Chapter 2
THE DANCE
LEAH
“Why are we off?” Our choreographer, Jeremy, groaned.
He stomped for effect, then spun.
“I’m hitting the turn late,” I said.
Lourdes smiled at me, satisfied I was the problem. She saw me as an untalented usurper.
“One more time… Leah and Brian only!” Jeremy said.
The piano began. I melted internally but didn’t show it.
“Just follow the count,” Brian encouraged.
We began, but this time my partner was off. We both talked ourselves out of a good performance by overthinking it.
“3, 4… and… no, no, no!” Jeremy groaned. “Okay, let’s take five. That’s not on you, Leah.”
“No, it was me,” Brian agreed.
I flopped on the floor to gnaw on an energy bar and choke down a jug of water.
Clive joined me, “You want to get a drink later?”
He never stopped hitting on me, no matter how badly I smelled or addled I looked.
And right about now, I didn’t smell like roses, and had no chill.
Sweat ran down my brow and my back—a not so delightful combination.
Jeremy’s addition to the team may have elevated the production, but his choreography remained the bane of my existence.
“Shouldn’t we turn in? My feet are bleeding.” I kicked my character shoes out before me and pointed to the blisters on my heels.
“We could have a drink.”
A drink would turn to four and we’d end up in bed. If he wasn’t so fucking gorgeous, I would stay far, far away.
From the corner, I heard Lourdes Lennon’s coy laugh. She pretended to talk to backup dancers but kept glancing my way.
“Sure. We can go out for a drink,” I relented.
She had a history with Clive. Now, he was mine to win.
The giggling continued.
Annoyed and at my limit, I burpeed up and strode towards Lourdes. “Here! You can do it better? Show me!”
Hand on her hip, Lourdes feigned ignorance. “Whatever do you mean, Your Majesty?”
She meant to humiliate me, but I played into it, copying her accent.
“If you fancy yourself such a dancer, take my part. Show me,” I gestured.
She glared, her eyebrows narrowing. “I can’t do it all on my own! It takes two. You and Brian were both—”
She now regretted coming for me.
“I know Brian’s part,” I said. “I can lead.”
She cocked her head. “What? Are you mad?”
“Nah. Show me that you’re the best dancer. Prove to me how easy it is.”
The entire room focused on us. As silence fell over the cast, the accompanist picked up. I pulled Lourdes into the middle of the practice room and waited for her. I folded my right arm behind my back and extended my left, trying to channel my most serious Prince Albert.
Jeremy caught on, counting as Lourdes began the dance.
She started with several pas de bourrée.
Skirt play was essential, but for practice, we pantomimed that bit.
The costumes would come along soon enough, adding even more sweat to this process.
Lourdes’s moves were crisp. I doubted she had memorized the whole dance, but she proved me wrong.
I couldn’t help but grin as she nailed every step while holding my gaze.
She was beautiful. I gathered she’d been a flawless ballerina in a past life.
I never dreamed of my lines being so clean!
“And 3…4, turn!” Jeremy called.
She spun into me and then out.
Lourdes did it perfectly—the way I wished I could have done—and with stank on it.
Sadly, it only made me want to watch her more.
She came back to me one last time, eyes locked on mine in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.
Then, she folded towards me. I expected her to stop, but she committed to the act.
“And… dip?” Jeremy said, unsure if we would.
For a moment, I envisioned myself a foot taller than I was.
Back on planet earth, I fumbled around, not knowing how to keep Lourdes upright.
Unable to hold my pose, I dropped Lourdes before falling right on top of her.
I pushed myself up, looming over her for a moment, our eyes still fixed, before I laughed nervously and hopped back on my very sore feet.
“Oh my God, Lourdes, I’m so fucking sorry!”
“If that was a trust fall, you failed,” Lourdes agreed. “But then again, I have what…. six inches on you? And with that figure, you make a lousy leading man.”
To my surprise, she laughed it off. As she walked away, flipping her wavy blonde ponytail, I wished we were still on the floor.