Inhale...exhale...Alone...in her dressing room. Where she didn't have to put on a happy face. Not the prima ballerina...just Tara the small town girl. She looked at the flyer, tracing the outline of his name. Looked at the note again. She'd been following his career every since he left Australia...she counted to herself. That was 10 years ago. He'd never looked back either...not even for her. There was no one to blame but herself. He was a legend now. The potential she had seen, he'd not only lived up to it...he exceeded it. She smiled to herself.
A sharp knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She quickly put the flyer and the note into her bag. She knew who that was. Ethan. He popped his head in first and then walked in, wrapping his arms around her.
"Tara, I'm so proud of you! You were fantastic out there, darling." he beamed.
She smiled back cocking her head so she could look into his eyes. "I wasn't expecting you back until the 7th." she kissed his lips.
He pulled her up kissing her with a need, attention, lust and the passion he had been holding onto for these last two months. "Well I've let my assistant handle this week since I missed your opening day, I wouldn't miss the finale. Plus, I've gotten an invitation for us to go to Christian's performance in our very own Sydney."
Tara looked at him wide eyed "Christian's coming here? Oh, that's great. We haven't seen him in like wot, 9 years?" she lied easily. Tara pulled away so her husband couldn't see her face as she put on her clothes.
"It's been 10 for you. He's with the American Ballet Theatre now. As a principal." he entwined his hand into hers as they left the building.
"Well he didn't come to the wedding." Tara muttered.
Ethan opened the passenger door to his Porsche and closed it behind Tara. He got into the other side shooting her a look "He'd just gotten the soloist position at the Berlin Ballet. That's opportunity.."
"Yea, Yea, Yea." Tara leaned over and kissed Ethan "I know, I'm being a bit catty. So when is the ballet?" she asked nonchalant.
"Tomorrow night at 7." he said. "Now tonight, I'm going to bathe my wife in a nice bubble bath and then a massage. How's that sound?" he asked putting the car into gear.
"Fantastic. I'm a lucky woman." she kissed his knuckles.
As Ethan went on about the work and the beauty of China, Tara thoughts had shifted. She hadn't spoken to Christian in 10 years but Ethan had spoken to Christian off and on for years. They had even collaborated in a few performances.
She wondered if he was still playful...if he still looked at her the same. If he smelled like cinnamon. If he still tasted...
Tara blinked herself out of such thoughts. Her life was the cliche of perfect. Wonderful husband who loved and adored her. Career that is was the envy of most ballerinas around the world. Perfect.
But...
He still had the ability to immobilize her. Simply by seeing his name on a flyer. Of course the damn note. The note that made her want to take it out of her purse and look at it again. Come, ~Christian
She hated him...Couldn't wait to see him...
Fuck, life was a bloody migraine.