Page 53 of Love is a Dance Step
Brooke shot up in bed with a string of curses. “We’re going to be late.” She turned a glare on Lola. “And it’s all your fault.”
Lola sat up, letting the covers bunch at her waist. “Mine?” She’d been the one still asleep.
Brooke scrambled from the bed. “We need to be at practice in half an hour. Ugh, I knew you’d be a pain.” She ran a hand through her blonde hair and pushed out a breath before cutting Lola with one more look and storming into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Lola stared after her. “I’m Lola Ramirez. Nice to officially meet you.” She shook her head and crawled to the end of the bed to lean over and dig through one of the bags Erikson had brought up. Pulling free a change of clothes, she stripped and swapped her pajamas for a pair of black leggings and a long t-shirt that read the name of her dance studio.
Yanking on her shoes, she tied them. As she walked toward the door, she combed her fingers through her hair. The shower was running as she left. Out in the hall, she nearly ran in to Piper.
Lola cursed in Spanish as she gripped Piper’s arms to keep her from falling. “I’m so sorry.”
Piper stepped away. “It’s okay, but shouldn’t you be down at breakfast before the meeting?”
Lola’s face heated. She hadn’t known there was a meeting or where it was.
Piper seemed to catch on. She smacked herself in the forehead. “I forgot to send you the schedule. I need to get your email on my group list. Brooke should have told you though.”
Lola only shrugged.
“Come with me.” Piper led her to the elevators and down to the lobby.
Through the glass double doors, Lola caught sight of a gathering crowd. “What’s going on?”
Piper followed her gaze. “Last night, someone in the hotel saw Drew’s bus and posted about it on social media. Now, it’s everywhere. We’ve changed his entire schedule so he doesn’t have to leave the hotel. Everyone will come to him.”
“Is it always this nuts?” Every time the door opened, screaming filtered into the lobby.
“Every time. Come on. You can grab a coffee before the meeting.” She led her to a small breakfast area outside the much larger main dining room. A coffee cart sat next to a table laden with bagels, yogurt, and fruit.
Lola made herself a coffee and reached for a bagel, almost moaning when she bit into it. She hadn’t realized how hungry she’d been.
She barely had time to finish the bagel by the time they reached the large room that had been stripped of all furniture. Dancers milled around, and Lola’s eyes immediately went to Drew across the room. As if sensing her presence, he turned, a smile curving his lips just the slightest bit.
Piper slipped out without a word, leaving Lola in a sea of dancers she didn’t know. Brooke had yet to arrive, and the others watched her suspiciously.
A chill raced along Lola’s spine. Was this what the entire tour would be like? Small smiles from Drew but ice from everyone else?
Trying to ignore their stares, she lowered herself to the ground to stretch as others were doing.
“You have to prove yourself.”
Lola looked sideways to find Nolan, the man she’d danced with in auditions. His chestnut hair curled around a porcelain face. There was a beauty to him but a fragile beauty. Amber eyes found hers.
“What do you mean?” She bent forward into a stretch.
He shifted his eyes away and mirrored her stretch. “They all saw your audition. You weren’t good.”
“Well… thanks?”
He shook his head and jumped to loosen his muscles. “This job relies on being able to stay consistently better than the dancers around you. Right now, no one in this room has faith you can do this. Prove to them you can, that you weren’t given this job because Drew took a liking to you. Then, you will have their respect.”
She crossed one arm over her chest, feeling the deep stretch as his words rang in her mind. Her eyes scanned the room once more, noting how everyone looked at her but refused to meet her eyes.Prove yourself.
How was she supposed to do that when a part of her still wondered why Drew chose her?
Drew stepped up to the front of the room and clapped his hands. “I know Leah usually runs our practices, but today, you just have me.”
The door banged open, and Brooke rushed in. When Lola left her, she’d just gotten in the shower. Now, she had perfectly done makeup, straightened hair, and a dance outfit that showed off every one of her assets. “Sorry I’m late. Blame Lola for it, but go easy on her. She’s new.”
