Chapter 8 Reese #2
Reese advised him to hold onto the back of the chair for support before lifting his leg onto the seat. He did so, grimacing. “That’s much better.”
“Great,” Reese said. “You’ll be surprised how much flexibility will help you with whatever sport you do.”
Roan had not yet managed to get his leg up to the barre. “It just won’t go up.”
“Okay, we’ll do a chair for you too,” Reese said. “I might need to install a lower barre.”
“Very funny,” Roan said, laughing. “You’re supposed to be encouraging us.”
Reese brought over one more chair and set it in front of Roan. “Try this.”
He swung his leg up, foot flexed. Reese placed one hand on his extended leg, the other on his hip, adjusting his alignment. The moment her hands touched him, she felt the electric current that had always existed between them. His skin was warm under her palm, muscles tense.
“Your hips aren’t square. Turn this hip forward slightly.” She guided his hip into alignment, trying to ignore how aware she was of touching him. “And don’t round your back. Keep your chest lifted.”
He adjusted, and she felt some of the tension release. “Better. Now breathe. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Let your body soften into the stretch.”
He breathed. His muscles relaxed fractionally. Their eyes met in the mirror, and for a second she forgot where she was or that anyone else was in the room but the two of them.
Then Cody said, “Are we done with this torture yet?” and the moment broke.
Reese stepped back, professional mode snapping into place. “Almost. Switch legs, everyone. Other side.”
They switched as Reese walked to the sound system to play the song she’d chosen for them.
“All right. Now comes the fun part.” Reese walked to the sound system. “I’m going to teach you a dance. We’ll learn it in pieces, then put it all together.”
“What kind of dance?” Emma asked.
“Hip hop style. Energetic, fun, a little bit sassy. And it’s December, so …” She grinned. “Of course we have to choose a Christmas song.”
“This just keeps getting worse,” Cody said.
“Just hang in there,” Reese said. “This will be fun.” She hit play. All I Want for Christmas Is You filled the studio. “That’s our song, but let’s learn the first steps before we put it to music.”
She demonstrated the first eight counts, moving slowly so they could see each step. Step right, touch left, punch arms out. Step left, touch right, pull arms back. Hip sway right, hip sway left, head roll, pose.
“Everyone try,” she called out.
Emma and Marcus picked it up immediately.. Julia’s version had less hip swaying but was pretty good. Cody was stiff, probably overthinking every step. Roan got the moves, but he was too heavy on his feet. But she could work with that.
“Now let’s do it with the music. Just that first eight counts.” She started the music at the right moment. “Five, six, seven, eight—”
When the eight counts ended, Emma was grinning, Marcus looked proud, Julia was breathing hard but smiling, Cody looked slightly less miserable, and Roan looked determined.
“Okay, next eight counts.” Reese demonstrated. Turn right, clap, turn left, clap, body roll, arms up, bounce, bounce, pose.
They practiced slowly, then with music. Then she put the two sixteen counts together. By the time they’d learned all thirty-two counts—four eight-count phases—everyone was sweating and smiling. Even Cody.
“All right. We’re going to run the whole thing. All thirty-two counts. With music. Full out.” Reese walked to the light switch. “And I’m going to turn on something special.”
She dimmed the studio lights and flipped another switch. The disco ball descended slightly from the ceiling and began to rotate, activated by a motor. Immediately, the room filled with sparkles of light, dots dancing across the mirrors, the floor, and their faces.
“Pretend like you’re on a stage on Broadway. I want to see your sass,” Reese said.
“Sass, okay,” Marcus breathed.
“I’m all about sass,” Emma said.
“Ready?” Reese positioned herself at the front. “Let’s do this. I’ll count us in.”
The music started. Mariah’s voice filled the space. The disco ball spun, sending light everywhere. And they danced.
Step, touch, punch. Step, touch, pull. Hip, hip, roll, pose. Turn, clap, turn, clap. Body roll, arms up, bounce, bounce.
Marcus and Emma were pretty much perfect. Julia got off count once and had to catch up. Cody and Roan were still stiff but hit the right steps.
Reese felt the magic that dancing always brought, even to those who resisted. The joy of moving together, of a shared accomplishment, was not easily explained.
When the music ended, Emma threw her arms up. “We did it.”
“That was actually fun,” Cody admitted grudgingly.
“Can we do it again?” Marcus asked. “I didn’t quite have the footwork right on that last part.”
They did it again. And again. By the third run-through, they were loose, laughing, adding little flourishes. When they finally stopped, everyone was sweaty, happy, and energized.
Reese walked over to switch the disco light off and turn on the overheads. “That’s dance, guys. Just fun, right?”
“So fun.” Emma’s eyes glistened. She wiped at them quickly.
“You okay?” Reese asked.
Emma nodded, then laughed wetly. “I just love dancing so much. I’ve missed it.”
“I understand,” Reese said softly.
“I wish I could take class every day. Or even a few times a week. But my dad …” Emma stopped, clearly fighting to keep her emotions under control. “Like I said, he won’t pay for classes anymore. That if I want classes then my mom should get a job.”
Reese exchanged a glance with Roan, an idea forming in her mind.
“What if I had a proposition for you?” Reese said.
“What kind of proposition?”
“I’m putting on a Christmas recital in two weeks.
All my students are performing. We use the stage at the elementary school.
There’s a lot of little ones, so it can feel chaotic.
I could use an assistant. Someone to help wrangle the dancers and make sure everyone gets into the right costume at the right time. ”
“You want me to help?” Emma asked.
“Yes. And, in exchange, you can take whatever classes you want. Free. As many per week as you can fit in.”
Emma stared at her. “Are you serious?”
“Completely serious. I need a helper. You’d get to dance again. Win-win.”
“Yes,” Emma said immediately. “Whatever you need, I’ll do.”
“Great. Can you come tomorrow morning?” It was Saturday, so the kids didn’t have school. “We’ll figure out a schedule.”
“Yes, I think I can get my mom to bring me into town.” Emma wiped her eyes again, smiling wide. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“If your mom doesn’t want to drive you, text me. I’ll come get you on my way in to town,” Reese said.
She encouraged everyone to gather in a circle on the floor, stretching out their hamstrings, hip flexors, calves.
“Same time Monday?” Marcus asked. “At Take Two?”
“That’s right,” Roan said. “And on Tuesday, we dance.”
“I’ll teach you the next thirty seconds or so of this dance,” Reese said. “Before you know it, you’ll have memorized the entire thing.”
“I can’t wait,” Emma said.
“Me either,” Marcus said.
“I guess it wasn’t completely terrible,” Cody said, grinning. “Even though I feel kind of dumb.”
“I do too, but it was fun,” Roan said. “Concentrating like that drowns out all the other noise of life.”
“Like meditation,” Julia said. “Kind of.”
“Totally,” Marcus said.
“Thank you all for letting me share my passion with you,” Reese said.
“We should be thanking you,” Marcus said.
“Yeah, thanks,” Julia said. “We know you didn’t have to do this.”
“Most people wouldn’t,” Cody said.
“Kids like us are invisible,” Julia said.
“Not to me,” Reese said, fighting a lump in her throat. “I see you. Every one of you.”
“I do too,” Roan said gruffly.
“All right, off you go,” Reese said. “My next class will be here soon.”
The kids gathered their things. Emma glowed as she hugged Reese, then pulled back, clearly embarrassed. “Sorry. I’m just so happy.”
“I’m happy too.” Reese gave Emma her phone number and asked her to text in the morning if she needed a ride.
Marcus, Julia, and Emma left together but Cody hung back with Roan.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” Cody said. “Take your time.”
Cody nodded and left, the studio door closing behind him.
“Are you taking him home?” Reese asked.
“Eventually. But he asked if he could hang out at the gym—watch me work. He said he might like to become a trainer.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I can’t believe how they’re all responding to this.”
“Clearly they need it,” Roan said. “God bless Grace Hayes.”
“Will you be here for next class?”
He looked directly into her eyes. “I’d be happy being anywhere you are. Doing anything. So yeah, I’ll be here.”
Reese felt almost light-headed. Had he really said that? Did he mean it? And how exactly did she feel about it?
“I didn’t think you’d come but I’m glad you did.”
“Me too,” Roan said, smiling back at her.
He moved closer, taking her hand in his. His eyes peered into hers and she had the strange sensation of falling. Not into the past exactly but to somewhere familiar. The world she’d shared with Roan when they were young, like the two of them against the world.
“You’re beautiful,” Roan said. “Inside and out.”
She swallowed, aching suddenly to throw her arms around him and kiss him like she used to. “Thanks. I wondered if you thought I looked old.”
“You’re even prettier than when we were kids.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.”
He drew even closer, taking her other hand now, his eyes soft. Then, he tilted his head and moved closer and closer until he almost reached her mouth. She didn’t stop him. She was incapable of it.
The studio door burst open. A gaggle of twelve-year-old girls poured in, chattering and laughing, dumping bags along the wall.
Roan jumped back, creating professional distance. Reese drew in a breath, gathering herself before she turned to her students, teacher mode snapping into place even as her heart raced.
“Hi, girls. Get changed and ready, please.”
She turned back to Roan. He was watching her, his expression pensive.
“I should go. Cody’s waiting.”
Impulsively, Reese grabbed his arm, turning him toward her. “Thanks for today?”
“You want me to pick you up for dinner tomorrow?” Roan asked.
The question startled her. “Um. Yeah. Sure.”
“Six?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“See you then.” Roan left, the door closing behind him with a soft click.
Reese stood there for a beat. Roan Hayes had been about to kiss her.
Was she setting herself up for yet another heartbreak?
But she never could resist him. Some things never changed.
No matter how hard she wished she was immune to him, it was just not so. And never would be.