Page 103 of Love is a Dance Step
She put one hand to his cheek. “You shouldn’t have to.”
She saw the moment the change in him happened. He went from drunk and sad to angry in no time at all. The rage built in his eyes before spewing out past his lips. “You think Drew actually sees you, Lo?” He reached for her again, this time tightening his grip. “You think whatever you have is more than some tour fun?”
“We don’t have anything, Asher. Let me go. You’re hurting me.” Pain spidered out from where his fingers wrapped around her arm.
“Drew will never see you as anything more than a small town dancer who is easy on the eyes.”
The crack sounded before she realized she’d slapped him. It reverberated against the side of the building until it was all she heard. People stumbling from the bar took little notice of the girl with fissures forming in her heart.
Not because the man she loved hurt her with his words. No, she didn’t love Asher. But because, for the first time, she realized her best friend was hardly her friend at all. Small moments flashed through her mind as if his vitriol finally allowed her to see who he truly was. He’d never cared for her. Never considered her feelings.
If she hadn’t been so afraid of losing him, maybe she would have let him go ages ago.
Asher stared at her, his chest heaving. There was no mark where her hand hit, but the action was there on his face.
“Lo…” The anger faded from his eyes, but it was too late.
She took a step back and then another.
“Are you okay?” She’d never been happier to hear the purr of Noah’s voice.
Lola continued to stare at Asher. “Yeah. Yes. I think I am.” She turned to Noah. “Can you get me out of here?”
He nodded, his gaze going from Lola to Asher. “We walked.”
From where, she didn’t know. All she knew was that it had to be better than standing on that sidewalk looking at Asher. “Okay, let’s go.”
She didn’t look back at Asher to see if he felt sorry for what he’d said. It was no longer her job to care.
Silence stretched between her and Noah, and she pulled out her phone, wanting to respond to Drew but not knowing if she had it in her tonight.
“What did I interrupt back there?” Noah glanced over his shoulder.
She hugged her arms tighter around herself as a shiver skated up her spine. “Just Asher being Asher. He’s been drinking.”
“Is he even old enough?”
She snorted. “He’s been using a fake ID since he was sixteen.” That was Asher.
“Hmm.” Noah pursed his lips. “I think seeing you slap him was the best part of my day.”
She curled her fingers into her palm as if she could still feel the impact. She’d rarely argued with Asher, but she was done rolling over and letting him do and say whatever he wished.
“He thinks he’s in love with me.”
Noah looked sideways at her. “I take it by your reaction you aren’t in love with him?”
A sigh rattled from her chest. “I… I used to be.” She’d hurt the one friend who’d always been there, the one she thought would be by her side forever. “I hurt him.”
“Seems like he deserved it.”
“He did. And yet…”
He nodded as if he understood what she meant. “And yet.”
Lola hadn’t asked Noah where they were walking, but he stopped in front of a tall building with glass spanning the front. A doorman stood ready to let them in.
“Mr. Clarke.” The doorman nodded in greeting.
