Epilogue: Sophie

EPILOGUE – SOPHIE

I’m having a blast traveling North America with the Celebrity Dance Dare contingent for the summer tour. Pros and contestants from the shifter and human shows are performing in cities all around the United States and Canada. It’s amazing how enormous the US is and how different it is. I’ve traveled through Europe and the UK, but it doesn’t prepare you for the vastness of the prairies. Many of our miles are covered in buses, so I’m seeing firsthand the variety of experiences the US offers.

Trevor joins me for most stops, only missing out when he’s teaching at hockey camps. Whenever possible, he tries to hook up with hockey clinics in the towns we’re performing in. He loves the camps with the younger kids who are still playing because it’s the most fun. The camps for older kids with professional aspirations are more serious and competitive. The pressure the kids feel to be perfect weighs on him. He hasn’t said anything, but I think he felt similar pressure growing up to gain his parents’ attention and approval.

We’re halfway through the tour, just another two weeks to go, and then we’ll have a month off before the next show cycle starts. This is when they start offering contracts for the next season. They offered Scott, the winning pro from this past season, a contract yesterday, but I haven’t heard anyone else saying they received an offer.

I’m settling into the hotel in Omaha, Nebraska when there’s a knock on my door. Trevor has a key since we always share, so I check the peephole. It’s Geoffrey, the head producer.

“Hey, Geoffrey, how are you?” I ask, stepping back to invite him into the room. It’s a suite, so there’s a seating area and a separate bedroom. It would’ve been creepy entertaining my boss a few feet from my bed. He’s a meerkat shifter, so if I needed to shift and defend myself, my wolf would easily win. Or I’d cast a freeze spell on him. I’m not defenseless, which is something I don’t take for granted. Not that I’d need to have to defend myself from Geoffrey, he's always been a perfect gentleman, but it’s always good to know I could if necessary.

“I’m well, Sophie, how about you? Are you enjoying life on tour?” He takes a seat in the chair I offer him.

I sit on the sofa across from him. He’s carrying a folder. Is that my pro contract? My hands are shaking, so I clasp them in my lap.

“I am. It’s exciting to see so much of the United States. When I traveled with the Devil Birds, we flew most places, so I didn’t experience it the same way. Flying first class wins over a tour bus, hands down, but at least I can say I did it.”

“Hi, honey, I’m home,” Trevor says as he lets himself into our suite. He stops short and flushes when he sees Geoffrey sitting there.

Geoffrey chuckles. “Hi, Trevor. We’re planning for next season and working on our casting decisions.”

“Oh.” Trevor looks toward me with raised eyebrows. He knows what this may mean. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll be in the bedroom.”

Reaching out, I grab his hand as he walks by.

“Join us. Is that okay, Geoffrey? He can hear anything you say to me.”

“Absolutely.”

With a nod, Trevor sits next to me on the sofa. His warm, solid presence is like an emotional hot water bottle, bringing me comfort and relaxing me.

Geoffrey clears his throat, then speaks. “We loved having you both on the past season of the shifter version of Celebrity Dance Dare , and we want to offer Sophie a contract as a professional partner on the main Celebrity Dance Dare . Your partner may be human. Probably will be human, unless they’re a very famous shifter. Everything is outlined in the contract, but in a nutshell, you’ll make more per episode, earn bonuses the longer your celebrity lasts in the competition, and it’s a longer season.”

He hands me the folder, and I keep my hand still long enough to grasp it.

“Have your attorney or agent review it. Our attorney’s card is inside in case there are questions.”

This is it. What I’ve dreamed of. What I’ve worked so hard for. I did it. Twin waves of pride and elation wash over me. Trevor’s hand squeezes my knee.

“Oh, Sophie, I’m so proud of you!” He kisses my cheek. That’s okay, we’ll have contract celebration sex later.

A calmness settles over me. I know what I want.

“Geoffrey, thank you so much. I’m honored to be selected as a professional partner for CDD. However, I won’t be negotiating this contract.” I hand him back the folder, and he looks at me, startled.

Trevor gasps. “Soph, what are you doing?” He lowers his voice. “This is your dream.”

I turn to him and smile. “It was my dream. I have a new dream now.” Facing Geoffrey again, I continue. “Geoffrey, the contract I’d like to negotiate is as a member of the troupe and choreographer. Whatever the standard rate is. I don’t want to be a professional partner. I’m not well suited to it, and I don’t enjoy it.”

At Trevor’s sharp intake of breath, I giggle and pat his knee reassuringly.

“Of course, I enjoyed it with you, Trevor, but that’s because I fell in love with you. I won’t be falling in love with any of my other partners, so it won’t be fun.”

“Damn well better not fall in love with anyone else,” Trevor mutters.

“I love performing, and I love choreographing, and I know I have a talent for both. I’m too harsh as a teacher, and I don’t have the patience. The celebrities will have a miserable time with me as a partner, and I don’t want to ruin what should be a fun experience for them.”

“I’m sure that’s not true!” Geoffrey protests.

Trevor scrunches up his face. “It’s actually pretty self-aware and accurate. She’s a beautiful tyrant, but she’s still a tyrant. Even when she loves you.”

“Is that something that would be possible, Geoffrey?” I don’t know what I’m going to do if it’s not. I want to dance and be involved in the show, but I don’t want the time and possible travel commitment being a pro partner demands. It’s not just about not being able to spend as much with Trevor if I’m a pro partner. I’m not making this decision because of him. He’s just a bonus. I’m making this decision because it’s what I want for myself and what is best for me. I’ve spoken with Mom about the choices she made in her dance career and life in general, and I realize I was looking at them from my own perspective as a child and a teenager. As a grown woman, I can see beyond what I thought she was giving up and recognize the things she gained. My choices are different than hers, of course, but I’m grateful to have her as an example of what a strong woman making choices looks like.”

Geoffrey nods his head vigorously. “Absolutely! We’d be thrilled to have you in any capacity you want. There may be opportunities to host or judge in the future if that’s something you think you’d like to pursue. You know the saying is ‘If I’m not pro, I’m no’ when it comes to contracts, so I didn’t consider offering you anything else. I’ll get our attorneys to draw up the alternate contract and get it to you in the next couple of days.”

He rises from his chair and holds out his hand for me to shake. He shakes Trevor’s too for good measure, before exiting our suite.

“Gee,” Trevor says as the door closes behind Geoffrey’s retreating figure. “If only you knew someone with a specific interest in contract law who interned with agents while in law school who could review your contract to make sure it was okay.”

“If only,” I say wistfully as I trail a finger down his chest. “If they were pro bono, it would be even better.”

I unbutton his shorts and slip my hand inside his boxer briefs.

We spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the benefits of pro bono.

* * *

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