20
MADDIE
"There's something wrong with your…" Frankie pointed a finger in my direction and circled my face. Wrinkling her nose, she looked at me as if I'd just thrown up all over the floor.
I threw my hands in the air, palms facing the ceiling. "What?"
"You're grinning like someone who's had an orgasm, or maybe a few of them." Moving around me in a slow circle, her gaze flicked up and down the length of me. "It's disgusting."
A snort-laugh sounded from my throat. "I wish." Pinning her with a stare, I added, "Maybe I'm just excited for class."
Frankie cocked her head and pursed her lips. "Yeah…No. I bet it has something to do with these." Lifting her hand, she dangled a paper bag in front of me.
The sweet smell of cinnamon wafted around me and I could actually feel my smile grow. "Ah! You brought them. Thank you." I moved to take the bag, but she snatched her hand away. "Hey!"
Her index finger furiously wiggled from side to side in front of my face. "Nah uh. Before I hand them over, I want to know what, or—" her eyes narrowed suspiciously— "who they're for."
"Who says they're not for me?"
"You ordered a dozen cinnamon rolls, Maddie." Pausing, she gave me a 'come on' look. "They're for the grumpy idiot next door, aren't they?"
"Maybe." I quickly turned my back to her and pretended to study something on the wall.
Frankie wasn't having it. She simply pushed at my shoulder over and over until I looked at her. "So," she drawled, eyes twinkling with mirth. "You've been seeing more of him then?"
It was ridiculous how my smile couldn't be stopped when I filled my friend in on everything that'd happened since I saw her last. By the time I was done, she was grinning with me. "You like him?"
"He intrigues me," I rectified.
She regarded me for a few agonizing seconds. "But you wouldn't pull away if he tried to kiss you, now would you?"
Luckily for me, the studio door flew open and a group of laughing women filed in, saving me from admitting to my friend how right she was or how desperately I actually wanted that very thing to happen.
Next to me, Frankie sighed heavily when the newcomers came bouncing toward us. There was no way we could continue our conversation and by the time class was done, we'd probably be too exhausted.
While we waited for the rest of the group to arrive, nervousness settled in the pit of my stomach. As agitated as I had been to walk the little ones through their routines, it has been easy to find my footing with them.
But these were grown women who came into the studio expecting something specific. Something that they got from Lucetta. What if I couldn't deliver? What if, just as in New York, I wasn't good enough.
Sensing that something was off, Frankie touched her hand to my elbow. After excusing us from the group, she led me to the back of the room. "Whatever is going on up there," she motioned toward my head, "cut it out."
Gaze flicking to the last four women pushing through the door, I wet my lips. I didn't like the feeling eating at my gut or the little voice in my head reminding me of my failures. But I didn't know how to stop it either.
"Hey. Look at me." Frankie's hands were warm when she cupped my shoulders and stepped in front of me. "You've got this, Maddie Cakes."
That right there was why she was my person. We didn't need big speeches or endless words of wisdom. One look and I knew she had my back just as I had hers.
"Thank you. I needed that," I told her.
"I know. Now let's go shake our booties."
Which is exactly what we did after I lined up our playlist. For an hour we shimmied, gyrated, and grapevined until sweat covered our bodies and a simple breath set our lungs on fire.
And as much of a high as that gave me, it didn't come close to the feeling I got when class was over, and everyone thanked me. Some of them even going as far as to say it was the most fun they'd had in a while .
For as long as I could remember, people always used the saying those who can't do, teach. It was one of the reasons why I never looked into it. To me, teaching was admitting that I'd failed. But after only two days at Soulbeat, I realized it didn't even come close to being that.
Because failing didn't leave you feeling on top of the world when the day ended, and it definitely didn't fill your veins with excitement for the following day.
"Don't forget your rolls." Frankie's voice pulled my attention to her. We were standing on the sidewalk outside Soulbeat. She'd insisted on staying with me while I locked up.
"Thanks," I said, taking the offered bag. "And thank you for always being here when I need you."
"Aah shucks, Maddie Cakes." Slicing a hand through the air, she waved me off. When she quickly averted her eyes, I knew I wasn't the only one feeling emotional. "Don't go getting all mushy on me."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"Good." Frankie jerked her head toward my car. "Now get out of here."
After we said our goodbyes, I slipped behind the wheel of my Prius and started the short journey home. The closer I got, the more the butterflies living inside my stomach fluttered.
Just knowing I was about to see Adam had my wires crissing and crossing in the best way possible.
And when I finally knocked on his door, my heart had joined in.
Furious in its effort to push past my ribs.
It didn't surprise me when the door flew open to reveal a ruggedly sexy man dressed in a skintight black tee and faded jeans with my dog almost lovingly tucked under his arm.
What did have me double-taking was the delicious smell permeating the air. The sweet smell of cinnamon, pungent turmeric, and smoky cumin assaulted my senses. I was salivating.
It genuinely wasn't fair. He looked like that and apparently, he could cook too. Or maybe there was a person of the female variety in there preparing a yummy smelling meal for them.
I didn't like how that particular thought made me feel.
"I hope he didn't give you too much trouble." I took Sheldon from Adam. The sneaky little guy almost seemed reluctant to go. I couldn't blame him, though. If I had those arms wrapped around me, I wouldn't want to be tugged out of them either.
"No trouble."
"Thanks again for helping out today." Lifting the bag in my hand, I held it out to him. "Your rolls, as promised."
He made a noise and took the bag from me, immediately opening it up and taking a whiff. "Smells good."
"Almost as good as the smell coming from your kitchen."
Adam eyed me over the rim of the brown paper bag. "You're more than welcome to join me." His voice was steady, I had no clue if he was asking to be polite or if it was a legitimate invitation.
"I wouldn't want to impose."
Lowering the bag, he scratched the back of his neck with his free hand. "You're not. I was going to ask anyway."
My eyes roamed over his face. "That so?"
"Yeah." Nodding once, he shuffled from one foot to the other. "I figured you might not be in the mood to cook after such a long day."
My smile was wide. "You better watch out," I told him. "Your niceness is showing."
His lips twitched as he opened the door wider. "You coming in or not?"
"Well, since you asked so nicely ." I stepped inside but stopped when I was next to him. Our gazes met and the air rushed out of my lungs in one fell swoop. "I guess I'm coming in."