Page 41 of Dare to Dance
“Nice to see you again, Ruby,” he said to my back.
“He’s a bit pompous,” Norma said at my side. “But really hot.”
A potent smell of sweat and man penetrated my nostrils as we stood at the empty check-in desk. Grunts, shouts, and clangs sounded. Men and women worked out on weights, rowing machines, and treadmills. I squinted at the bright lights as nostalgia swept me from the room.
Spotlights had shone down as I danced to music of Tchaikovsky, practicing for my role in the Sleeping Beauty performance.
“Cut the music,” Ms. March shouted, her voice echoing throughout the auditorium.
I stopped. “Am I doing something wrong?” She’d been riding me for two solid months about my form, my attitude, and my smile.
“Head up and shoulders back,” Ms. March said.
I wanted to tell her I was exhausted, but that would only fuel her ire. Then she would have made me practice another two hours. I understood her strict teaching. If I looked good in front of an auditorium of people, then so did she. Above everything, I didn’t want to disappoint myself. I had to be perfect. The artistic director of Joffrey Ballet School in New York would be present for my performance.
“Can we take a break?” I had desperately needed some water.
An elbow pushed into my side, startling me back to the present. “Kross is over there.” Norma’s voice registered as Ms. March’s waned. Norma tipped her chin to the left.
Kross was sparring with a young brown-haired boy, who looked to be in high school. I watched in quiet fascination at the lithe way Kross danced around his opponent. I was mentally taking notes for my bout on Saturday.
“Look at him move,” Norma said in awe, or maybe she was drooling.
I couldn’t blame her. Kross’s body was covered in a sheen of sweat, highlighting the way his muscles rippled every time he jabbed. He was so much bigger now than when we were in school.Hey, idiot, he’s a man now. A very large and sexy man.Actually, he was more like a sexy beast. My stomach fluttered as I licked my lips. “Maybe I should go.” I couldn’t take boxing lessons from him. I could, however, take kissing lessons or something more.
“You afraid you might give in to him?” Norma’s voice held giddiness.
I would have loved to have given him every inch of me. “Not a chance.”
She giggled. “Liar.”
I bit my lip as I willed the tornado in my stomach to calm the heck down.
A short, bald man who had his back to us threw up his hands. “God damn it, Kross. Get your fucking act together. Hit Liam like you mean it. Reggie is going to pummel you into oblivion.”
Kross stretched his neck one way then the other. Liam bounced on his feet before throwing a punch. His gloved fist landed square in Kross’s jaw.
“Your footwork is lacking, Kross,” a guy with a ponytail next to the coach said.
Kross growled before he lunged at Liam. One fist hit Liam’s nose. The next one hit his mouth. Liam raised his forearms as Kross let loose a series of jabs and hooks.
“That’s it. Keep that footwork going,” the coach said with pride in his voice.
“Liam, fight back,” I shouted. As soon as the words left me, I slapped a hand over my mouth. I should have been rooting for Kross, but I always liked to root for the underdog.
Kross whipped his head in my direction. When he did, Liam landed a left hook into Kross’s face. Kross stumbled backward into the ropes. Ponytail guy and the coach shot fiery glares at me. All the sounds in the gym died. I scanned the room and found that all eyes were on me. Suddenly, I wanted to crawl into a dark hole.
“Isn’t that the ponytail guy who was with Kross at your fight? Dillon, right?” Norma asked with way too much excitement in her voice. “Alex likes him. Maybe he’s the one she’s been spending time with. I’m not one to step into a girl’s territory, but for him, I might have to.”
“I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not.” Norma blocked me with her body. “Two thousand dollars.”
I briefly closed my eyes.Money. Lots of money. You can do this.At the moment, I hated my subconscious and Norma.
“One minute, you don’t want me to fight. The next, you’re encouraging me. Is it because you’re foaming at the mouth for Dillon?”
“In all honesty,” she said, “no. Sure, he’s hot, but if you’re in that ring with Kross, then you have a chance to win.”
