Page 78 of Slow Burn
"I do."
"Something changes in you when you talk about it. Even when the story you're relaying is as tragic as this one." Her fingers brushed over the left side of my chest. "It's a part of you as much as dance is a part of me."
"I suppose it is," I agreed quietly.
Maddie's fingers slowly moved over my scarred skin. "Have you considered going back?"
I had. More times than I could count but for all the steps I'd taken forward, being around people, especially ones I didn't know, still freaked me out. I wasn't entirely sure if I'd be able to get over this particular hurdle if I were being honest.
For whatever reason, I couldn't admit this to the woman who meant the world to me. Maybe it was because I was terrified of her looking at me differently or possibly seeing that there was a coward still living inside me.
Even though there wasn't space for a breath between us, I hugged her body closer to mine. My fingers worked their way into her hair, reveling in the feel of her silky strands brushing against my knuckles. "I don't know," I answered her honestly.
"That's okay." Maddie shifted until she was straddling me. Bending down, her hair fell around us like a thick curtain. Her lips brushed over mine once. "One step at a time and you'll get where you need to be."
I cupped the back of her head and pulled her mouth back to mine to keep the words that burned up my insides from spilling out. Because, yes, it was fast. Yes, it was completely beyond understanding but it didn't change the fact that I loved this woman.
33
MADDIE
I trailed my fingers over the barre that stretched the length of the studio. Unable to contain it, I smiled at my reflection in the wall-to-wall mirror. Soon this would all be mine. I could hardly believe how fast everything had happened over the last couple of days.
Following Frankie's advice, I'd gone to the bank to secure a loan for the amount I needed to acquire Soulbeat. Even though I didn't have bad credit, I was still stress-sweating until the manager had called me with the news that it had been approved.
My excitement could barely be contained.
Lucetta and I had spent quite a bit of time on the phone too. She wanted to make sure I was satisfied with the contract her attorney had sent over and to reassure me that I could change anything I wanted.
Not that I did.
Soulbeat held too many great memories for me. There wasn't a thing I'd change about it. My hope was to build upon what Lucetta had created here. To encourage little girls and boys to follow their dreams and give them the tools to do so.
I was still lost in my own thoughts when the studio door flew open; Jennah and Frankie rushing inside soon after. Digging my heels in, I braced for impact as they hurried toward me.
Sandwiched between my sister and friend, both wrapped their arms around me and hugged me tight.
"Has it sunk in yet?" Jennah asked when I got some of my personal space back.
I grinned at her. "Nope. Not one bit."
Frankie bumped my shoulder with hers. "As soon as the dust settles, we're celebrating."
"Speaking of celebrations," my sister chimed in. "Mom still has no clue about the party, and everything is set and ready to go for tomorrow."
Jennah and Frankie started filling me in on the few things I'd missed during the week as we walked to the—my—office together. Even though I was looking forward to celebrating my mom's birthday, I was nervous too.
My mom and I were trying to mend fences as best we could—she'd been to the studio and had asked me about dancing and my plans for the future—but I hadn't seen or spoken to my dad since the day I'd told them about wanting to make Soulbeat mine. I'd called the house and gone to the store a couple of times only to have my mom apologize and beg me to give him more time.
At least my mom was trying. Yes, I knew it was hard for her, but she was doing her best. But my dad? No, he needed time. How much time did he—the man whose blood ran through my veins—need to accept my dream or at least pretend to be happy about it for me?
"Yoo Hoo, Maddie!" I blinked and then blinked again until Frankie's snapping fingers in front of my face came into focus. "The lights are on but nobody's home." Shaking her head, she crossed her arms in front of her.
Scratching the corner of my eye, I scrunched up my nose. "Sorry. What were you saying?"
Frankie rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "Are we finally going to meet this man of yours, or are you going to keep him locked up in the house forever?"
Jennah nodded like she'd been dying to ask the same question. "I hope he's coming to the party at least. You know, meet the family and all that jazz."
