Page 94 of Unlocked Dive

Me: …

Me: But it’s okay if you want to…

Echo: Fuck. Stop.

Echo: I didn’t do it.

Me: I’m glad.

“I need a job.”

“I gave you a job. You fucked it up by fucking my student.”

“Not a coaching job. I want to get back on the rope. I need another month to get my chops back, but then I want in on a show. Something small to start. I know you have connections.”

“You have connections too. Cirque is all over the world.”

“And I’ll be calling them. But I want something based in Amsterdam. I’m coming home.”

“Are you going to steal my student?”

“I’m not going tostealhim. Although I do plan on fucking his brains out when he’s not at school. If he’ll let me.”

“As his director, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. As your best friend, I expect details. Over wine. That you’re buying.”

“I don’t kiss andtell.”

“Bullshit. I had to hear all about Gabriel back in the day.”

“We’re adults now, Reggie. And Echo is nothing like his brother.”

“I know, babe. I met him, remember? You think I would have pushed so hard to get him here if he was anything like that whiny prick? Or dumped him in your lap?”

“No. You’ve always had my back. Speaking of which, don’t tell him I’m coming when he gets there, please.”

“You’re not going to tell him?”

“No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I want him to focus on school and have time to get settled in.”

“Really. So you’re just gonna show up at his door and surprise him?”

“Technically, it’s my door. And I…What if he tells me not to come? I can’t risk it, Reg.”

When she’s done laughing her ass off, Reggie connects me with a friend of hers directing a six-week gig in Amsterdam. I have a month to pull an act together before I need to be on-site for rehearsals. Luckily, it’s a cabaret-style show, so I won’t have to learn a bunch of group numbers when I get there.

Packing up the cabin would take too much time I don’t want to spend, so I call a realtor about leasing the place furnished and send an email to Cirque HR, letting them know my sabbatical is now an official resignation. After making me promise to catch one of their shows before I leave, Shilo tells me I can store the 4-Runner and the rig at Big Top, and that she’ll send Josha to drive me to the airport in San Francisco when I’m ready.

No one tells me I’m making a mistake except Elke, who lays into me with all her scathing sisterly fury. It’s only after Ifigure out what James meant with his final cryptic comment at Clancey’s that I’m able to shut her up.

“I’m not leaving anything behind this time, Elke. Everything I want for my life is already over there.”

Echo: I said goodbye to Asha and Audrey today.

Echo: Audrey gave me a new tattoo.