Page 25 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Four weeks.”

“Then I’ll be gone for four weeks. My mama has been lighting up my phone, you know how she gets.”

I had to grin. Dante’s mom was clingy when it came to her only child. Who could blame her? She’d raised him single-handedly and he was a great credit to her. It was understandable she missed him, and not-so-secretly hated me for dragging him over to this side of the pond.

“It’ll be strange not having you around,” I murmured, before finishing on a wishful sigh. “We always used to go hom- New York together.”

Dante gave me an air kiss, conscious of my makeup. “It’ll work out. I’ll have words with Auntie Cleo when I go home.”

“Don’t do that.” I hissed. “You’ll make things worse. Look, I’m over it.”

Dante raised his eyebrows with a scoff and shake of head. Then we both spun around at the sound of the artistic director yelling for us.

“Showtime.” we said in unison.

Oh man. It was the final night. There would be tears when the curtains fell on our production. I for one would be leading the cry-fest.

“Showtime.” I mumbled again and followed Dante off the stage…

The applause was deafening as we all took a bow. Dante smiled at me as he swung Janey up into a one-armed hold. She laughed in delight but I could see how tired she was. Poor thing. She was my little trooper and the cause of envy in her ballet class. Little Melanie was giving me the cold shoulder and had missed last week’s class. All attempts to placate her had fallen on deaf ears. Bri said she was having a strop and would get over it. I wasn’t so sure. It was painful seeing someone else easily achieve something you were desperately striving for. I would try to talk to her when classes started back up in the new year, if she came back. I blinked against the glare of the lights, glad it was too bright to make out the faces of the audience.

“It’s official,” Gerrard murmured in my ear as we waved at the audience. “We are a hit.”

“Mmm, we’ll see.” I whispered back before he slipped an arm around my waist.

Bri and Lisa crowded around us, maintaining their bright smiles for the public.

“Pub afterwards?” Lisa asked through her beaming smile.

“Mmm.” I nodded quickly, already tasting the pints. “Definitely.”

With a final bow, we all waltzed off the stage laughing and hugging each other. We had done it, and I was sad it was over.

“Madi.” Dante had delivered Janey to her mother’s arms and was currently mauling me around the waist. “Who the man?”

“We the man.” I laughed as we twirled around wildly, bumping carelessly into the others. “Let’s go get changed, chase these people out of here and hit the pub.”

“I’m all for that.” Liam confirmed, rubbing his face vigorously. We all burst into laughter at his smeared makeup.

Half an hour later I was in my street clothes and sidestepping people milling about in the auditorium. As expected, Dougie was waiting right below the far side of the stage.

“Perfection, my wee lassie.” he greeted, handing over a bouquet of roses while leaning down to lightly kiss my cheek. “Absolute perfection.”

I grinned at him and sniffed my flowers. “Ok buster, tell me whichbit you liked the most. You’ve been here every night so you should have made your mind up by now.”

Dougie folded his arms while I waited expectantly. Tonight he wore a green sweater over his shirt and some black dress pants. He looked extremely preppy.

“My favourite part is when the queen dies.” he finally said and my mouth fell open. With one hand I punch his arm none-to-gently.

“Ye wee bastard.” I affected my best Scottish accent and Dougie chortled at my attempt so I resume speaking normally. “Thanks a lot, Dougie. You enjoyed my character’s demise the most? Gee, that’s just great.” The sarcasm was thick, I wanted it to be thick.

He leaned in closer. “Ah, but ye dinnae ask me why.”

“Why?” I promptly asked with a touch of attitude.

“Because she did it for love, ye ken.” he said softly. “Any sacrifice done for love is a wonderful thing. Do ye not think so, my wee lassie?”

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