If Ever(53)

When we come back up, the stage is empty except for a tall floor lamp with no shade. A single bulb casts the stage in an eerie light.

"What's that for?"

"It's a ghost light," Dominic says.

I glance at Tom. "What’s that mean?"

"There are lots of myths about how ghost lights are to keep the ghosts company or to ward them off, depending on who you ask; but their real purpose is to prevent anyone from accidentally falling into the pit."

I peer into the orchestra pit. It would be a nasty fall in the dark. We make our way back to the stage door where a couple of cast members are zipping up their coats.

A ginger-haired woman smiles at Tom and slides her hand up his arm to his shoulder. "There you are. Some of us are going for a drink. Join us."

I'm a little taken aback by her familiarity and reminded of how little I know him.

"Thanks, Tanya, but I'm going to dinner with friends." Tanya pouts, but Tom is unfazed. "Chelsea, Dominic, this is Tanya and Rhonda. They're in the ensemble."

"I love you guys on Celebrity Dance Off," Rhonda, a short brunette, says. “Sorry you went off after your costume mishap.”

"Thanks. We had a good run," Dominic says. “You guys were great tonight.”

It's strange that she watches the show. I guess I should be used to it, but I'm not. They are the real professionals. "I loved the show. All of you were amazing."

We say our goodbyes and they head outside. A cheer erupts from the waiting fans.

"Hey, Ed. How's the crowd look?" Tom speaks to the man at the stage door who let me in.

He checks his monitors. "Still a decent-sized crowd. Tomorrow might be another story. I hear a snow storm’s coming in."

Tom frowns, pulls out his phone, and texts something. "Let's go through the front of house and avoid the crowd."

"Is everything okay?" I follow close behind.

"Oh yeah, but if we go out the stage door, I'll need to stop and talk to fans. Sometimes it takes a half hour or more."

"Won't they be disappointed when you don't show?"

"Probably, but I just tweeted an apology that I couldn't stay," he says with a crooked smile. "Tonight is about you guys." He guides us through back hallways and corridors, until he opens a door and suddenly we're at the back of the theater, looking over the seats to the stage with the ghost light.

"This place is a maze, how did you ever figure it out?" A few steps more and we're in the lobby, cleared of everyone but a couple employees closing up.

"I've spent a lot of time here." He pulls a gray beanie from his pocket and tugs it on low over his forehead. With his hair covered and his collar up, he's difficult to recognize.

Placing a hand at the small of my back he leads us into the cold and steers us away from the stage door where there are still stragglers hoping to catch the departing star. But I've got their man tonight.

The streets are emptying as theatregoers from the various shows have all rushed off for a cab or the subway. I'm flanked by Dominic on one side, and Tom on the other. How unreal is it that I can call both these guys friend? Six months ago I never would have believed this could be my life.

We walk a couple of blocks and duck down a staircase to a lower-level restaurant. The lights are dim and the warmth is a treat after the chilly night air. We're seated in the back at a corner table with a flickering votive candle.

“I’m starved,” Dominic says, opening his menu.

Now that I smell the aromas wafting from the kitchen, I'm ravenous. I haven't eaten anything more since breakfast than a vending machine bag of chips. Staring at the menu, I can't concentrate. I'd rather be focused on Tom than the fine print. "What do you recommend?"

"Everything is amazing, but my favorite is the cedar plank salmon."

"Sounds great." I close my menu.

The waiter arrives with crusty bread and a ball of butter. Tom orders a bottle of wine because it's that kind of place.

I'm still a little blown away by Tom's immense talent. I should have expected it after his performance on Celebrity Dance Off and the many YouTube videos I watched, but sitting in that theatre and watching him live was beyond epic. "I can't get over the show. I don't know how you did that, all those emotions in the course of two and half hours.”

“And it was your second show today," Dominic adds.

"And I do it again tomorrow night, and the next, and two times on Saturday." He says with a weak smile.

“Now I feel like a total wimp. Two dances a week for a total of about three minutes,” Dominic says.

"I know. I can't believe what a whiner I was. Dominic, you should have brought me to New York at the beginning and I would have cooperated more."

"You and me both," Dominic laughs.

The waiter brings our wine, and pours us each a glass. I savor the rich smooth taste.

"What happens next, now that you’re off the show?" Tom asks Dominic.

"Pavel and I are putting together a dance tour for spring, so once the finale is over, I'll be working on that. Occasionally here in New York, but mostly in L.A."

"It's going to be strange not seeing you everyday. I'm almost going to miss you," I tease.