Page 31 of Love is a Dance Step
“Knock it off.” He’d long suspected it was jealousy changing Asher. Their sisters idolized Drew, but he liked to think it wasn’t because of his fame but merely because he actually cared about them.
Nora crossed her arms. “You guys aren’t going to kill each other, are you?”
“No.” Drew wouldn’t back down now. He needed to know why Lola refused to audition. “I just want to talk about Lola.”
Asher jerked upright and pulled his feet from the pool so he could pivot on his butt and face Drew. “What about her?”
Nora gasped. “You found out it was her.”
“What was her?” Asher scowled.
“He saw her dancing at the studio but didn’t know who it was.”
Drew dropped into an Adirondack chair. “The way she moved… I need to know why she won’t audition to come on tour with me.”
Asher waited a beat before responding. “Not everyone dreams of fancy tours, Drew. Some of us are smarter than that.”
“I’m going to let that slide because you’re my brother and I love you, but Ash, you should have seen her.”
“I have seen her. She’smybest friend. Has been since we were kids. I won’t lose her to you.”
“What? I’m not trying to take her—she’s not a toy, Asher. You know she’s her own person, right? I just want her to dance.”
“She’s not a dancer.”
His words echoed what Lola had said to him, and his insides twisted as he stared into the face of his own brother, the man he now suspected of putting that thought in Lola’s mind. “It’s because of you. She won’t try because you’ve already told her she’ll fail.”
His silence was all the answer Drew needed. He pushed to his feet and sent one more scathing look Asher’s way before heading back inside. Nora trailed him.
“How can he call her his best friend if he doesn’t believe in her?” He stopped with his hand on the front door.
Nora ran a tired hand through her hair. “Asher and Lola have a complicated relationship.”
“Sounds like it.” How could a woman with such passion be friends with a man who tried to take it from her?
Nora sighed, and Drew could tell there was some bit of information she held back. “Drew, you need to get her to audition. If you think for one moment she might actually make it, convince her. Lola is going to suffocate in this town, and Asher will be the one using up all her air.”
He hugged Nora with one arm and kissed the top of her head. “Feel better, okay?”
She nodded. “Lola doesn’t think she’s good enough. I think that’s why she clings to Asher. Prove to her that there’s a different kind of life.”
“I’ll try, sis.” He closed the door behind himself, nerves fluttering through him.
He now knew who his mysterious dancer was, but he not only had to convince her to audition, he had to hope she beat out everyone else.
The girl he saw dancing as if her life depended on it deserved more than doubt and worry.
She needed faith, and he’d muster up enough of that for the both of them.
10
Lola
Drew Stone knew her name.
Drew Stone was looking for her.
Lola crouched down in the storage closet so if anyone opened the door, they’d only see stacks of toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
