Chapter Ten
MADDIE
Celebrating Hunter and Lennon’s wedding in Utah was a blast, and I’m sad it was only for the weekend, but I told my parents I’d go back and visit during one of my school breaks. Being back home with my family brought so many great memories to the surface while creating new ones.
It’s still hard to believe Lennon is married. Sophie will have her wedding, then get pregnant, and I’ll be Auntie Maddie, the cat lady, who’ll be single forever.
Hmm…maybe I’ll get a Sphynx and name her Virgin.
Virgin, the hairless pussy.
Okay, so the name is still a work in progress, but the concept is still the same.
Dancing with Liam under the glittering lights was far more romantic than it should’ve been. I know not to expect anything from him that’s outside the friendship zone he’s established, but the way he held me and how our bodies moved together had my mind wandering to places it shouldn’t have.
He’d been attached to my hip since we left, and though I enjoyed the closeness, things abruptly changed the moment we got home.
Liam did a load of laundry, repacked his bag, then flew out the next day.
He claims it’s for a job, but I saw the email reminder on his unlocked phone when he walked away to grab a beer.
I’d say I didn’t mean to snoop, but I absolutely did.
Something’s up, and I’m determined to find out what the hell he’s hiding.
Liam’s flight notification was for Vegas. We suspect he’s traveling so much to gamble, but I’m worried there’s more to this than playing slots. He’s tenser than usual and drinking more. When we’re in public, he doesn’t take his eyes off me unless it’s to scan the area. Honestly, it’s unnerving.
Sophie picked me up from school, and after Mason got home, they made dinner, and we ate together. The moment I started a movie, those two party poopers bailed, claiming exhaustion, but I know what it’s code for.
Their loss. “Step Up” is one of the greatest dance movies ever. I’ve seen all the movies in the series dozens of times, but the first one is my favorite.
Just as the final dance begins, I hear the familiar sounds of Liam’s truck, and a moment later, the front door whips open. Finally. He left two days ago, and I was starting to wonder when he’d be back.
“Liam, quick. This is the best part!” I steal a glance over my shoulder before focusing back on the screen.
He shuffles over, dropping his bag, and plops down next to me.
“What is it?” he asks, his voice gruff with exhaustion.
“I swear, you have no taste for movies.” I snicker, then peek over at him.
Then I do a double take. What the hell?
“Oh my God, Liam!” I study his face.
The living room is dark except for the glow of the TV. Reaching out, I palm his cheek and tilt it closer.
“What happened?” I whisper. He has two black eyes, his nose is busted, and his cheeks are swollen and red.
“The fugitive was a fighter. It’s no big deal.”
“Really?” I pop a brow, not believing a word of his shit.
“Was he twice your size? Or get you when you weren’t looking?
I’ve never seen you look this bad before.
” Worry coats my voice as I examine him in shock.
He’s been in fights before, but this looks like a one-way brawl. “Did you even get a punch in?”
He shrugs, wincing when he shifts on the couch.
“What hurts?” I ask. “Let me get you some ice or something. Did you take anything for the pain? I have some Icy Hot.”
“Maddie, stop.” He grabs my wrist, rubbing the pad of his thumb over my butterfly tattoo—that he’s mentioned a few times he loves—to keep me close. “I’m okay. I just wasn’t as prepared as I normally am and he got a couple of swings on me. I handled it.”
My gaze follows to where he’s holding me, and then I let it wander down his body and back up to the little smirk planted on his face. “Well, you kinda look like shit.”
“I know.” His shoulders slump as he releases me. “So tell me what I missed the past couple of days.”
Settling into the couch, I rehash school and how intense our rehearsals have been since the recital is this weekend.
We stayed late Monday and Tuesday and will have to be there tomorrow and Friday to run through the show from beginning to end.
Considering the stage crew still needed to fix a few technical issues, all of us were let go early, so I’m glad Liam came home.
“Think you’ll make it Saturday? I got everyone tickets,” I say.
“Yeah.” He smiles but somehow looks sad. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
The back-to-back rehearsals over the past few days have been exhausting, but I think we’re ready for tonight.
I’ve been looking forward to the jazz recital all semester, and as it’s the final one of the school year, it’s a bit bittersweet.
Joel and I have been practicing hard, pushing ourselves to the max to make sure every move is timed perfectly.
The jazz dancers will perform three routines after the ballet and contemporary pieces.
Then the seniors finish with a huge showcase finale, and I’m excited that I’ll be a part of that next year.
“Maddie!” Joel shouts before wrapping his arms around my waist. “We’re gonna kill it.”
“Hells yeah!” We high-five. “Do I look okay?”
He makes a big show of eyeing me up and down, then tilts his head from side to side and twirls his finger to have me spin around.
“Really?” I laugh.
“You look totally bangable. Your makeup is hot, too.”
I do a little curtsy. “Well, thank you. Bangable is just what I was going for.”
“Are your sisters here?” he asks, waggling his brows.
Scowling, I point my finger at him. “Yes. One is married, and one is engaged, so don’t get any ideas.”
“You sure you don’t have any other sisters?”
“Nope. I’m the baby and your last chance at getting into the pants of a Corrigan.” I shrug teasingly.
Before he can respond, Annie claps her hands and gives us a ten-minute warning.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I put on a final layer of lip gloss and double-check my hair.
The guys are wearing black tights over leotards, which leaves nothing to the imagination.
The sheer purple dress I’m wearing over my backless leotard barely covers my ass, but thankfully, I have on nude tights.
And I can’t wait for Liam to see me in it.
I sneak out and peek through the curtains, finding my group. They’re sitting close to the front, and when my eyes land on Liam, I smile wide. He’s so damn handsome in a suit with his hair nicely done and his facial hair neatly trimmed.
“That’s him, huh?”
“Jesus, Joel. You scared me.” I lean back and pull the curtains closed. “And yes. But he’s just a friend.”
He rests his back against the wall, crossing his arms. “Mm-hmm.”
Rolling my eyes, I grab his wrist and pull him away. “Let’s get to the side stage before Annie has a heart attack.”
Standing on the right-hand side, we watch the first two groups dance.
They do a great job, and once the lights fade, I take a deep breath, and we walk on stage.
Our first routine is set to “Eastside,” which goes flawlessly.
Joel spins and catches me right on beat, and we end the number smiling and laughing.
The audience goes wild, making my heart race harder.
We lock hands and bow, the cheers from the crowd reminding me how much I love performing and the adrenaline rush it gives me.
As the lights dim, we get into formation for the next number. This one was choreographed in groups with girls versus boys. The back and forth of the male and female singers cue us when to dance in the center and when to wait on the sidelines.
The beat in the verses is a little slower, but when the chorus speeds up, so do we. Annie incorporated some ballet and hip-hop moves, making the dance unique and a blast to perform. The smile on my face is permanent, and when I lock eyes with Liam, who’s beaming at me, it somehow widens.
The song ends, and we scramble into our final piece.
This one reminds me of Liam so much. These past few years have been a roller coaster, but his friendship is everything, even if we’re not where I’d hoped.
The little moments we share give me hope that perhaps someday he’ll see me as more than just a friend.
Though I’ve learned not to read too much into Liam’s actions, considering he goes from hot to cold in half a second.
I’m front and center and can feel Liam’s gaze burning into me.
When I glance at him, it’s confirmed. He’s staring intently with his jaw locked in place as he studies my every move.
Though all the seats are taken, everyone fades away as our eyes connect.
Somehow, I keep my hips swinging and feet moving without missing a beat.
As the song comes to an end, we huddle closer together until the final note rings out. The crowd jumps to their feet, applauding, but Lennon and Sophie cheer by screaming. It hurts to keep smiling, but I trained hard for this. It was worth every bruise, sore muscle, and exhausted morning after.
The adrenaline has my heart pounding so rapidly I can barely breathe as we exit the stage. Joel nearly breaks my ribs when he spins me around, and I laugh so hard I get the hiccups.
“Oh my God, stop!” He finally sets me down.
“You slayed, Mads!”
“You did too. Hell, we all did.”
We all stay backstage as the seniors perform their final showcase. They picked a great variety of music, which amps me up for ours next year. Once they’re done, everyone cheers.
“Let’s go,” Annie says, clapping her hands. “Final bows. Go, go, go.”
All the dancers merge in the center of the stage.
Hand in hand, we bow, then applaud our professors and choreographers.
The standing ovation is a pleasant sight, and soon, the auditorium lights brighten, a sign that the show is over.
When we’re finally allowed to go out into the audience, I rush down the steps and crash into my sisters.
“You did so well!” Lennon says.
“I loved it!” Sophie tackles me next.