Page 9 of Love is a Dance Step
A security guard approached, the wordsArena Securitystretched across his chest. “Mr. Stone.”
“Yeah?” He continued stretching, trying to ignore the title Mr. Stone.
“Your family is here, sir.”
“Perfect.” He jumped to his feet and clapped the man on the shoulder. “But I’m nobody’s sir. Show me to the gaggle of girls who look like me.”
The man turned without a word, and Drew followed him through the bowels of the arena to his dressing room. Piper must have brought them here.
Drew brushed past the guard and pushed the door open. Screaming assaulted him as Lizzy sprinted across the room followed by Penny. They barreled into him, almost knocking him over.
Drew laughed as he caught his youngest sisters in a hug.
Piper crossed toward them and nodded to the security guard. “You can go. We’ll give them some privacy.” She followed him out.
His mom came next, a smile on her face. “I like that assistant of yours.”
“Me too, Ma.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek before lifting Lizzy off the ground and holding her with one arm. “You miss me, Lizard?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Not really.”
“Liar.” He tickled her, eliciting a squeal, before putting her down and turning to his dad. “Hey, Dad.”
His dad put a hand on each of his shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. “How are you, son?”
“I’m good.” Most days. Other days, he wasn’t sure what he was. But no parent wanted to hear that. “Real good.” A grin slid across his face, and it even felt fake.
His dad’s brow furrowed like he could see beyond the grin, but he released Drew with a pat on the shoulder. “Glad to hear it.”
Drew crossed the room to where Nora hadn’t moved from the white leather couch.
She looked up at him, one eyebrow raised. “Sup?”
Other than Asher, Nora had always known Drew better than their other siblings. In part because their time at home with their parents overlapped. He was there for her first words, her first steps. He taught her how to skate, to shoot a puck.
Seeing her reminded him he was home. She brushed golden hair behind her ears, a slow smile spreading across her face. Their stand-off was only an act, her aloofness an illusion. He knew she missed him just as much as he missed her.
Lowering himself to the couch beside her, he draped an arm over her shoulders. She didn’t move for a moment before curling against him. He hugged her to him, not wanting to let go.
Goodbyes were a part of his life now. He never stayed in one place for long. Sure, he owned a home in Gulf City, but every time he went home, he knew it would have to end, that his life was elsewhere now.
“I missed you,” Nora whispered.
He kissed the top of her head. “You’re a teenager; I don’t think you’re supposed to admit you care about anything.”
She laughed and lifted her head. Nora was most like the boy he used to be. She played on the Gulf City hockey team as one of the few girls and spent her free time listening to music. There wasn’t a defiant teenage bone in her body. She was all sweetness and little sass.
Unlike their brother. “Where’s Ash?” He’d sent tickets for all of them.
His mom perched on the arm of the couch. “He’s already in our seats. I’m sorry, Drew. We tried to get him to come backstage but that boy…”
“I know.” Asher had changed in recent years. Drew couldn’t fix the fact he wanted nothing to do with his older brother. “It’s okay, Ma. I’m glad you guys are here.”
Lizzy jumped onto his lap. “Lola came with us. They’re probably too busy smooching.”
“Elizabeth Ann!” Their dad tried to cover up a laugh with exasperation. It didn’t work.
Drew chuckled. “So, Ashy is dating his oldest friend?” He remembered Lola from when she was nothing more than a kid running around with his brother.
