Page 179 of By His Play

So I do, and only a few seconds later, I push the door open.

A lady in a leotard and floaty skirt stands in front of a wall of mirrors, looking down at her cell. But the moment I step inside the room, she looks up and smiles at me.

“Hi. Welcome. Come in, come in.”

I do as I’m told and scan the rest of the room. There are a couple of other people around the edges, getting themselves ready, and I immediately panic that I don’t have shoes like them.

I should have done more research before turning up here like this.

My hand lifts to the necklace Kieran gave me and I fiddle nervously with it as she moves closer.

“I’m Maria. You must be Effie?” she guesses.

Great, I’m the only new person. That’s not going to help me blend in.

“Y-yes.” I glance around again, watching a couple warm up. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”

“Nonsense. Everyone is ready to dance,” she says with a wide smile.

I’m hit with a memory of Grams so hard, it almost knocks me to the floor.

Emotion crawls up my throat and my nose itches.

No. Do not break down here.

“Another wise woman once told me the exact same thing,” I confess, my voice cracked and my eyes filling with tears.

“Well then, two of us can’t possibly be wrong.”

A sad laugh erupts.

“I don’t have shoes or?—”

“Stop worrying. I don’t expect you to be an expert on day one.”

“Thank yo?—”

“Effie?” a deep voice asks.

Twisting around, I find someone I was not expecting to see here.

“B-Brax?” I stutter, unable to believe my eyes as the giant of a man walks toward me.

He’s wearing a white athletic top that clings to his wide frame and every one of his muscles, a slim-fit pair of sweats, and…dance shoes.

What the hell?

“W-What are you doing here?” I blurt, kicking myself as I hear my own words.

He laughs.

“You dance?”

Oh my god, Effie. Shut up.

“Yeah,” he agrees. “It’s great for balance and coordination. My mom got me into it years ago,” he tacks on when I just stare at him dumbfounded.

Of course, I know that players often take dance classes. It’s not all that unusual. I just wasn’t expecting…

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