
I sighed. Really? He was going to fake flirt and thought I’d be clueless enough to fall for it? Not a chance.
“Thanks,” I said casually. “Do you usually come down here after dinner?”
It would be good to know when I should avoid the area.
“Nah,” Kingston admitted. “Just needed to blow off some steam.”
I nodded. “Same.” I kept stretching and pretended he wasn’t staring at me.
“You have a really tight body,” he commented as he watched me. “How many hours a day do you work out?”
“I don’t know - it depends on the season.” I thought about it. “Usually five to ten, I guess.”
Kingston nodded. “So you’re serious about the whole ballet thing?”
I shot him a ‘what do you think?’ look. “Do you know a lot of other girls that do the same?”
Kingston shook his head. “Most girls just seem to care about shopping and doing their makeup so they can put pics on Instagram.”
“Maybe you should expand the crowd of girls you usually hang out with,” I suggested.
Kingston stared for another moment, and then he flashed me another flirty grin. “Come to a party with us tonight. I’ll make sure you have a good time.”
I froze for a second but tried to stay casual. Why was he suddenly being friendly when he and his brother wanted nothing more than to throw me out on my ass?
“Thanks, but I’m going to turn in early tonight,” I said with a shrug.
Kingston pushed up off the wall and looked at me like I was a puzzle with half the pieces missing. “You’re kind of weird for a girl. Most of them would scratch each other’s eyes out for a chance to show up somewhere along with me and Mav.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think this room is big enough for your ego.”
Kingston chuckled. “If you change your mind, we’ll probably leave here around ten.”
“Have fun,” I said with a small smile.
He gave me one last confused look and then left the room to rejoin Maverik at the weights. I ignored them both when they put their heads together to whisper and give me furtive glances.
I was right about that being some type of setup. But what was the goal? Did they want to invite me to the party, so they had a crowd to humiliate me in front of? Try to sleep with me, since threats hadn’t succeeded in pulling any of my mother’s secrets out?
I sighed and grabbed my new pair of pointe shoes out of my bag. During the school year, my scholarship covered all the shoes I went through, but now I was on my own. I was going to have to figure out where I could get more, because this was my last pair. I still had the money my babushka had left me, but eighty dollars for a pair of shoes for every twelve hours I danced added up quickly.
I took out my needle and thread and lined up the ribbons to where I wanted them. Sewing new ribbons and elastic on my shoes was a relaxing routine that helped me feel normal, even though my life had become anything but. Slamming the shoes down on the ground to break them in was also therapeutic – in a different way.
The guys disappeared before I was finished, so I made my way back to my room alone. I leaned on my door after I shut it and closed my eyes. It sucked being completely alone in a strange place and having absolutely no one I could trust. I wanted to turn back time to six months ago when I still had Ryan and my babushka. I wish I had savored every moment with her and had appreciated her more. I guess the saying was right - you don’t know what you have until you lose it.
Chapter 18
Maverik
I watched Katya as King flirted with her. She seemed clueless and confused at first, but toward the end of the conversation she just looked suspicious. Ryan had given us some interesting information, but I needed
