The Failed Audition (Circus Is Family #1)

by Krista Ritchie

And then he lifts me, suddenly, up around his waist, kissing me. This still feels new. “Two more years,” he says lowly. He walks with me like this, kissing me down the hallway. “Maybe more…” I cling to him, clutching his arms. “Like twelve.” “Or forever,” he breathes, parting my lips with his tongue. I inhale into the kiss, our bodies melded together.

All because of a quote from Daisy Calloway. One person, one famous person changed another portion of my life with just a sentence: The aerial silk act stole the show for me, dangerous and beautiful.

Nikolai tilts my chin, and I stare up at those gunmetal skies, ones that I meet twice a day on stage. And afterwards, when the lights fade. In our passion. His lips lift in a burgeoning, heartfelt smile. And he says, “Well done, myshka.”