Page 69 of Love is a Dance Step
Nolan nudged her. “Because someone wouldn’t let us leave until she’d eaten her weight in chocolate.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m so tired.”
“You never told me where you’d disappeared to at the beginning of the movie.”
She yawned. “I just wanted to get some practice in.”
“After a concert? Wow, you’re either super dedicated or completely insane.”
“Maybe both.” She peered out the window. “What’s the hold up? We should be moving already.”
He looked down at his phone. “Piper texted me that they’re waiting on Drew.”
As if on cue, Drew sauntered across the parking lot with his jacket flung over one shoulder and his aviators perched on his nose. His hair looked like it hadn’t yet been brushed this morning, and there was a slouch to his shoulders he didn’t normally have.
Nolan laughed. “Looks like someone had a good night last night. Think he went out after he talked to you?”
“No.” Their dance replayed in her mind. She’d always needed to dance to make sense of everything around her, but with him it was different. He didn’t clear her mind, he muddled it. She couldn’t take her eyes from him as he climbed onto his bus. They’d danced together two times, and two times, he’d looked like he was going to kiss her.
Two times she’d wanted him to.
This wasn’t the secret longing she’d always had for Asher, the desperation for him not to leave her. Something about the way Drew touched her lit a fire in her, and she worried if she didn’t manage to put it out, it would burn through every part of her, leaving only ash in its wake.
Drew Stone could destroy her in a way Asher never had the power to.
And she’d let him.
“Earth to Lo.” Nolan grinned down at her as he flicked his eyes to the now closed door of Drew’s bus. “Don’t go there, okay? Trust me. Many women on Drew’s tours have tried, but he has a rule. He doesn’t mix relationships with his business, and honey, music is his business. Dance is his business.”
“I wasn’t going there.” She sighed. “Mostly.” She tore her eyes from the window and settled them on a rough-looking Brooke. She’d gotten to their room in the early hours of the morning reeking of alcohol.
For once, Lola didn’t hate being the youngest dancer on the tour. Her age—or lack of legal age—meant they didn’t try to convince her to go out with them. She’d always preferred nights alone in a dance studio or at home watching Netflix to parties and clubs anyway.
A few of the other girls caught her eye but quickly looked away. Nolan had told her once she proved herself they’d get better, but hadn’t she done that already? Didn’t she step into her role as backup dancer without missing a step? What more did they want from her?
She was tired. Tired of feeling like an outsider on this tour, tired of people saying she wasn’t ready or wasn’t good enough.
Her phone lit up, and relief zipped through her when she saw Asher’s name on the screen. No matter what happened between them or how much of a jerk he could be, he knew her better than anyone, and she needed him. Sitting up, she scooted away from Nolan. For some reason, it didn’t feel right to talk to Asher while practically snuggling another guy.
Bringing the phone to her ear, she answered. “Ash.”
“Are you okay, Lo?”
Of course, he’d be able to read everything she hadn’t said in her tone when she spoke a single word. “Yes.” The bus lurched forward as they pulled out of the parking lot. She tried to keep her voice down, not wanting anyone to know who she was talking to. If they knew her connection to Drew’s brother, they’d assume that was the reason she was here.
Thanks to the tabloid blogs, they probably already saw she’d known Drew as a kid.
“Don’t lie to me, Lo.” Asher’s voice deepened. “Has my brother done something?”
“No,” she whispered. “When are you going to stop thinking the worst of him?”
“Probably not until you’re home with me.”
He was protective, he always had been, but it hadn’t always felt so controlling. Once, she’d felt cherished by her best friend. “Well, then you have a long time to wait. Is there a reason you’re calling?”
“I miss you.”
A smile tilted her lips. “I miss you too.” Suddenly, every thought about Drew felt like a betrayal. Every image of him touching her, standing so close was one she knew would hurt Asher. She leaned back in her seat, needing to steer this conversation into safer waters. “How is home?”
