Page 80 of Facing Off
It’s not Quinn or the group chat.
But another daily update I’ve been waiting on. It’s from Team Nutcracker.
I rub the side of my jaw, my heartbeat leaping. It’s been four days since Sonya started working with them.
My grin goes lopsided, and this warm feeling growsinside me. I remember, after hours of watching game tape, how I poked my head through the door the other day and whispered my own input when she was being interviewed about her training and mindset. “Sonya’s the best and most impressive person you’ve ever met.”
And how later in the middle of the night I baked cupcakes and decorated them to look like they were wearing little tutus. The perfect treat to get everyone pumped up the next day. Not that Sonya seemed impressed. She was too busy covering her face because she’d caught sight of the custom WE TOE-TALLY BELIEVE IN YOU banner I’d hung up in the middle of my gym, right by where she was about to get videotaped dancing. Watching that pretty blush spread across her cheeks made my day.
Though since that incident, I’ve been banned from the rest of the sessions. Apparently, I’m a “distraction.” Don’t know how that makes sense.
But now they’re over. I read the message Team Nutcracker sent me.
Team Nutcracker: We wrapped up with Sonya around noon today. This weekend we’ll pull our findings into a report. Until then, we strongly recommend Sonya take a break from ballet for at least three days. Studies have proven that resting can significantly improve the yips.
I glance at the time.
Noon was five hours ago.
As I get out of my car and jog inside, I’m thinking she can’t still be here. Sonya has worked so hard, pushing to get the evaluation done as quickly as possible. It’s been grueling, having to be physically and mentally tested for hours like this. So to finally have a break must feel like sheer fucking bliss.
My shoulders tense. Wait. What am I talking about?
This is my very stubborn ballerina we’re talking about.
When I go to the gym, I see the door has been left open.
I move forward and look inside.
No.
Every primal, protective urge comes to the surface and pounds through me.
Because she’s lying on the floor, and the state Sonya’s pushed herself to makes me lose my mind.
31
SONYA
One second I’m a gasping,sweating, shivering mess on the floor and the next, I’m thrown over a shoulder and hauled away.
Sandalwood, soap, mint.
A ripple of delight moves through me. I mean anger.Pureanger.
We almost make it out of the gym before I come back to life. Too bad my punches bounce uselessly off his lower back, and the upper curve of his incredible ass.
I can’t wriggle away either. His arm secures me down completely. I’m immobilized.
But my voice isn’t.
“Put me down, you Neanderthal!”
“Nope.”
“You’re going to regret this!” I warn, my voice going higher.
“Yell all you want, darling, you’re going to rest and not lift a finger until you recover.”
