Page 98 of Love is a Dance Step
“Then, talk about it with Drew.”
She looked at him, wondering what he wasn’t saying. “I have been right here since we got to New York. It isn’t me who needed space from the dancers.” She turned on her heel and marched from the room, wanting to put as much distance between herself and any thoughts of Drew as she could.
She’d thought something would change after their kiss at the ball, that she’d have more clarity.
But his silence spoke volumes.
Maybe she was the one who needed to change.
Because she couldn’t keep letting the Stone boys control her feelings.
29
Drew
“Why don’t you have anything good to eat?” Ben rifled through the pantry with a sigh.
Drew crossed the open living room and leaned on the marble island blocking off the kitchen. “Maybe if I’d known you were coming to town… oh wait, no, I still wouldn’t have catered to your needs.”
Ben flipped him off without even looking his way. “You owe me.”
“For what?”
“Stealing my assistant.”
Drew laughed. He wasn’t wrong. Piper was the assistant to Ben’s band, more specifically, Ben’s bandmate Quinn—Piper’s sister. But they didn’t appreciate her, and Drew knew how special she was.
He was glad Ben saw it now.
“If I hadn’t stolen her all those months ago, you’d be that rock star dating his assistant. It’s the post #metoo era, bud. That power dynamic just doesn’t work. Not like it ever did before either.”
Ben shut the pantry and turned, one eyebrow raised. “And what exactly is an affair with your dancer? An equal power dynamic?”
“I’d say it’s none of your business.”
“No, but it’s mine.” Piper rounded the corner from one of the guest rooms and padded across the bamboo flooring on bare feet. She kissed Ben on the cheek before settling on a stool at the counter. “I need to know where your head is with Lola.”
Drew backed away, but there was nowhere to go. Rockstars Anonymous had invaded his loft. Noah and Jo played a video game in the living room. Dax watched them silently.
Melanie sat at the kitchen table returning emails on her laptop.
And Ben… he was giving Drew an “I know what you’re thinking” look that made him uncomfortable.
“And here I thought a three-bedroom loft would be big enough for me,” he grumbled.
Piper reached over and patted him on the shoulder. “They’re all here because they care about you.”
Drew shook his head. “No, they’re here because they were in town. Mel is still with the tour for another two nights, Ben came to see you, and Dax was in the city for a meeting with a producer.”
“And yet, they’re spending their Friday night in the city holed up here with you instead of out doing whatever it is they do with their limited free time.”
Piper was right. He was ungrateful. The group was meant for support, and he was too tired to see it. Tours always wore on him. For the first couple months, there was an excitement at being in a new place every few days, bussing around the country doing what he loved. But eventually, he dreamed of his own bed in Gulf City, of a quieter life where tabloids didn’t watch his every move.
“All right.” Melanie slapped a hand on the table. “We need a meeting.”
“Mel.” Drew sighed. He didnotfeel up to being psychoanalyzed right now.
“No.” She stood and folded her arms over her chest. “You’re all in the same place for the last time in a while. After this, Jo goes into hiding—a decision I still don’t agree with—while the rest of you scatter. But right now, we’re here. Let’s take advantage of that.”
