No One's Watching by Sandy Green Page B

farther into the water between Amy and Jupiter until her chin was submerged. “You’re right, Shelly. This is such a great idea. You’re not only a beautiful dancer, you’re so smart, too.”
    Shelly opened her mouth to give us a piece of her mind, as if she could afford to spare it. She was such a victim to praise she shrugged and let the comment pass.
    â€œI’d be glad to give you a massage, Candy. After all, this is the physical therapy room.” Jupiter offered his hands.
    â€œThanks, but this is all I need.” Candace sighed. She must be feeling good because she hated being called Candy. Like being called Kitty made me cringe.
    My whole body fought the relaxing effect of the water. It reminded me of when I had anesthesia for my tonsillectomy. A disembodied voice gave me instructions to count backward from one hundred. I got to ninety-nine before letting go and drifting off to la-la land.
    In the hot tub, I struggled to concentrate. It was hard not to let my mind wander in the watery cocoon. I forced myself to watch the white foam in the choppy waves.
    Why was Blake so quiet? I wanted to drag my eyes to him sitting between Danilo and Jupiter. Maybe he didn’t want to be there and regretted standing me up — and, of course, Megan and Lindy, our own two Irish munchkins.
    Shelly read my thoughts. “Don’t you and Blake have your little rehearsal?”
    I thought so. “I guess it wasn’t mandator—” I gestured to Blake soaking in the steamy water.
    Only it wasn’t Blake.

Chapter Eighteen

    â€œOh.” Oh, no.
    Riley turned his doe eyes to me. I pulled the baseball cap farther down my forehead. How could I have mistaken him for Blake? Riley was twice as tall and weighed half as much as Blake. It was the brown hair. Water condensed from the steam and dripped off his ringlets.
    That would mean — I glanced at the clock on the wall. Seven fifty-five. Was it too late to bolt out of the hot tub and get to the studio where Blake was undoubtedly having a jiggy time with Lindy and Megan? Rehearsal started at half past seven. Megan confirmed the time at my repertory class with her finger manipulations.
    Candace glanced at Riley and tilted her head. I shrugged.
    â€œDanilo?” Shelly waved her hand in the general direction of her bag on the metal chair by the wall. “Bring me my purse over there on the chair. I don’t want to get up.”
    He rose from the water, clutching the waist of his Hawaiian blue and brown swim trunks and stepped out of the sunken tub.
    â€œJust push the chair over so I can reach it. I don’t want to get my bag wet.” Shelly pointed to me. “I’m sorry, what were you saying about your rehearsal? Which ballet is it for? Oh, right, you’re not dancing in a ballet. It’s some Irish thing? Did you write your mom, yet?”
    I blinked, as the hot tub boiled me alive.
    Amy shifted her sleepy, downturned eyes from me to Riley and back. A smile started on the right side of her mouth and spread like a wave across her wide face and lips. Had she figured out my intentions of soaking in this chlorinated stew?
    â€œI know why she’s here.” Amy paddled the water.
    Danilo dragged the chaise to Shelly. Metal scraped against concrete and scratched out Amy’s voice.
    â€œWhat?” Shelly shouted to Amy.
    Amy jabbed her finger at me. “Her.”
    Shelly reached for her bag. “Closer, Danilo. I can’t reach the chair. I want it next to the hot tub.”
    â€œKit. I know why—” More poking from Amy. I’d like to squash her finger in a book. “It’s about Blake.”
    â€œHold on. I can’t hear you.” Shelly patted the place where she wanted the chair. “Here, Danilo. Not too close to the edge.”
    He grunted and dragged the chair to the tub.
    Jupiter clasped his freckled hands over his ears and sang to drown out the uproar. “La, la, la,