Apollo (Contemporary Mythos Book 2)

Once I pulled into the dance studio parking lot, I realized I was fifteen minutes early. Plenty of time to catch a quick cat nap. The sun’s warmth from the cloudless sky lulled me to sleep as I reclined my seat.

Visions of blonde hair, glistening bronze man-skin, and sunbursts overtook my dreams. Even in sleep, I couldn’t seem to escape him. He leaned toward me, singing words I couldn’t decipher in the dreamscape. The wind tousled his hair, and a bright light burst behind him, blinding me.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I jolted awake, running the back of my hand over my mouth in case I drooled. Kate stood outside, waving at me and pointing toward the studio. Grogginess fogged my brain. The digital clock on my dashboard read 6:58 AM. Technically, I still had two minutes. Grumbling to myself, I rubbed my palms against my eyes and yawned. After gathering my bag and water bottle, I was just about to step out of my car when the sky darkened, and a torrential downpour followed.

I’d been to Florida. Witnessed random rain falling on the sunniest of days. But to have the weather change in the blink of an eye? Very odd. Stretching for the glove compartment, I grabbed the pink polka-dotted umbrella I nabbed last year from the studio’s lost and found. It’d been sitting there for months. Finders keepers.

Freshly formed puddles splashed against my legs as I ran. I shook off the water droplets in the foyer, resting the umbrella upside down near the door to dry.

Kate walked around the corner, and her jaw dropped. “When did it start raining? It looks like the movie Twister out there.”

“It rolled in about thirty seconds ago. I haven’t seen any cows yet, though, so I think we’re okay.” I snickered, rubbing my arms. The chill from the AC always intensified when you were wet.

Kate ran up beside me. “Fair warning. Jamie is already here, and she’s acting like the elevator incident never happened.”

“Of course, she is. She’s perfect. Remember?” I dried off my legs with a spare towel and tied up my pointe shoes, slipping on leg warmers last.

Jamie’s chin lifted so high that I could’ve sworn I could make out her brain through her nostrils. She was kicking the “my shit don’t stink” act into overdrive.

“Good morning, Jamie. You look—well-rested,” I said as I passed by her on my way to the barre.

She stretched her legs, pushing onto the pointe of one foot and leaning into it before switching to the other. “Thank you. You look like you’ve been using Sharpies under your eyes.”

My eyes fell shut, and I lifted a finger, ready to bring up the elevator she so conveniently forgot about when several gasping dancers derailed my plans.

Ace stepped through the doorway, shirtless and soaked. Water beads trickled over his chest and traveled over his abs like a bubbling brook. I wasn’t sure how my vision turned to slow motion. But it did. He gave his wet blonde hair a toss, dragging his hand through his soaked locks. He grinned, causing his eyes to do that all too charming squint thing they did. I clutched a non-existent strand of pearls around my neck, and my stomach did several traitorous flips.

The other dancers tried to compose themselves, knowing Roy would walk in at any moment. My feet glued to the floor as he crossed the room, leaving a sultry water trail.

Words, words. I’d need to form words.

He gazed down at me. The sight of him glistening from the overhead lights was even better up close.

I took a sharp breath and crossed my arms. “You know, there’s this invention called an umbrella.”

“And miss that look on your face?” He squeegeed water from his mouth with two fingers. “Not a chance.”

My own words from yesterday slapped me in the face.

“I saw you were biting your lip.” He circled the air in front of me with a finger.

Was I? He had to be bluffing. I’d remember.

“They’re chapped,” I quipped. My eyes dropped to his stomach for a mere millisecond.

“I saw that.” He pointed at me as he backed away.

I narrowed my eyes. “You saw nothing, Jon Snow.”

“Pretty sure it’s ‘know nothing.’” He shifted his eyes before smiling.

It was unimpressive he could out-quote me on Game of Thrones. He’d probably read it off a meme or something. “Go put a shirt on, Rockstar. Or the other dancers will be useless during rehearsal.” I bit back a grin.

“Uh-huh.” He turned to the whispering group of women in the corner and bowed, tossing his hair again as he stood before whisking through the door.

Roy walked in moments later with his head buried in his newspaper. He stepped in one of Ace’s many wet spots on the dancefloor and halted. He looked down like he’d stepped in gum.

“Why the hell is my studio wet?” He glared at us over the rim of his glasses.

“Jamie didn’t leave her umbrella by the door,” I announced, raising my brow at Jamie.

Kate slapped a hand over her mouth, squelching a giggle.

Jamie widened her eyes, and I knew she wanted to deny it, to whine like a little girl not getting her way. We both knew Roy wouldn’t stand for it. I’m sure I started a war with her, but we’d been battling long enough—time to bring it home.

“Sorry, sir. I’ll grab a towel,” Jamie said through gritted teeth.

I smiled at my momentary victory.

Ace walked in, dry as a bone from head-to-toe. He wore a pair of white shorts and a grey racerback tank top with extra-large armholes.

I pretended to stretch on the barre and waited for him to pass. “You’ve been gone for two minutes. How did you dry off that fast?”

“Keeping track of how long I’m gone?” Ace slipped a ring from his pocket, sliding it on his finger.

I reached my hand toward my foot, resting my chin on my knee. “Avoiding the question?”

“I ran across the street and used one of those industrial carwash dryers.” He challenged me with his stare.

“Don’t patronize me. Besides, you would’ve gotten soaked all over again.” I switched legs on the barre.

“It cleared up.”

I stood, putting my hands on my hips. “How?”

“Go take a look for yourself.” He winked, walking away and stretching his arms.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I slipped into the hallway. The sky was bright blue, the sun was blazing, and like this morning, not a cloud in the sky.

“Told you,” Ace’s voice boomed behind me.

I jumped. “You don’t find the sudden drastic change in the weather a tad alarming? It takes global warming to another level.”

“Nah. I’ve seen crazier things. Trust me.”

I squinted at him as I passed. “I bet you have.”

Jamie finished mopping the water with several towels. She shoved them into the hall with a grunt.

“Aw. Did you clean up after me? How thoughtful.” Ace spoke to Jamie but winked at me over his shoulder.

Jamie perked up, batting a stray strand of hair from her eyes. “It’s the least I could do. I mean, getting caught without an umbrella? You poor thing. Could’ve caught a cold.”

“Now that you mention it. I do feel a tad sniffly.”

“Oh, no.” She pressed the back of her hand on his forehead and then her palm. “You’re burning up.”

“You know it.”

“No, seriously, Ace. You feel like you’re running a hundred-degree temperature or something. We should tell—” She turned for Roy, but Ace caught her by the wrist.

“I’m fine.” He let go. “Trust me.”

“Are you going to stretch or eavesdrop on Ace?” Kate asked.

Their conversation distracted me to the point I wasn’t even close to the barre. I took a step forward and rested my ankle on the top bar.

“I’m just trying to figure out his deal.” I forced my eyes to look at my knee.

“And you care because?” She elongated the “a” sound.

I beat my forehead against my shin. “I don’t care. I simply think it’s best we know who we’re working with. Did Roy even think to do a background check?”

“The paparazzi.”

I lifted my head. “What about them?”

“That’s his background check.”

“Everyone to the center, please,” Roy announced, tossing his newspaper on a chair.

Ace slipped into the hallway, returning with Raven, his black acoustic guitar. My insides twisted, remembering his voice through the wall. Even without being able to make out the lyrics, the melody of his singing had been ethereal.

“Ace will lead the music for rehearsal today. Take your positions.” Roy slid his glasses atop his head.

I tried not to look at Ace’s face, but he caught my gaze and threw the strap over his neck. He drummed his fingers on the guitar’s neck and quirked his brow like he was daring me to dance for him.

He began a slow melody in a similar count to a waltz. I stood in the back next to Kate, and all dancers struck the starting pose. As I bent backward, swirling my head around, the sounds of his callused fingers brushing over the steel strings invaded my ears. Every strum. Every pluck. A swell formed in my chest, and as I dove into the first of four combinations, sliding the point of my foot in a circle around my body, I closed my eyes.

Strum, spin, glide. Pluck, twirl, pointe.

The moves flowed out of me without a second thought. Subconsciously, I knew my eyes were closed, but I didn’t need to see. I could dance the studio blindfolded, and moving with only the music to guide me was like a caged bird free to an open window.

The other dancers obviously hadn’t gotten the memo I’d be dancing to the beat of my own drum. I tripped over one of their feet, my eyes flying open. If there were any time to break my ankle, this would be the worst. An arm wrapped around my torso—thick and muscular. The smell of sun and evergreen permeated the air.

“Get a little lost, there?” Ace asked, beaming down at me.

My eyes fluttered. The ceiling light blazed behind his head, shadowing his face and giving him a crown of light rays.

A sense of calm tugged at my brain—the same comfort of drinking hot tea and curling up in a blanket on a rainy day. “Only three hours of sleep will do that to a gal.” He felt warm like a raging fire. “Why are you so warm?”

“I went tanning this morning.”

Now that I could believe. We were in New York. You didn’t look that bronzed unless it came from artificial sunlight or a box. But he smelled like the sun—the real sun. As we stared at each other, I lost track of time. We could’ve been stuck there for five seconds or ten minutes.

“Miss Berg,” Roy beckoned, his voice stern.

Jamie plastered her best smug face, crossing her arms. She tapped her foot, which made a thudding sound from the wooden block in her pointe shoe.

I wiped my sweaty palms on the tops of my thighs, preparing for the chastising of the century. Ace nudged me with his shoulder. When our equally blue eyes finally met, he winked at me.

I curled a finger over my ear, securing an imaginary piece of rogue hair. Standing in front of Roy, I lifted my chin.

“I’ve never seen you dance like that before.” Roy squinted.

My heart thumped against my chest.

Was I about to be fired?

“Sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.”

He guffawed. “I sure as hell hope it does. It’s the best I’ve ever seen you perform.”

I blinked so rapidly it made my eyes water. “I—well, thank you, sir.”

“Listen, I always wait to assign understudies until I see who takes to the choreography the best. I’d like you to understudy Jamie’s part if you’re up for it.”

I couldn’t help the shock passing over my face like melting ice cream. I’d never been this close to principal in my life. Even as an understudy.

“Absolutely. I won’t let you down, sir.” I felt the urge to salute but gave my best first position ballet posture I could instead.

He looked down at my feet and gave a firm nod. “Good. But work on the turnout, alright?”

My heart plummeted to my feet—the freaking turnout nightmare of my life. No matter. I wasn’t going to let it spoil my good mood. Not now.

“Miss Harland,” he called to Jamie.

I ran over to Kate before slowing to a steady walk so as not to look too excited.

“What?” Jamie’s voice echoed through the room. She didn’t sound pleased.

“Guess who just got offered Jamie’s understudy position?” I plucked the straps of my leotard.

“No way! Really?” Kate playfully shoved me.

Jamie’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I haven’t needed an understudy in years. Years.” She didn’t bother trying to talk low, not caring if we all heard her. It made no difference. I already knew she was a bitch.

“Good news, I take it?” Ace lazily strummed his guitar, turning the knobs as if it needed tuning.

I rolled my shoulders back. “Yes. I’m now Jamie’s understudy.”

“Well, good for you.” He played the same song he played through the wall last night and leaned forward. “Looks like we’ll get to dance together after all.” He whistled the melody instead of singing as he walked away, crossing one foot over the other.

My throat dried, remembering the way his hands snaked around Jamie’s torso. Her butt. Her thighs. Oh, God.