Chapter 15
Kaisa
Ledger is gone.
It’s alright. I have plenty to do here to get ready for the Showdown. I have meetings with various staff members of the resort and Mynt Athletic Wear. And the lighting and set designers keep reaching out to me with questions.
I love all of it. The planning, the decision making. Everything. All the balls are in the air and it’s amazing.
Maybe it has something to do with being around Ledger.
That guy has a mind of steel. How he has the self-discipline and drive to be a professional football player yet be fun to be around is actually really cool.
And the way he’s approached this dance thing?
The way he’s shown up and done the work? It’s admirable.
I know I would not have a good attitude if I was asked to learn to play football and have my first game a week later.
Last night, we finally made it around to the front of the building, and I guess a perk of the fame means that they recognized both of us and handed over our new keycards without incident.
We went back up to his room, I grabbed my stuff, told him to get some rest and that I’d see him on Friday, and then I left.
Also? Last night was…well, it was magical. The dancing, the lifting, the snowball fight, the snuggling together in the cold. It played on repeat in my mind all the rest of the night.
Because I want Ledger in my life. I think I want to try to have a future with him.
And now he’s not here.
I remind myself it’s only for a couple of days. How will I manage when he goes back to Texas permanently?
We’re having a quick run-through of our opening number with all the pros.
“Ledger Bishop really had to go back to Texas?” Malia asks, her brow furrowed. “Did something happen?”
“He was asked to do some interviews last minute.”
“That's not good,” she says. “I’m sorry.”
The rehearsal goes well. Like, surprisingly well.
Pavel is still a giant pain in the butt, though. I swear he’s like a magpie, circling above me, waiting for some unfortunate accident to befall me so he can swoop in and take over.
“What are you going to do if he never comes back?” Pavel asks with a look of delight at baiting me.
I lift a brow. “The best solo performance of my life.”
That shuts him up for a minute. But then, he mentions the rumors that the show might go in a different direction for the upcoming season in the spring.
I check my reaction. I don’t need to fuel any fires here. “What have you heard?” I ask nonchalantly.
“I heard that Wynn is thinking of redesigning the team,” Pavel says, stretching an arm across his chest to warm up. “What does that even mean?”
I swallow of sip of Merry Berry Mynt water—the resort gave us cases of it. “I have no idea, honestly.”
“Come on,” Pavel peers at my face. “He put you in charge of this event. I’m sure he’s said something.”
“He’s said nothing about redesigning the team or anything about next season, so chill.”
He holds up his hands. “I’m chill,” he snarls. “Just wondering if you’d heard anything.”
“I truly haven’t,” I say. “And even if I had, I wouldn’t tell you anything that Wynn wouldn’t want everyone to know.”
I turn from him and swallow hard. “Okay, one more run through, everybody. I know we all have lots of rehearsing to do with our athletes—”
Pavel snickers. “Well, some of us do.”
I ignore it. “And I’m really excited how you all have nailed this number. It’s looking good, so great job.” I turn the music on and clap to the beat as I get into position. “Let’s do this, people!”
I don’t know if it’s the digs I endured from Pavel the night before or fear about the show “moving in a different direction,” but the next morning, after a troubled night’s sleep, I find myself booking a flight to San Antonio.
I know. Is it a little much for me to track down my partner in Texas?
And let’s face it, the time I spent with Ledger the other night was so good that I’m craving more.
Except, I tell myself it’s only because he’s got to be perfect in our performance.
Also? I’m proud of myself for delegating some of my responsibilities with the costumers and set designers to Malia and another pro, Trey.
They were glad to help, and I do trust them to get things done.
Once I took the leap and handed off some of my responsibilities, the trip to San Antonio clicked into place.
I think we’re all a little on edge after Pavel’s comments. There are no guarantees in this business, and none of us are taking our spots on the show for granted.
Besides, last minute flights for rehearsals are nothing new to me.
During all the seasons of Lights, Camera, Dance!
I had to fly out sometimes because Kale, Tim, and Rick had prior obligations, either to be on set or do an appearance.
So, a camera crew and I joined in, and we squeezed in as much rehearsal time as possible.
I try to call Ledger while I’m frantically packing, but there’s no answer, so I contact Wynn’s assistant, who gets me the number for a point of contact within the front offices of the Wolves organization. I call them and ask them to let Ledger know I’m coming.
Within minutes, I get a call from Coach Whittaker’s assistant.
“Coach wants you to know he fully supports you coming to rehearse with Ledger and he’s happy to help out in any way he can.”
“Wow, thanks.”
I almost text Ledger to let him know I’m on my way, but each time I pick up my phone to do it, I chicken out. I mostly don’t want him telling me “no.” Sort of an “asking for forgiveness instead of permission” kind of deal, I guess. Besides, maybe Coach’s assistant will let him know.
When I put my mind to something, there’s no stopping me. I board the plane, the flight goes by quickly, and it’s not until I land that I realize my stomach is in knots.
I get to see Ledger soon.
That’s what this is about, isn’t it?
And I probably should have tried harder to let him know I was coming, huh?
There’s also something about being in airports around Christmas. I know people around me are traveling home to be with their loved ones…and I’m not.
While I wait for my luggage, I pull up photos on my phone from previous Christmases in Finland.
Christmas Eve dinner with my family around the table spread with Christmas ham, casseroles, and rice porridge.
Making gingerbread houses. The time we visited Santa Claus village.
A snapshot of my brother and I holding up our new phones we got the Christmas before I left for the States.
I want to show these photos to Ledger. I want to share in my family’s traditions—to get to know him and allow him to get to know me.
After finding my luggage and trying to ignore the butterflies inside, I dial his number.
Ledger answers after only the first ring.
“Whoa,” I sputter. “I wasn’t expecting you to answer.”
“Then why did you call?” His voice is warm.
“I just—I thought you’d be at practice or something and I’d just leave a message.”
“I’m eating lunch. We’ll be back at it in a bit.”
That voice. So strong and clear, yet there’s a timbre of sweetness there that I can’t help but hope is just for me.
“Oh. Right. So…I tried to call you earlier.”
“We can’t have our phones during practice. I’m trying to play by the rules because, you know…”
“You’re on thin ice?”
He chuckles softly. “Exactly.”
“So why did you even answer?” I ask.
There’s a pause, then: “Well, maybe I wanted to hear your voice,” he teases. “I
am on my lunch break.” There’s a pause. “Hold on. Let me get to a quieter place.”
I wait as he walks away from the noisy table.
“Okay, I’m out in the hall.”
I take a deep breath. “So, guess where I am?”
“Finland,” he deadpans.
“I wish. No, I just got in. I’m at the airport.”
There’s silence on the other end.
“The San Antonio International Airport,” I clarify.
“You’re here in town?”
“Uh, yeah. When I couldn’t get ahold of you, I talked to someone at the Wolves’ front office and asked them to let you know that I was coming. They said they’d—”
“No one told me anything,” he says sharply.
“Well, that’s…not good.” My cheeks burn. “Coach Whittaker’s assistant got back to me.”
“You got Coach involved?” His voice is strained…hesitant.
“I was hoping we could steal some time to rehearse. I’ve found a dance studio that’s close to the stadium…”
“You just couldn’t stand to be away from me, huh?” Some of his charm has returned, but he sounds uncomfortable.
“Maybe I couldn’t,” I challenge. “Besides, we do have a performance in a couple of days.”
“I remember,” he assures.
Grinning, I nod. “So where can we meet up?”
He hesitates. “I…I’m not sure. Like I said, I’m eating lunch right now and then I’ll get back to practice.”
“But there’s gotta be at least one hour when we can run over to the studio and work on the dance.”
“I don’t know, Kaisa. After practice, there’s more PR stuff. You know, to save my public image and the reputation of the team.”
“Well, I came all this way and—”
He sighs. “You really should have let me know you were coming. I could have arranged some time.” His tone is tense.
Ouch.
“I tried to! We’re under a looming deadline and I couldn’t sit around and wait for you to get back to me.”
There’s a ruckus on his end, some manly football player noise.
“So you’re at the stadium?” I ask.
“Well, yeah, so why don’t we—”
I don’t wait for him to finish. It’s go time, and we have to take advantage of every second we have.
“I’ll be right over.”