The Dance We Remember (Love and Other Dreams #4)

Chapter 12

Maxime

I let the dirty plate slide into the sink of my minimalist kitchenette. Tomorrow is the day. We will see each other again. I've been trying not to think about it for weeks, but it's getting harder with each passing day. This morning at breakfast, I caught myself imagining what might happen.

Will the tingling sensation return? Will she have that magnetic effect on me once more? What will she say? And what will I reply?

I'm filled with questions, questions without answers.

Even during my jog, it continued. During training. During meals. And even now, while doing the dishes. I clean the plate, rinse it, and place it on the blue-striped dishcloth beside the sink.

As many times before, when I've already pondered all of this, a heavy sigh escapes my lips. Because, in truth, it's not about finding answers to these questions. The crucial part is that I shouldn't be asking these questions in the first place.

David's words after the final meeting in the Kong were more than clear. If Madame Durand were to find out about the emotional chaos Aurora causes in me, it will be responsible for every one of my mistakes. And if I fail to stay away from Aurora, it could even be grounds for immediate termination. I checked my contract, and that's what it says.

I know that I must push these feelings aside. I will act as if they don't even exist. It will work; I'm sure of it. Difficulties left unattended fade away with time, like photos in the sunlight. That's always been the case and will remain so. I dry my hands, reach for the phone, and dial Mother's number. She's the perfect distraction from my jumbled thoughts.

As it rings, I walk to the window, draw back the curtain, and let my gaze wander. July has adorned the green of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont with splashes of color. Orange, yellow, and red flowers bloom brightly in the beds.

Amid the array of colors, I suddenly spot her. Aurora. She sits on a swing, gazing into the distance. A crackling sound reaches my ear.

"Bonjour."

How beautiful she is. Her dark hair cascades gently over her shoulders, her posture full of grace.

"Maxime?"

I wish I could see her face too, but she's too far away for me to discern any details. "Hello?"

If I were to go to her now, I could find out if her lips are truly as perfectly curved as my memory suggests.

"Always this stupid thing... is it finally broken? Hello?" Should I do it? And if so, what would I say to her when I stand before her? Just "bonjour"?

Somewhere, a loud ringtone blares. Oh yes, the call! Absentmindedly, I glance at the display. Was Maman calling just now? Or did she hang up on me? Distracted, I set my phone aside and look out again at Aurora.

What now?

Ignore it. That's the best approach.

Just as I'm about to turn away, she gets up from the swing and brushes off her jeans. With a determined posture, she leaves the playground and strides toward the grand alley that runs through the entire park.

She wants to leave.

On an uncontrollable impulse, I immediately turn around, rush to the apartment door, sprint down the two flights of stairs, and dash into the park.

Have I gone crazy?

I don't know. All I know is that I want to stop her. I have no idea why. Just because.

This is a damn bad idea, Maxime!

Damn, I know that.

"Aurora!" I call out as she finally comes into view. I rush toward her, and soon I'm close enough to see her swallow hard. Her gaze immediately drops to the ground when I stand out of breath before her.

"Where are your shoes?" she asks in her beautifully accented English, with a hint of Italian.

As soon as she says it, I feel the sharp pebbles pressing through my socks into the soles of my feet. Oh. Well, I guess that answers at least one of the unanswered questions. Yes, I have gone crazy. Clearly.

I shrug. "It's a trend right now."

What am I saying?

"Oh, really?" The mischievous grin on her face drives me crazy. "Well, if that's the case..." Without taking her eyes off me, she slips off her sneakers. Then her expression turns wistful. "Can we talk?"

I've replayed our reunion in my mind a thousand times, but no version was as surreal as this moment. It feels like not even a single day has passed since we danced together.

Does she have questions too?

Or even answers?

My soles ache, so I nod toward the grass. "Over there?"

Together, we hurry to the green space, and once we arrive, we simply keep walking across the field. Past the low-hanging weeping willows, blooming rose bushes, and evergreen shrubs.

"So..." She clears her throat. "I wanted to thank you."

I wave it off. At the same time, I don't allow myself to look at her but keep my gaze fixed on the ducks relaxing at the lake's edge.

In the middle of walking, she stops and reaches for my forearm. "I couldn't have done it without you." Even though she can't know that for sure, she sounds so convinced.

"You were accepted because of your talent. I had nothing to do with it," I reply with a hoarse voice. It's better if she doesn't know what happened behind the scenes.

She vigorously shakes her head. "I was accepted because of our mambo." Her words are nothing more than a whisper.

Instantly, I’m back in the ballroom with her. I place my hand around her body, feel her head against my chest, and hear her excited breath.

"Why did you do it?" She looks at me intently. "Why did you dance with me?"

I can't answer that.

"Tell me," she pleads, now reaching for my other arm. Her lips tremble almost imperceptibly. "Please."

This is... too close.

To make matters worse, she steps even closer and rises on her tiptoes. Her mouth brushes against my ear, and the scent of summer rain fills my nose. "You felt it too, didn't you?" she whispers breathlessly.

No.

No, no, no.

This is wrong.

She releases my forearms. Her cheek briefly touches mine as she pulls back, but even that is too much.

Oh God...

"What?" I whisper even though I wanted to say something completely different.

Gently, she takes my hand and guides it to her collarbone. As soon as I touch her, I feel her strong pulse. And as if that wasn't enough, she now places her hand on my heart too.

Thump.

Neither of us says a word. We simply gaze at each other. Suddenly, everything I thought I knew loses its meaning.

In one fluid motion, I wrap my arms around her back, pull her close, and kiss her so passionately that I feel dizzy.

Nothing has ever felt like this moment. For minutes, all we do is kiss each other. Without breaking away from her, I guide her to one of the overgrown passages and gently press her against the foliage.

We kiss each other, breathe each other, feel each other. It's so intense that I forget where I am, who I am, and why I am.

"Well, please, that's outrageous!" someone suddenly scolds right next to us in English.

We ignore the woman's voice, but she repeats her words over and over. Until, with a heavy heart, I end our kiss.

Beside us, an elderly lady leans on her walking aid. In her hand, she holds a travel guide.

"This is a public park, have some shame!"

Among all the words she says, only one reaches my consciousness.

Public.

I flinch and look around frantically. Damn. What the hell am I doing here?

"Well, there you go." The woman continues to mutter to herself, turns around, and shuffles along the path.

Even though everything inside me resists, I put some distance between Aurora and myself. "We can't do this," I manage to say breathlessly.

Frowning, she pushes herself out of the foliage. "What do you mean?"

A pointed leaf is stuck in her hair. I want to remove it so badly, but I dare not get close to her again. "I will be your teacher starting tomorrow."

At first, she seems not to comprehend, then a distressed expression crosses her face. "What...?"

I clear my throat. "They will expel both of us from the academy."

Her expression turns panicked. "Oh."

Yes. That about sums it up. "It's better if we..." I can't say it, I just can't.

She's frozen. "Si, assolutamente..." she mumbles absentmindedly, fiddling with the ends of her hair.

I look at her meaningfully. "What just happened never happened," I say because that's how we'll treat it. As if we never kissed. We'll forget about it, and everything will be fine.

She nods hesitantly. "But if we..."

I quickly raise my hand. "I wasn't here, and you weren't here," I plead, then tear myself away from her and run away.

She might be calling after me, but as hard as it is, I can't give her any more attention.

Instead, I repeat in my mind what really matters: What just happened never happened. Aurora is just a student like any other.