Page 197 of Dance of Defiance

“Uh…yeah. Sounds good.”

I’m still standing there like an idiot when a hand lands heavily on my shoulder.

“Who the fuck was that?” Val growls, scowling at Lukas’s back.

“That was…” A weird smile creeps over my face. “I think the first person I came out to besides you.”

I frown as I suddenly pull out my phone.

Now that it’s out there, I don't even care that I just kind of came out to the guy. But there’s someone else I should have toldfirst.

I tap on the text convo with Evie that Val, bless him, continued as me when I was out of commission.

Me:hey

Evie:Hi hi! :)

Me:Got plans tonight? We could do that dinner?

Evie:No plans! And YAY! :D

Evie:Would it be lame to have it at the house? I’ve got some stuff I need to do here tonight.

Evie:Papa's in Chicago on business, btw ;)

I grin.

Me:In that case, definitely.

Evie:<3 <3 Can’t wait!

Me: Mind if I bring a guest?

37

ROMAN

“Wait,I’m still trying to figure this out.”

Evie pauses, turning to open the oven and reach in with potholders to pull out anamazingsmelling quiche. My stomach groans, and my mouth starts salivating like it hasn’t in two weeks.

My appetite hassort ofcome back. But I think it’s at this very moment, smelling real, home-cooked food, that it finally makes its triumphant return.

“Evie, that smells fuckingdelicious.”

She grins as she stands, puts the dish on the stovetop, and closes the oven door. Julia, Papa's full-time cook, is always more than happy to prepare anything you could want, anytime. But my sister said she wanted to cook tonight.

“Where did you even learn to make quiche? Andwhen?”

She rolls her eyes. “Idohave a life outside ballet, you know.”

Val snorts next to me at the kitchen island. “I wouldloveto know how you manage that.”

She smirks. “Notbeing on Madame Kuzmina’s naughty list goes a long way.”

I chuckle as Val scowls. “Well, shit. I’m screwed, then.”

Behind the island, I reach over and squeeze his hand.