Page 60 of Love is a Dance Step
“Nah.” He pasted on a smile. “I wouldn’t want to keep you from the fun. Have a good time. The busses leave for Jacksonville around noon tomorrow.” He offered her one final smile before closing the door, cutting off any more words.
There was another knock, and he yanked open the door, not in the mood for any more of Brooke’s advances, but his words stopped in his throat because Lola stood on the other side.
“Erm.” She shifted. A sheen of sweat made her face shine. “I just…”
A smile slid across his lips. “What do you need, Lola?”
She squared her shoulders. “Nolan just told me Brooke will dance lead again in Jacksonville.”
He nodded. “You’re not ready.”
“According to Nolan?”
“Yes, and I trust his judgement.”
“Look, you hired me to dance with you, and that’s all I want to do.” Her cheeks reddened. “I mean I want to dance lead. I didn’t give up everything to stand in the back and dance steps I could do in my sleep.”
Drew leaned on the doorframe and crossed his ankles. “Are you trying to tell me how to run my tour?” It was refreshing, to say the least, but he wouldn’t tell her that. Most of the dancers did and said whatever they thought would make Drew pleased with them.
But Lola… he got the feeling she didn’t care what he thought of her.
Still, he refused to put her out there before she was ready.
Her hands clenched at her sides, and she mumbled something in Spanish under her breath.
“What was that?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I said this was a mistake.” She turned on her heel.
He caught her arm to keep her from walking away, but she didn’t turn back to him. “Lola, if I put you out there before you’re ready, it could destroy you. I’m looking out for you, I promise. We will dance together one day soon. That, I know. Be patient, please? I don’t want to dance with anyone else.” He hadn’t meant to say the last part.
Her posture stiffened at the words. “I killed it out there tonight,” she whispered. “I know now I’m good enough, and I’m going to prove it to you.” She pulled her arm free and walked away.
“I know you will.” She was too far away to hear his words.
18
Lola
Lola wasn’t delusional.
She knew she’d been given a gift scoring a spot dancing in the background for Drew Stone. She knew every dancer had to pay their dues, but with each passing concert, she wondered if she’d made the right decision.
Leaving her mom, dropping out of school meant nothing if she ended up back in Gulf City after the tour. But it had only been one week, three concerts. That worry was for the future. The thing eating at her right now was that Drew had practically ignored her since she set foot on his bus. It was like her presence caused him physical pain.
If he didn’t want her here, why had he tried so hard?
“Again.” Lola’s sadistic teacher gestured for her to begin the dance all over.
“Nolan.” She shot him a glare as she put her hands on her hips and tried to catch her breath. “We just ran through it four times without resting.” And the dance to Drew’s songDance with Mewas the most involved of them all, requiring twice as much energy as any other.
“Well, this will make it five. But you do it without me. Just skip the part where we’re supposed to dance together. I need a break.”
“And I don’t?”
He ran a hand through his sweat-drenched hair. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just so tired of Brooke lording her new status above the rest of us. Youneedto be ready soon.”
“You’re the one who keeps saying I’m not.”
