Because the next day was going to be crazy with rehearsals, Alejandro arrived at the crack of dawn to begin the daily preparations. He wasn’t looking forward to it, though. Talia had left so suddenly the night before. Even though Vanessa and Ruby had a couple of routines in their back pocket to maintain the illusion everything was fine, he spent the remainder of the evening worrying about her. It didn’t matter which person Talia spent the night with; he always dreaded the morning after, not knowing which version of her would show up.
But as he went to unlock the doors, he realized there was music playing—happy, upbeat music. He replaced the key in his jean pocket and pushed his way inside. Beside himself, Alejandro could only marvel at Talia’s ease of movement. There was no methodology to her steps; she darted from one corner of the stage to the next, keeping perfect time, but completely uninhibited. Recognizing that its conclusion was drawing near, he raised his voice, “Feel an extra spring in your step after running off to see Rodrigo last night?”
The sunshine blanketing Talia’s face was steadfast as she sauntered over to lower the stereo’s volume. “As usual, Alejandro, you could not be more wrong. But that is fine. Nothing you say can spoil my good time.”
“Wait,” his voice cracked, “that’s not why you left? He’s usually the reason you disappear without a word to anyone.” Hands firmly on his hips, he eased into the speech he’d built up in his head over the past 10 hours. “Lucky for you, Vanessa and Ruby are professionals that can keep this place going whenever you ditch us. I should be furious with you…”
“Hmm, I did not realize you had that capability.” She flipped her hair to one side as she paged through sleeves of CD’s.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, “Really, I am just glad you are all right. You mean so much to our family here. I can’t help but worry about you, you know.”
“A meaningless exercise as I have told you many times,” she smirked, shutting the case and resting it against the wall. “Nothing happened last night that you would not have approved of… not that it matters anyway because I was never yours to begin with.” She spun around to face him. Alejandro blinked in case his mind was playing tricks on him. Talia wasn’t wearing her trademark leer for him, but a sly knowing smile. A smile that soon became bigger when Emilia arrived at the club with Juan Paulo close behind. This prompted him to do a double take between the two of them. Before he could open his mouth to ask, she playfully chided him, “shut up,” dashing past to greet the newcomers.
Emilia noticed the difference in her immediately, in awe of the glow of her presence. “Wow, Talia, you’re in a really good mood this morning.” She shifted her gaze to Juan Paulo, who shook his head to profess his innocence of revealing anything, meeting him only with a wink. In return, he braced his chest and exhaled with relief.
Quickly, she changed the subject. “Enough about me. You have a long day of work ahead. Alejandro, hold all of my calls until I get back.” Noting his alarmed expression, she elaborated, “Shouldn’t be long. I just need to see Juan Paulo to his business.” Her lip curled ever so slightly as she took his hand, interweaving her fingers with his before pulling him outside.
Befuddled by their sudden department, Emilia gaped at Alejandro while aiming her thumb over her shoulder. “I didn’t just imagine that, did I?”
“Nah, it sure seemed real.” He was just as perplexed but was more masterful about keeping that hidden. After locating her cell phone under the bar, he went through the motions of putting it on silent so that all calls went to voice mail. Then his jaw dropped, “Dios Mio…”
“What, what is it?” She asked.
“It’s not like Talia to let it go to low battery, but she is a little distracted today.” His eyes shifted to the door and Emilia got his meaning right away.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” She promptly excused her to start warming up.
Alejandro plugged the phone in the back room and sighed, bracing the nearest shelf. What he’d neglected to mention was that Talia received dozens of livid texts: all from the same number.
* * *
The urgency in Talia’s stride startled Juan Paulo, but he couldn’t bring himself to question it because she had a clear objective in mind. What it was exactly, there was no way to be sure. This Talia differed greatly from the one he’d gotten to know over the past month. Once they arrived in front of La Scala, she pulled him several feet down the nearest alleyway and shoved him against the wall for a kiss.
“Whoa, easy.” He broke away. “At least let me take the guitar off my back first.” She stopped, sizing him up. It was then she noticed the black case strapped around his back. A frenzy of excitement had seized all of her senses when he first arrived with Emilia that she hadn’t seen anything but his face and his waist. Wordlessly, they removed the obstructing instrument and she swapped their positions so her back was the one against the bricks.
Muscle memory from her various encounters with Rodrigo guided her hands, placing Juan Paulo’s in the same places. His right braced her leg against him for support and his left between her thighs. *** Ecstasy came for Talia in less than a minute. After a deep pleasurable moan, she leaned her face into the crook of his neck to catch her breath.
Juan Paulo’s eyebrows furrowed as her tears tickled his skin. The lump in his throat wanted, again, to ask if she was ok when her lilting tone distracted him. “This feels so nice. The best I have had in a long time. So much time that had been wasted.” She met his sympathetic gaze, but completely missed the intention behind it. “I hope you will understand if I’m not ready to give all of myself to you yet. I just need some time to…”
“Sure, whatever is good for you.”
The ease of reassurance in his countenance warmed her heart. Talia never imagined being so fortunate with a lover, but part of her was still afraid to put herself completely in his power. Not just because this was all new, but she wanted to avoid any further setbacks, given her recent history. Then she looked down and smirked at the distinct bulge in his slacks. “It would seem even you are unable to resist my expertise.”
Juan Paulo followed her line of sight, quickly looking away with a light blush coloring his cheeks. “I guess I should have worn something looser.”
“Hmm,” she bit her lip, “and I thought all men preferred tight clothing. So when they lose control, the result makes them look more manly.”
“I get why you would think that. Personally, I find that it cuts off circulation and I’d prefer if that didn’t happen.”
“Suit yourself.” Her hands moving faster than he could catch, she *** proceeded to finish what already started.
* * *
Talia returned to Calypso as effortlessly as she had left. She kept out of sight in the backstreets where she smoothed her clothing back into place. Once inside, she leaned her back against the doors to catch her breath. Except for Alejandro, who was going about his business exactly where she’d left him, the main room was deserted. Animated chatter of three distinct voices reverberated from the dressing room, prompting her to shake her head. As she slipped behind the bar, Alejandro responded without missing a beat, “It’s plugged in the back.” She reached around him under the counter for her purse and disappeared through the door behind them.
One by one, Vanessa, Scarlet, and Emilia emerged, fringe adorning their yellow and tangerine gowns. The energy of their ongoing exchange was so manic, its nature could not be deciphered. Alejandro heard Talia’s name mentioned multiple times so he could only surmise their excitement involved the latest turn of events.
The sudden shattering of glass in the room behind him brought it all to a screeching halt. After a long exasperated sigh, Alejandro clapped his hands together and approached the stage. “Ok, this is what we’re going to do. Since all of you chose to coordinate your wardrobe today, start work on the inferno samba routine. The last thing Talia will want is for us to lose any more rehearsal time today.” Vanessa opened her mouth to protest, but he quashed it. “I will handle this. If she throws me out, she throws me out. But I have to try.” He jogged to the backroom door, pausing for a moment before knocking. “Talia?” No response. “Talia, I’m going to come in, ok?” There was no rebuff, so he pushed his way through.
Talia was a foot away, reapplying her mascara with one hand and holding her compact in the other. Only one bottle of tequila lay in shards on the floor; her dinged up cell phone sat in a puddle of its contents. Alejandro left her to her devices as he cleaned up the mess with a broom and dustpan. “I appreciate you not taking your anger out on anything expensive.” It was meant to be a joke in an effort to lighten the mood, but she didn’t take the bait. Talia traded her mascara for her brush to smooth out the frizz in her hair. Music started pouring through the loudspeakers. The bounce in its melody brought a smile to her face and her brushing grew more vigorous in response. Once he completed his custodial duties, leaving her phone untouched, Alejandro rested his hands on his hips. There was only one question left to ask and he put it as casually as he could. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Yes. Have them run through this routine twice. After I finish up in here, I want you to have some feedback ready for me. Emilia knows the steps well enough, but her movements need to tighten up so she doesn’t fall out of time with the rest of the group. For this one samba, the audience needs to see one fluid image, not individual dancers.” Alejandro nodded. But while his hand rested comfortably on the doorknob, his subdued gaze revealed no intention of turning it. Piecing this together, Talia gave a blunt self-assured response. “Trust me. I have this under control.” Not wanting to risk another prolonged argument, Alejandro relented without uttering another word and saw himself out.
Aside from a few scratches, Talia’s cell phone was still in working order. She promptly blocked Rodrigo’s number to put a stop to the incessant messages but stopped short of deleting it altogether.
***
Music: (in case I don't mention it in a later chapter) "Do it" by Nelly Furtado
Music: (in case I don't mention it in a later chapter) "Do it" by Nelly Furtado
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