Pas de Trois

Chapter 14: "Let's get it over with."

"I don't know how I didn't see it," Danny went on. "She's always texting, like who would my mom even text? I can't believe I never noticed before."

"She must have friends," Chloe tried not to laugh at him but Danny was being pretty funny about meeting his mom's boyfriend.

"Honestly, it's good that you'll be there," Danny said. "Slade and I have to hate him, but you can tell us the truth, you know?"

"Maybe you'll like him?" Chloe suggested.

"Nope, not a chance," Danny shook his head.

"Alright," Chloe had already given up on getting one of them to explain why they were so afraid of Danny's mom dating. Especially since all they'd ever said before was that guys usually just wanted her money and this guy clearly had plenty of his own.

"I don't care what anyone says, you're coming home with me after," Slade whispered as Danny continued ranting.

"Bad news about that," Chloe cringed.

"What? Your parents already said no?" Slade asked.

"My grandparents are getting into town tonight," Chloe told him.

"Guh," Slade made a face. "But I don't like keeping my hands to myself."

"I noticed," Chloe laughed. "You can come over to my house though. Dad's going to make a big breakfast tomorrow."

"Food is my second favorite thing, you know," Slade kissed her cheek.

"I know," Chloe squeezed his hand. "You ready?" she asked Danny as they got to the stage door.

"Let's get it over with," Danny said.

Chloe's parents were standing with Danny's mom and the guy who had to be her boyfriend, Ivan Pope. He was actually good-looking, in that way that older men sometimes were, and he had the good sense to let go of Carol's hand when he saw them getting close.

Carol introduced him to everyone and Chloe watched the way Slade and Danny both seemed to stand up taller as they spoke to Ivan. Ivan seemed really nice, and when it was Chloe's turn to shake his hand, he smiled brightly and looked her right in the eyes.

"You and Danny are a great team on stage," Ivan said. "It looks so easy, I'm sure it's taken a lot of work."

"You have no idea," Chloe said. She couldn't help it though, she did like him. He came off as being very genuine.

That feeling continued through dinner. The good news was that even Danny seemed to get along with him. Carol obviously really liked him and as far as Chloe could tell, Ivan really liked her.

"Can we talk about why I've never seen this dress before?" Slade whispered, his hand slipping over her thigh. They were in the middle of the meal so no one seemed to notice what he was doing.

"When was the last time we went anywhere but ballet?" Chloe asked.

"Fair," Slade answered. "I really like this dress," he slid his hand under the hem.

"Chloe?" Brent's voice startled her and her knee hit the table.

"Sorry, what?" Chloe asked. Thankfully Slade moved his hand down her leg, rubbing the spot where she'd banged her knee into the table.

"I just wondered how long it took you to adjust to your pointe shoes," Carol said. "I know they're really hard on your feet."

"Yeah, I think it took a year before I got used to it," Chloe said. "They still get me sometimes, honestly. Breaking in new ones is the worst."