Page 147 of Fake Out Hearts

Sawyer

I don’t know if it’s the excitement of being around other kids, getting to do something outside the house with me, or both, but Jake is positively buzzing. I’ve watched him tear across Becca’s new dance studio with a group of other kids his age more times than I can count, but none of the kids seem to be losing any energy at all.

Becca and Theo are still arm-in-arm, talking privately on the far side of the studio. I’m so happy for Theo. All the Aces are like brothers to me, but Theo and I have more in common than the rest, and one big thing in particular: divorce. After seeing everything Theo went through with Valerie and how in love he is now with Becca, I want to believe there’s hope for the other divorced guy on the team.

They share a hug, then Becca parts with him and heads toward the center of the space where there’s a microphone on a stand waiting for her. She taps it a few times to check that it’s on, and the muffled noise grabs everyone’s attention.

“Hello, everyone,” her warm voice fills the studio as she smiles at the gathered crowd. “Thank you all so much for coming today. I don’t even have the words to tell you all how much it means to me. Starting a dance school like this is a dream cometrue, something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was the same age as some of my future students here today, so it’s hard to believe it’s happening. But it is!”

I join the rest of the audience in giving her a round of applause before she carries on with her speech.

“But I got to thinking… I know we’re all a little too dressed up for this event, but what kind of dance school grand opening would this be without any dancing?” she asks and glances around the room with a playful smile. The kids in the room erupt in cheers, and Jake is jumping up and down excitedly with the rest of them, but instantly, my body tenses.

Oh fuck, please don’t tell me she’s going to make us all embarrass ourselves by dancing.

“Okay, glad I’m not the only one who was thinking it!” Becca says with a laugh. “So I’ve put together a few little steps for us all to learn. Everyone’s welcome to join to the best of their ability. Just go ahead and line up here in front of me, okay?”

Jake and the rest of the kids bolt to form a line, but I hang back. I’m hoping she only means the kids, but when some of the other parents start joining, I realize I’m doomed. Jake spins around looking for me, and when his little gray eyes find mine, my hesitance melts. I feel silly, and this is something I would normally never do, but I’m not about to squash Jake’s enthusiasm just because I’m uncomfortable.

I’d do anything for this kid—even if it means making a total fool of myself in public.

So I walk over to him and take his outstretched hand. He beams at me and bounces in place, and I can’t help laughing at his enthusiasm. He’s such a happy kid, which is surprising after all the crap he’s been through with my separation and custody battle with his mom. I hope he holds onto that happiness, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that he does.

“Alright, looking good, everyone! Now who’s ready to shake their groove thing with me?” Becca asks as she swishes her butt from side to side. The kids erupt in laughter and start trying to replicate her movement, which even I have to laugh at. “Okay, okay. I see you’re all experts already!”

Becca has a natural talent with kids, and they seem to love her. I could see her hosting her own children’s show or something someday, and I’m sure it would be a hit.

“So like I said, we’re gonna keep it simple so we don’t ruin our amazing outfits,” Becca continues as she walks to the center of the line in front of her. “But first I think we need to shake off the jitters because you seem a little scared. So come on, shake them off with me!” she says and starts shaking her arms erratically like they’re covered in ants she’s trying to throw off. The kids devolve into laughter again but join her, their little hands flailing everywhere.

“Okay, I think we’re loosey goosey now. What do you think?” Becca asks.

“Yes!” the kids scream in unison, making her laugh.

“Good, good. Now what I want us to do is a simple little number that starts a little something like this,” she says and juts one leg out to the side with her toes pointed down. The kids mimic her. “Good! Now put your hands like this,” she continues and places both hands on her hips. The kids follow and although some of them laugh at how silly they look, most don’t seem to care. Becca’s eyes find mine and she points a finger at me. “Hey, that goes for the adults too!”

“Yeah, come on, Dad!” Jake says, tugging at my hand to get me to put it on my hips like the rest of them. My face is burning, and I know I’m probably blushing, but I push it down for Jake and smile at him as I make a show of sticking out my leg and putting my hands on my hips. Jake thinks it’s the funniest thing ever, and hearing his little laugh makes my heart swell.

“There we go!” Becca says. “Okay, now I want us to shake our hips from side to side, just like this.” She demonstrates the move, which the kids also find hilarious as they try to copy her. When Jake’s seemingly got the hang of it, he looks over to see how I’m doing and just laughs even harder.

“Alright, I think we’ve got the first move down pat. Great work! But now comes the hard part. Are you ready?”

“Yeah!” the kids bellow.

“Good, I think you are too. What we want to do next is to roll our fists together, like we’re punching a punching bag. Like this,” she says and drops the mic so she can demonstrate the move. It’s simple so the kids catch on quick. “Perfect! Then we’re gonna turn to the other side and do the same thing.” She demonstrates again. “Alright. The last part of this is a little jump, like this,” she says and jumps into the air, throwing both her hands up above her head. The kids don’t wait to copy her, they all just spring up like jumping bugs.

“I think you’ve got it, so now it’s time to put it all together to some music. Hit it, DJ!” she says over her shoulder to Theo, who laughs and taps the screen of his phone. The song “I Like to Move It” by Reel 2 Real starts playing over the speaker system, and when the main refrain of the song kicks in, Becca starts the dance routine.

She puts her hands on her hips, one leg stuck out, and bounces for four counts, then changes to the punching move for another four counts, and finally jumps into the air just as the song shouts, “Move it!”

The kids catch on like it’s nothing, and even though I feel silly as all get out doing it with them, I have to admit I’m having fun. But a big part of it for me is just watching Jake being happy and goofy. I repeat the moves a few times with the kids before I eventually see myself out, retreating to the corner where Noah and Reese have been watching—and no doubt cracking jokes.

“Damn, man, I didn’t know you had such killer moves,” Reese teases before he takes a sip of his drink, and Noah snorts. But I roll my eyes at them because I don’t care. I’d do anything for Jake, and they know that.

“Yeah, yeah, yuck it up. I can only imagine the pair of left feet on you two.”

“There’s a reason I’m not out there ‘shaking my groove thing,’” Noah says, using air quotes.

“Probably for the best. We wouldn’t want to scar these poor children for life,” Reese says, and even I can’t help laughing at that. “But in all seriousness, man, I’m glad to see you and Jake out and about. It’s good for you both.”

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