Page 96 of Love is a Dance Step
“One drink,” Brooke pleaded.
Lola shot Asher a warning look, but he ignored her. “Going out in New York City? Count us in!”
Lola couldn’t dwell on her irritation because a knock sounded on the door. She pulled it open to find Noah grinning at her.
“Um, hi.” He wasn’t staying at the hotel either, instead bunking at Drew’s apartment, so she didn’t know why he was here.
“I need your help.” The pleading look he gave her made her curious.
“Come in.”
As soon as he entered, Asher’s eyes rounded. The room suddenly felt very crowded.
“Hey, Noah,” Brooke purred.
Nolan offered a fist, and Noah bumped it before turning back to Lola. “So, New York is my last stop with the tour.”
They’d all known this. Noah and Jo were leaving the tour to be replaced by someone else. Lola was inexplicably sad. She’d never warmed up to Jo—especially after Jo caught her and Drew. But Noah had become a sort of friend.
“What do you need?”
“I want to include a new song in my set, but it’ll require some dance steps, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to come up with anything good on my own.”
“So, you want my help?” She looked to Asher, wanting to say no since he’d come all this way to see her.
Asher glanced at Brooke. “It’s okay, Lo. I’ll hang out with your friends. We’ll have tonight together.”
It shouldn’t have bothered Lola, but she couldn’t help her sigh. “Okay.” She looked down at her pajamas. “Let me change, and I’ll meet you down in the banquet room we’re using for practice.”
“You’re the best.” Noah flashed her a grin that would have most women falling at his feet. Lola only laughed and pushed him toward the door.
By the time she’d changed and walked down to the banquet hall, she tried not to think about Asher in her room with Brooke. Instead, her mind drifted to Drew and the fact he hadn’t called her. Not even a text. She wasn’t under any illusions they were anything to each other, but it still hurt.
Protect yourself.Her mom had said. Well, she was trying.
Jo sat on one side of the room, focused on her phone.
“Ignore her.” Noah shook his head. “She’s kind of cranky in the mornings these days, but even so, we go most places together.”
“Isn’t she cranky all the time?” The words slipped out before Lola could stop them, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.
A laugh boomed out of Noah.
“I heard that,” Jo called, not looking up from her phone. “And the answer is yes, Lola, I’m always pretty cranky.” Pink-tipped hair shielded her face from view.
Lola dropped her voice. “I totally didn’t mean to say that.”
“I’m glad you did.” Noah grinned. “And it’s not even the pregnancy. She’s always been cranky.”
Noah grimaced, realizing what he’d said. “I wasn’t supposed to say that. You need to forget it.”
“I already knew.” Lola shrugged. “It’s not all over the tabloids yet, is it?”
Noah stared at her for a long moment before nodding, seeming to accept her trustworthiness.
“Let’s start.” Dancing would solve anything.
“Jo,” Noah called. “Can you start the song?”
