Xander glances at her like he’s surprised she’s still there.

“I helped with one trick,” I say. “It was nothing.”

“She’s a natural,” Xander says. “Practically one of us.”

His words make me flush in a new way, not with embarrassment but with something else harder to understand.

“Hey, do you two want to meet the rest of the troupe backstage?”

Backstage, where all the magic can be picked apart and I can puzzle out how he does what he does. I doubt I’ll find anything while the show’s not going on, but I can hope.

“I’d love to,” the other girl blurts out as she shoots me a look I’m not sure how to read.

Xander smiles at the girl, but it seems tight. Then again, maybe I’m seeing what I want to see.

I don’t want to go backstage with her. I don’t even want to go backstage with Xander. Not without the show going on. What I want is to be right on the sidelines again. I want to be part of the tricks, not the one being tricked.

There’s a twinkle in Xander’s eyes that says he’d love nothing more than to trick me.

“I’m actually not feeling well,” I say.

“Do you need a ride or anything?” Xander glances at the black watch on his wrist. “There’s another act coming up, but they don’t need me.”

I ignore the little thrill in my belly. Now I really do feel sick.

“I’m good,” I say.

He looks disappointed.