Chapter 4 #2
I now understood what drove people to beat the shit out of others. I was liable to punch one of them if they didn't leave me alone.
My car was my one safe haven where I could just drive away and forget about them. I took off toward the highway to head to my dance studio. For an hour, I could forget reality while I danced.
"Riley! Just the person I wanted to see!" My dance instructor, Bernardo, came around the counter and gave me a giant hug. "We might have finally found you a dance partner to compete with. He's coming in today, so go get dressed."
I instantly perked up. I loved competing on the amateur level, but always had to dance with an instructor. It was hard to find a partner around my age that could keep up with me. Teenage boys just didn't ballroom dance.
I quickly went to the bathroom to change into a skirt, tank, and my dance shoes.
I touched up my make-up and redid my hair in a ponytail.
As I slid the clasp on my shoe into place, I was hit with a reminder that I didn't have any money to pay for my lessons next month.
My chest tightened as the reality of my situation sank in.
If my mom really had skipped town, I had no way of supporting myself. It was doubtful I'd get any help from the authorities since I was so close to adulthood, and the money in my college fund was only available for college.
A knock sounded on the door and I jumped. "Riley, your new partner is here." Bernardo lowered his voice. "He's hot."
I checked the mirror one last time and put my bag on the shelf in the corner before heading out to the dance floor.
Spotlight Studio was one of my favorite places to be outside of school.
It was a large, open room that had a smaller studio room that could be blocked off by curtains.
The walls were lined with floor to ceiling mirrors, and at night, the florescent lights were turned off and the chandeliers were turned on.
It might just have become my favorite place now, since school had taken an unfortunate turn.
My mom had dragged me to an open house my freshman year.
Despite her Mexican heritage, she liked to say the rhythm must have skipped a generation because she danced with two left feet and no hip action.
Although I'd never met my grandma, my mom said she was lusted over by men all across Salina Cruz.
I hoped whoever this new guy was, he could move his hips, because that was a constant problem with the males. I almost just wanted to give up and go the female partner route.
Bernardo clapped his hands together in excitement as I approached the guy leaning on the counter. His back was to me, but he had disheveled dark hair that was cut short on the sides and a muscular-looking back. I couldn't help but look at his ass, which was just the right amount of plump.
I really hoped he could dance well.
"This is the lovely Riley Kline, one of our most promising young dancers." Bernardo waved his hand with a flourish in my direction as the man turned around.
I came to a halt and clenched my jaw to keep from crying out in frustration. What the hell was Morgan doing in my dance studio?
The smirk on his face said it all, and I cursed myself for mentioning ballroom dancing the day before to Jax. This had to be planned and a way to further make my life miserable.
"Riley Kline." He reached for my hand from its spot at my side and brought it to his mouth, kissing the back of it. Heat spread across my cheeks. "It's my pleasure."
What I really wanted to say was, "Cut the crap, you sadistic asshole," but instead, I said, "The pleasure is all mine."
Bernardo had his hands clasped at his chest and mouthed oh my god to me. He'd have kicked him to the curb if he knew what had been going on. Instead, he did Cha-Cha lock steps all the way to the stereo and plugged in his phone.
I cringed at the thought of my feet being assaulted.
Morgan was a swimmer and had never shown any inkling that he could dance or had any rhythm.
During junior year, he had stood on the lunch table and tried to twerk and sent everyone into a fit of laughter before the school resource officer told him to get down.
"Can you even dance?" I've Got the World on a String by Michael Bublé came over the speakers and I made no move to offer my hand to him. "This is ridiculous. Do you even know what dance this is?"
"I watched some videos and then had my first lesson yesterday." He stepped forward and his hand slipped under my arm and splayed across my shoulder blade. He put his lips next to my ear and a tingle went down my spine. "Foxtrot."
At least he knew where to put his hand.
"Great." I shut my eyes and breathed in deeply before giving him my right hand to hold in dance position. "Let's just get this over with so I can dance with a real dancer."
He pulled me flush against his body into closed hold, keeping his mouth against my ear. "You aren't a Back-Lead Betty, are you? I like to be in charge." He meant more than just in dance.
"Only when the lead doesn't know what he's doing." I took a step backward, pulling him with me.
We moved in time to the music and he took over. He knew how to dance as if he'd been dancing since he was out of diapers. His lead was strong, and I relaxed as we flew around the dance floor.
The music cut off and Bernardo clapped. "Oh my Gucci! That was like butter. I can't wait to see Latin." He put his fist against his mouth and bit it. "And my boyvaries are already tingling at the thought of tango with you two."
Morgan being in my safe haven still made me feel queasy, but he could move. When dancing, that was the only thing on my mind.
The hour flew by, and when the lesson was done, Bernardo took us into one of the offices to chat. I was impressed with Morgan and his ability on the dance floor, but I didn't know what his angle was.
"From my vantage point, this is a match made in dance heaven." Bernardo pulled out a binder that had pricing in it. "The next competition for your age group and ability level is in three months in Hawaii. The question is, how much time do you want to devote?"
"I'm willing to devote whatever it takes." Morgan was relaxed in the chair next to me and took my hand.
I couldn't pull away, not when we had just been dancing so intimately together. I looked down at his hand clasping mine and sighed.
"How much is it going to cost?" I didn't usually bat an eye at how much dancing and events cost, but I was wondering how I was going to buy food for the next week without asking Ivy.
Maybe I could sell some of my clothes or the ones my mom had left in her closet. The knife would probably fetch a nice amount at a pawn shop.
"The trip to Hawaii with hotel, flight, and all of your entrance fees will be around three thousand each." He pulled a calculator out of a drawer. "And with you two being a new partnership, I would recommend three lessons a week. That will be about twenty-five hundred a piece."
My eyes widened and I pulled my hand from Morgan's. I stood and backed toward the door. "I forgot I have somewhere to be. I'll call you later."
I rushed out and to the bathroom to grab my belongings. This was the reality check I needed. I was going to go straight to the police station and file a missing person's report.
I managed to make it into the parking lot when a hand took me by the elbow and spun me around. On instinct, I swung my hand to slap him, but he grabbed my wrist just before it was about to make contact.
"Aren't we feisty?" Morgan let my wrist go. "Why are you crying?"
I swiped at my cheeks and glanced at my car. "It's nothing." I tried to step past him and he blocked my path. "Move out of my way."
There were enough people around. All it would take was a scream to have them coming to my rescue. Hopefully.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Not until you tell me what's wrong."
"What’s wrong?" My voice came out with a squeak. "You assholes are stalking me, kissing and touching me without my permission, and threatening me!"
"I've never kissed you or threatened you." He shook his head. "Wait, who the fuck kissed you?"
I found it hard to believe that Jax didn't tell him about the two kisses he'd laid on me. One of which I could still feel. I didn't even know why I allowed it to happen or why I didn't kick him in the nuts.
I should have kicked him in the nuts. Next time I would. I shook my head at the image of him pressing against me, his lips covering mine as his hands roamed my body.
"I've done nothing to you three." I darted around him and jumped in my car.
Before I managed to shut the door, he stopped it with his hand and leaned down to look me in the eye. "One of my favorite games is hide-and-seek."
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Because it did, but it also excited me in a sick and twisted way.
He laughed. "There's only one way to get me to leave you alone." He shut my door, giving me a little finger wave before going back into the dance studio.
What the hell was I going to do and what the fuck was wrong with me?