Page 12 of Becoming Cinderella

His face pales as he drops his attention to my feet. “Carter, I’m so sorry. What can I do? Do you need ice?”

“Relax Liam, it’s not that bad.” Except the toes on my right foot do have their own heartbeat as they throb in my flimsy canvas shoes. I wonder if steel-toed dance shoes exist for our lessons, or else my feet may never recover once we’re finished.

Liam’s eyes meet mine as he tries to read if I’m telling him the truth or not.

I’m not, but hopefully he can’t read me that easily.

The front door then opens, a stream of light falling on us from the inside. “Carter, is that you?”

I jump away from Liam. “Yeah, it’s me.” So much for avoiding my parent’s questions.

My mom switches on the porch light and I’m momentarily blinded.

“What are you doing out here?” Her gaze flicks between Liam and I, and I’m not convinced she didn’t see us standing inches apart.

“Nothing Mom, just talking.”

Liam goes to shake her hand. “Hello Mrs.,” he stops. “I’m sorry, I just realized I don’t know Carter’s last name.” He turns to me, slightly apologetic and a bit horrified.

“Adams.” I jump up to stand next to him.

“Mrs. Adams, my apologies. I’m Liam. It’s lovely to meet you.”

She looks at Liam skeptically but still takes his hand. “Liam? Are you in one of Carter’s classes?”

“No, actually. I uh,” he turns to me for help.

How exactly does he tell my mom I helped him escape a hoard of fangirls at the store? I didn’t see them much last night, locking myself up in my room to finish a project, so I never got the chance to even mention him to them.

My dad then steps into the light of the hallway, poking his head outside.

“Honey, what are you doi-” he stops as soon as he sees Liam. “Whoa, Graham Hollis?”

Graham Hollis is the spy character Liam plays that thrust him to stardom. Dad steps out onto the porch to get a better look, like his eyes are deceiving him. I know the feeling. At this my mom turns back to Liam, looking at him closer.

“Dad, this is Liam.”

“Hullo sir,” he moves to shake his hand. “Liam Taylor.”

My dad shakes his hand, looking confused.

“So, how did you two meet?” Mom eyes Liam, like she’s sizing him up as she gives him a friendly-but-not-really tone.

“Yeah, not that this isn’t totally cool, but why exactly is Graham Hollis, America’s best spy, on our front porch?”

Despite being British and having plenty of roles with his actual accent, his most known role was playing an American in the Eagle Strike franchise.

“Oh. Well, your daughter helped me avoid getting attacked the other day.”

“She did?” My dad turns to me, not seeming to believe I’d be capable of that.

“It’s true dad. I’m a real hero.”

He looks from me to Liam, like we’re pulling some prank on him. I can’t really blame him though; this whole situation is surreal.

“Anyway, I should be going. Mr. And Mrs. Adams, it’s been a pleasure to meet you. Carter,” he turns to me.

“I’ll walk you.”

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