Page 71 of Love is a Dance Step
Drew tensed. He knew when agreeing to this last-minute talk show appearance there was a possibility that would come up. Unclenching his fists, he nodded. “Yes, that is my new dancer’s name.”
“Aw, come on, that can’t be all you’re going to give us? According to the internet—which we all know is completely accurate—” The crowd laughed. “—Lola Ramirez is a family friend. Is that how she caught the eye of Drew Stone?”
Drew sighed. “Look, Mitch, I don’t know everyone my family does. Yes, I have a house in Gulf City, but it’s been a decade since I lived there full time. The truth of the matter is Lola auditioned, we chose her. End of story.”
Mitch smiled. “We have a clip of that audition recorded from a cell phone. Let’s play it for you.”
Drew watched both parts of Lola’s audition play out. At first, she looked good, better than good. Then, during her dance with Nolan, everything fell apart. How could he explain why he’d chosen her anyway? If he said it was because he just had to dance with her, they’d take that the wrong way.
The video faded away, and Mitch looked to Drew expectantly. “I gave her a second chance.” Drew shrugged. “There wasn’t much more to it. She was a teacher at the local dance studio, and I had a hunch she was better than that audition would make it seem. So, I gave her one more chance to wow me, and Mitch, even a cynical reporter like you would have been wowed.”
Wowed wasn’t the right word, but he wouldn’t admit dancing with Lola stole the breath from his lungs.
Mitch chuckled. “Okay, okay, but from how I understand it, she is not dancing the lead at your shows. Everyone knows Drew Stone always dances with someone else, rarely alone. Leah Baker is almost as famous as you for that reason. Yet, the winner of your impromptu auditions is dancing backup. Is there a story there?”
“Not an interesting one. It takes time for a dancer to get up to speed. In fact—” He paused, making a decision in the moment. “Lola will be making her debut as lead right here in D.C. Tonight.”
Mitch sat back in surprise. “Hear that, folks? Drew Stone and Noah Clarke’s show at Capital One Arena tonight is sold out, but the scalpers will be out in force. It’s not one you want to miss.” He turned to the camera. “After the break, we’ll welcome Noah Clarke and Jo Jackson to the stage.”
The light on the camera blinked off, and Mitch’s shoulders relaxed. He held out a hand. “Good interview, Drew. Tell me, is anything you just said true? Or is it all a cover to make sure the world doesn’t find out rock’s most eligible bachelor is no longer single?”
Drew shook his head and gripped his hand. “Still a bachelor, but a bachelor with a phenomenal lead dancer.”
Mitch clapped him on the shoulder. “Good luck tonight.” That was Drew’s cue to leave the stage. He passed a grinning Jo who punched him in the arm on her way by.
Noah stopped him. “You think Lola is ready?”
“You care how well my set goes?” Drew laughed. “I’m touched.”
“Not particularly, but I do care if that girl is embarrassed in front of thousands of people because you rushed her.” Drew had rarely seen Noah care about anyone other than their Rockstars Anonymous group.
“I won’t let her get embarrassed.” And he meant it. No one else saw it because Lola was a different dancer when dancing with Nolan or Noah. They didn’t see how they were together.
She was ready.
And she’d prove everyone wrong.
The commercial break ended, and Noah followed Jo onto the stage, leaving Drew to face an irritated-looking Piper.
She crossed her arms and pulled her lips to one side.
“It’s going to be okay, Pipes.” He walked past her, itching to get out of the tight jeans his stylist forced him into for the interview.
She stomped after him. “Of course it will because Lola will kill it tonight, but you can’t make those proclamations on TV without first discussing it with me.”
A production assistant opened the door to Drew’s dressing room, and he walked in. Piper shut the door behind her.
Drew busied himself stripping off his clothes.
“Ew.” Piper groaned. “Give me some warning. I’ll come back when you’re done.”
“Just turn around, Pipes.” He struggled out of his skinny jeans and changed into a loose fitting pair before shrugging on a simple band t-shirt. “Okay, I’m dressed.”
Piper walked around him and retrieved some cotton pads and lotion from the table. “Come here. I’ll remove the makeup. They put too much on you.”
“I thought you liked a man with makeup.” He laughed. Piper’s boyfriend wore so much makeup on stage he was almost unrecognizable in real life when he looked like a normal guy.
“Please,” she groaned. “Ben looks much better without it. As do you. Bend down, you’re too tall.”
