He slid down to his elbow, hovering over her, holding her gaze in his. “You are,” he whispered.
She was his history. And his future. Looking at her now in the bathtub, he toyed with the notion they would have a place together someday. They would be home. Together in ordinary time.
*
Over the weekend, Daisy taught John Quillis James’s role in No Blue Thing. Will helped, generous with tips and tricks, skillfully coaching and guiding John to a higher plane of confidence. If they couldn’t find an empty studio, they practiced in the basement of John’s dorm. As Daisy had observed, he was quick and smart. And slightly smitten. Within four days, he was partnering with a solid competence which Daisy felt would only get stronger. She took her fait accompli to Marie, and John got the green light to dance.
In the meantime, James appealed to the dean and somehow he wangled a reprieve. He had to pass a couple of makeup exams and clock a certain amount of hours at the academic resource center, but he was back in the concert. And behaving himself. Marie made it clear John Quillis was more than ready to understudy if James blew it again. To press the point, she gave John the Sunday matinee performance.
“I gotta say I’m impressed with the kid,” Will said. “Keep practicing with him and you’ll have yourself a nice prince next year.” He ruffled the top of Daisy’s head and then his hand grew still. He looked down at her and his eyes misted.
“Oh no,” Daisy said, knocking his hand away. “Absolutely not, William, don’t you dare start bawling.”
“Just a little bawl?”
“No. I am too tired.”
She was exhausted. It came as no surprise to Erik when she said she wanted to go home for a weekend before technical rehearsals started.
“I need my mother,” she said, putting clothes and a toothbrush in a bag.
“Go get coddled. Sleep all day. Everything’s going to be all right.” He kissed her goodbye and watched her drive down Jay Street. No sooner had the car turned the corner when a cloud seemed to pass in front of the sun and the world was a slightly less pleasant place to be.
Erik walked through the backyards into his kitchen. Will was sitting at the small table, a mug between his hands and a cigarette burning in the ashtray.
“Water’s hot,” he said.
Erik made himself tea. He leaned back against the sink, blowing across the surface and watching Will stare out the window. This was not Will’s usual meditative staring, but a morose and troubled reflection.
“Qu’est-ce qui se passe?” Erik said.
Will glanced over. “Dig you with the French.”
“Two years hanging with you and Dais, I finally have some game. I can ask what’s up or for a blow job.”
“Just be careful whom you’re asking for what.”
Erik shrugged. “You’ll suck my cock eventually. I’m just playing hard to get.”
Will gave a chuckle and lowered his forehead into the heel of his hand, the smoke from the butt held in his fingers making a wreath around his head. Feeling he should stay present while still giving Will space, Erik hitched up and sat on the counter.
“Dude,” Will said. “I’ve gotten myself into a hell of a mess.”
“You know, I never asked you flat out about your persuasions.”
“It’s one of the things I love about you, Fish,” Will said. “You’re not oblivious to shit but you mind your business.”
“Do you need my help here? Or do you want me to sit, look cute and keep minding my business?”
“I don’t know what I need, Fish.” Will flicked his ashes and ran a hand through his hair. “Actually I do know. I need Lucky.”
“You miss her?”
“Like fucking crazy. I never set any boundaries on sex but when it came to my time and emotions and a long-term relationship, I always knew it would be a woman. And it’s Lucky. She’s the whole deal. You know?”