Page 106 of Love is a Dance Step
“That doesn’t sound like pre-concert Drew.” Leah’s voice held a note of worry.
“What do you mean? I only said two words to you.”
“Yeah, and they sounded a little pathetic. ‘Hey, Leah.’” She tried to imitate him with a sigh. “Normally, you’re calm, almost emotionless before a concert. I used to think you were a robot.”
That made him laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re pathetic.”
“You already said that.”
“Well, it needed repeating. Why aren’t you out calming the dancers’ nerves or telling everyone they are going to do a great job? Don’t tell me you’ve stopped being that annoying optimistic guy in my absence.”
“I miss you.”
“Well, duh. But missing me isn’t the reason you sound like such a sad sack. Is Mel still there? She can knock some sense into you.”
“No, she had to take an early flight back to L.A. Something about us not being her only clients.”
A knock sounded on his door before Piper’s voice came through. “Drew, you better be dressed because I’m coming in.” She pushed open the door and shielded her eyes as she stumbled in.
“I have clothes on, Pipes.” He shook his head with a laugh.
“Ooh, put me on speaker, I want to talk to her.” Leah and Piper had gotten along since Piper first joined the tour. It had been a little weird how easily Piper fit in with everyone so quickly.
Drew hit speaker and set the phone on the counter while he leaned forward to fiddle with his hair.
“Piper!” Leah practically screamed.
Piper perched on the arm of the couch behind Drew. “Hey, Leah. We miss you around here.”
“Yeah yeah, just tell me. What’s wrong with Drew?”
“Hey!” Drew swiveled in his chair to shoot Piper a look.
She ignored him. “Many, many things.”
“We know that. But why does he sound so down? Please tell me it’s about a girl. Drew never has girl troubles.”
Piper pursed her lips and met Drew’s gaze. They sat in a silent staring contest before Piper launched from the couch and stole the phone before Drew could hang up on Leah. She turned away from him. “It’s definitely about a girl. Lola, the dancer who replaced you. He loves her, and he’s too dumb to tell her.”
Drew tackled her to the couch and stole the phone back. “I don’t love her.”
Piper kneed him in the ribs. “You are such a guy. I didn’t say you want to marry her—yet—but is it really so wrong to admit the great Drew Stone has feelings for someone?”
“No!” They’d both almost forgotten Leah was there until she yelled the single word. “It’s not wrong, but Drew is too stuck in his rules to do anything about it. Piper, tell me about this girl.”
Piper reached for the phone as she pushed him off her and struggled to sit up, but Drew pulled it in closer to his chest.
The words left him before he could call them back. “She’s strong. Probably as strong as you, Leah.” He sat back against the cushions and pushed a hand through his hair. “And beautiful, so beautiful. When she’s angry, she shouts in Spanish.” Though, he’d only seen her do it once. He’d never forget how she looked when he’d caught her dancing that first time. He wasn’t finished. “She’s kind.” He thought of how graciously she’d dealt with the other dancers who hadn’t accepted her at first. He closed his eyes. “And when she dances…” When she danced, he couldn’t take his eyes from her.
Piper was grinning at him, a smile he didn’t understand.
Leah stayed silent for a long time. “When she dances, what, Drew? What happens when she dances?”
He closed his eyes, and a groan rattled from his throat. “When she dances, that’s when I know I love her.”
Leah’s voice was quiet, almost a whisper when she spoke. “You can’t only love her when she dances, Drew. It has to be all the time. Every day.”
