Page 85 of Take the Lead
Stone fought the urge to roll his eyes.
They grabbed a camera crew and headed out onto the lot and into the makeup trailer. Gina looked up when they all filed in.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Juan Carlos directed Stone to sit next to Gina in an empty chair, then slipped into host mode. “Gina, tell us about your team dance tonight.”
Gina smiled for the camera without even sparing Stone a glance. “We’ve teamed up with Lauren and Kevin to dance to a medley of songs by my absolute favorite singer, Melissa Mendez, also known as Meli.”
Juan Carlos grinned. “Gina, we’ve got a big surprise for you tonight. And for our viewers at home.”
Gina’s jaw fell open. Eyes wide, she gripped the armrests of her chair. “Don’t play with me, Juan Carlos. Is it what I think it is?”
“Depends. What do you think it is?”
Gina’s hands flew to her face, covering her mouth. “Is she cominghere?”
With a nod, Juan Carlos faced the camera. “That’s right. Actress and international singing sensation Meli is joining us as a guest judge tonight.”
Gina screamed.
Apparently, it was the exact reaction they wanted. Juan Carlos rattled off some more info, then he and the camera crew filed out.
When they were gone, Gina turned to Stone and grabbed hishands. Her eyes were wide as saucers, and she bared her teeth in an excited grimace.
“Stone.” She squeezed his fingers. “This is, like, the most nervous and excited I have ever been on this show. Meli is my idol.” Her chest rose and fell sharply.
Stone frowned. “Gina, are you hyperventilating?”
She struggled to take a deep breath. Tried again. Shook her head. “I think so?”
One of the makeup artists passed her a bottle of water.
“You meet celebrities all the time,” Stone pointed out. “You’re a pro at this.”
“She’s myidol,Stone! My idol. I wanted tobeher when I grew up. I still do.” Gina nearly spilled the water when she opened it. “Wait, they always say never to meet your idols.”
“They who?”
“I don’t know. They.” She waved her free hand in the air. “I have to call my mom. And my sister. And Tash.”
“Natasha is backstage, walking distance from here.”
“I don’t care, I’m still calling her.” Gina shot him a glare. “You’re not comprehending the magnitude of this news.”
She was acting strange, but there were too many people around for him to address it, and he didn’t want to be a buzzkill. He got to his feet. “Why don’t I go find Natasha and send her over?”
“Yes. Do that. I’m calling my mother.” Gina held the phone to her ear. “Ma? Ay Dios mío. No vas a creer esto.”
She turned her back on him, continuing to speak to her mother in Spanish. He waited a moment, then left.
Stress, that was all it was. With his injury, two dances to learn, and extra dancers involved, rehearsals had been exhausting and they’d hardly had a moment alone.
He missed her, though. And he didn’t know how to tell her.
Gina never got stage fright. Tonight, knowing that she was going to dance to Meli’s songsin front of hermade Gina jittery as all hell.
She put a hand on her stomach, left bare by the lime green samba costume. “I’m going to throw up.”
