The Third Message novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: The Rule

On the fourth Thursday, Miles locked the studio door behind June and told her to go home.

"Open floor hours are over," June said from the booth, not moving. "I'm testing the spotlight."

"It's eleven at night."

"It's a very important spotlight."

Miles looked at the ceiling, and then at me.

"Your friend thinks I'm going to do something," he said.

"Are you?"

"I'm going to fix your hip. That's the only thing I'm doing."

June clicked off the light and left, whistling.

I stood at the barre in my black leotard, and Miles stood behind me.

"Plié. Slowly."

I bent my knees. My left hip drifted out, the way it did when I was tired.

"There," he said. "You're lying with it."

"I'm not lying."

"You're lying with your pelvis. May I?"

I nodded.

He set one hand flat on my hip and the other at my waist and turned me back into line.

His palm was warm through the thin fabric.

I felt it everywhere.

"Better," he said.

He did not move his hand.

The room was dead quiet except for my breathing.

Then I realized he had stopped breathing too.

His thumb pressed once against my hip bone, and his fingers curled in.

Then he let go and stepped back so fast the floor creaked.

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