Page 51 of Loved By You

“I thought we waited out here?” I asked Margot.

“Oh we do usually, but, it's parent participation week.”

I look at her wide eyed. “Come again, it's what now?”

“Parent participation week,” she says like I am supposed to know what the fuck that is. “Once a semester the parents join in with the class. Did Ria not tell you?”

I just stare at Margot, regretting all my life choices. “No, must have slipped her mind.”

“Oh, well, it's lots of fun. You can sit with me.”

I follow the moms into the studio. I can’t back out now. Lexi can't be the only kid in class without an adult with her, so I suck it up, pull up my big boy pants, take off my tennis shoes andpray to God I can make it through this class without embarrasing myself or Lexi.

Twenty minutes later I’m sitting on the studio floor cross-legged wearing a plastic crown on my head and holding a pink wand. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror that lines the back wall and wonder how I got here. How did I go from living in Miami, spending my days running our bar to here, living my best life, participating in a pre-schoolers ballet class.

Because you are falling hard for her mom,the voice in my head whispers and I don’t deny it.

Lexi appears out of nowhere, holding her hand behind her back with a mischevious look on her face.

"What have you got there Lex?”

“I’m going to make you a fairy”

“Oh yeah, how are you going to do that?”

“Surprise!” She giggles, as she throws a handful of glitter, but I’m not quick enough and the entire thing lands in my eye.

“And sprinkle the magic, sprinkle,” Miss Susan chants as she circles us, and with that, Lexi launches another handful of glitter into the air. I duck, covering my face with my hands in preperation for her next attack.

Jesus this stuff stings.

“Are you having fun, Jack? I’m having so much fun. The next song is my favourite” Lexi says, practically vibrating with excitement. I don't know if I want to know what this next song is. I’m still recovering from our performance of the Nutcracker.

“Yeah, so much fun Lex,” I tell her, whilst picking silver glitter out of my eye. I'll be billing Miss Susan for the laser eye surgery I'll be needing to regain my vision.

Miss Susan stands in the middle of the circle and claps her hands. “Okay, my little bunnies, it's time to hop hop hop up on to your feet.”

Bunnies? Hop?

Margot leans over and whispers, “You might wanna hold on to your bunny for this next part,” she mutters, gesturing to my dick with a wink.

What the hell?

A song I’ve never heard before blasts through the speakers. Miss Susan shows everyone how to put their hands in front of their face like little bunny paws and she starts to jump up and down.

I feel like an absolute idiot holding my hands like this, but it's for Lexi so I can't not do it.

And as I start jumping I instantly understand what Margot was talking about. I definitely need to hold on to my ‘bunny’ somehow. My gray sweatpants give everything away, unfortunately. In my defense, I didn't anticipate hopping around with a bunch of kids today.

"Jump, Jack, jump!" Lexi yells and I automatically obey and yep, my bunny is trying to escape the hutch. I try to half jump, but Lexi isn't having any of it. She stomps over and points at my feet. "Feet off the floor like me." She jumps high and raises her eyebrows for me to copy. So I take a deep breath and hop...my poor bunny.

If Harry and Brad could see me now they would have a field day and never let me live this down.

I strategically place my hands lower to cover my crotch in the hopes that no one notices my leaping dick as I jump around, trying to keep my back to everyone. I'd rather shield innocent eyes here. The less damage we all leave with, the better.

The song begins to slow and the girls all fall to the floor and I thank whoever's listening that it's all over except I'm wrong, so fucking wrong. The beat comes back again and so do the hops. Everyone leaps to their feet again. Sweat beads over my brow as I alternate one hand covering my junk and the other perchedbeneath my chin, smiling like a sweet little bunny.Jesus, Lord above, kill me right fucking now.

Ria owes me big time and I can think of a few ways she can make it up to me.

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