Page 51 of Love is a Dance Step
He extended a hand and helped her up the steps. As soon as he closed the door, his shoulders relaxed. Since losing Leah to injury, he’d had this thought in the back of his mind that everything was going to fall apart because he couldn’t do this alone.
And for the first time since then, he knew without a doubt the show would go on.
* * *
Lola was nervous.
That was the only explanation for her near silence the entire bus ride. By the time they reached the hotel in Miami, it was dark, and Drew couldn’t have been happier to get off the bus.
He just hoped the rest of the tour wasn’t as uncomfortable as those few hours.
Piper retrieved their room keys, and Lola tried to reach in and get her bags. The driver—Erikson—stopped her. “I’ll take care of your belongings, miss. They’ll be up in your room in no time.”
Lola chewed on her lips. “You don’t have to. I can get them myself.”
The driver smiled, his weathered face brightening as he looked at her. “That’s kind, but this is what I’m paid for. Well, this and not crashing the bus.”
To Drew’s surprise, Lola let out a laugh. “I do thank you for that, sir.”
Erikson winked before turning away.
Drew watched the exchange in fascination. It never would have crossed his mind to try to carry his own bags. It wasn’t that he thought he was above the act, but he’d been on various tours since he was eighteen and famous since he was nineteen. Having his bags taken to his room was normal to him.
Lola clasped her hands in front of her. They’d parked at the back of the hotel lot, but as soon as they were in their rooms, Erikson would move the bus to a dedicated lot near the arena.
“This place is nice.” Lola looked up at the grand hotel with wide windows spanning the front of it. Palm trees lined the edges of the parking lot, illuminated by spotlights.
He shrugged. “It’ll do.”
Those were the most words they’d said to each other in hours. Drew looked sideways at her, wondering what she’d do if he pried that lip from between her teeth and ran his own along it.
He sighed. This was going to be a long tour.
“Was your mom okay with all this?” He hadn’t thought to ask about how she’d come to the decision to leave home.
Lola snorted. “With me running away to join a rock tour? Or with me dropping out of college to pursue dance? A career in which one misstep, one ill-timed injury could end that future? Not exactly.”
“And yet, you came.” He offered her a soft smile
She shrugged. “My mom may not understand, but she loves me, and she trusts me. She just wants me to be happy and told me so.”
He flashed her a smile. There was something honest about Lola, an honesty he sorely needed in his life. “And Ash?”
“He got me here.” She hugged her arms across her chest.
That surprised him, sending him back into silence. What could Asher have said to her to change her mind? Why did he do it?
Piper jogged across the parking lot and stopped in front of them. She extended two key cards. “You’ll have to do without security tonight, Drew. With the schedule so messed up, the label thought you were arriving tomorrow. They’ll show up in the morning.” She extended a hat toward him. “I bought this in the gift shop. Put it on.”
He took it from her, examining the wide-rimmed sun hat that looked like it belonged on the retired women of Florida.
Lola suppressed a laugh when he set it on his head.
Piper nodded in approval. “We have the entire seventh floor. Lola, you’re sharing a room with Brooke.”
Drew winced and shot Piper a glare.
Piper sighed helplessly. “I didn’t do room assignments. That was Brooke.”
