Page 49 of Becoming Cinderella

Liam’s right arm goes straight into the air as his left arm bears my weight.

“Yes, perfect, just like that.” I pull myself up and Liam lets me go, placing his hands on top of his head.

He paces in a small circle and I can tell he’s feeling discouraged.

“Hey, it was one hand movement. You’re doing fine.”

“I should have this down by now.” Liam runs his hands through his hair before dropping them to his sides. “Why does the ball have to be so important? Why can’t the prince just meet Cinderella at the movies or something?”

“Because the movies aren’t as romantic as the ball. I mean dancing all night with her prince?” I let out a dreamy sigh. “It’s a dream.”

“It’s pressure.” Liam grumbles.

“Alright, is there a certain step or sequence we can work on?”

“Can I say all of it? There’s the steps and then the hand movements and I have to act like I’m this prince who dancing comes naturally to and just…” he trails off with a sigh.

“One thing to remember is your dance is telling a story.”

“It is?” Liam tilts his head, confused.

“Yes.” I try not to laugh at the face he is pulling. “It helps make dancing easier.”

“What’s the story I’m telling?”

“In this version you’ve met Cinderella prior to the ball, right?” I wait for his confirmation before I continue. “The girl you were hoping would come, the one you are falling in love with, has accepted your invitation. You’re delighted that not only is she here, but that she’s dancing with you. You try to tell her that you think you love her through your dance. The way you bring her back when she’s spun out because you want her nearby. The way you watch her as you move, like there’s no one else in the room.” I stop as Liam’s eyebrows furrow together.

“I have to convey all that through dancing? I was just hoping to get my footwork right and now I have to tell her I’m falling in love with her by the way I spin her?” Liam’s eyes grow in horror.

“It’s not as scary as it sounds. All dances tell a story. Have you ever watched one of those dancing reality shows? Before the contestant actually does their dance, they have an interview where they discuss their inspiration for the dance. Sometimes there’s a backstory, other times they might just be channeling a character, which is what you’re doing. Just remember you’re dancing with the woman you love and you’ll be fine.”

I say it, but Liam doesn’t look fine. He’s tense and his face is pinched and I think I just made things worse instead of better.

“Do you want to start the dance from the beginning? Or from where we left off?”

“I don’t know if I can do this, Carter.” Liam says it so quietly the words almost get lost in the music still playing from my phone.

I step towards him, not grabbing his hand like I want to, but I’m only inches away from him.

“You can, I know you can. You’ve already come this far. No one is better suited to be Prince Charming than you, okay? Not only will Cinderella fall for you, but so will every girl, and well some guys, watching the movie from home.”

Liam closes his eyes and slowly inhales a breath before he equally as slowly exhales it.

I reach out and grab his hand, no longer able to stop myself. “Can you do me a favor? Try not to get in your head. Don’t focus on what you think you’re doing wrong, okay? Focus on what I’m telling you you’re getting right.”

Liam rolls his head to the right before rolling it to left like he’s trying to release his built-up tension. He looks at me as he wiggles his arms, squeezing my right hand as he does, before he holds his arms up in his frame position.

“Yeah, I can try.”

I step into his frame, keeping my right hand in his as I place my left on his bicep. His extremely firm bicep.

Nope. Don’t think about his arms right now Carter.

Don’t think about the way they feel when they’ve wrapped around me or how they look in that cut off band shirt he’s wearing.

“Ready?” Liam asks, snapping me back to attention.

I look up and Liam smiles like I just said it out loud.

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