Page 18 of Dance Dirty With Me

“No Dad, I’m fine, someone needs your help.”

He doesn’t question me any further as he quickly pulls on some clothes and I pass him his bag. We walk silentlythrough the quiet resort but when we get to the sign for the staff quarters he stops.

“Baby, what is this?”

“Not now, Dad,” I say and keep walking so he has to follow me. When we reach Penny’s cabin most of the other staff have left, but Johnny and Billy are still inside. My dad takes one look at Penny and takes charge.

“Who’s responsible for this?” he demands.

“That would be me.” Johnny steps forward and my dad gives him a disdainful look before ordering us all outside.

We wait. Billy sits on the steps while Johnny leans on the railings surrounding the small cabin porch. I stand next to him. I don’t know what to say right now so I keep quiet. After what feels like a long time but is probably only ten or fifteen minutes my dad opens the door and we file in. Johnny goes straight over to Penny who looks so much better.

He straightens up and turns to my dad, holding out his hand.

“Thank you, sir.”

My dad just looks at his hand and turns away, dismissing him. He grabs hold of my arm on his way past, and ushers me down the steps and down the path back to our cabin.

“Is that what my money paid for?”

When I don’t answer my dad stops and turns to face me.

“I don’t know what’s been going on here, but clearly something has and it’s got to stop. You’re not to have anything to do withthese people.” His tone is equal parts disapproving and disappointed.

I want to bite back that he hasn’t known me for a long time, but now is not the time to say that, if ever. He tilts his head asif trying to work out what he’s looking at. “And I have no idea what that is on your face, but clean yourself up before your mother sees you.”

Shit! I must have left some makeup on my face. I never got a chance to take it off properly after finding out about Penny. He strides off and I hurry after him. Only after I’m sure he’s fallen asleep again do I silently leave the cabin.

I pace the floor of my cabin, not able to go to sleep yet. The exhilaration of the night and the worry over Penny has me wound up tight.

There’s a knock on the door. Thinking it’s Billy and worried it might be about Penny, I open it quickly.

It’s Baby hovering on the steps.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

I silently stand back and let him enter. He sits down on the edge of a chair and looks around. There’s not much to see, it’s a pretty basic room and not very tidy.

I need something to do so I walk to the record player and select some music to put on.

“I want to apologise for the way my dad treated you,” Baby says.

“He was amazing, the way he saved Penny. I was worried about her, but what he did was incredible. I could never do anything like that. It’s?—”

“No! I meant how he was with you, Johnny.” Baby’s words cut through my speech.

I shrug. I’m used to being seen as not worth talking to, it’s no big deal.

“It took some courage to do what you did.”

“Yeah, it takes real courage to go ask my dad,” he says bitterly and I don’t like to see it.

“I mean it. You always try to make things better. If you see something you try to fix it. You’re not scared of anything.” I start walking towards where he’s sitting.

“Me? I’m scared of everything!” he exclaims. Then he takes a deep breath and starts again, quieter. “But... but what I’m most scared of is leaving here and not getting to tell you how you make me feel.”

I stop in the middle of the room. I daren’t move any closer to him, because if I do, I know I won’t be able to turn back from this.

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