Chapter Ten Allegra #2
“Now, just let go and let yourself spin.”
I look at Chloe like she has suddenly sprouted an extra head. “Just let go?”
She nods. “Let the force of your weight swing you around.”
I pull in a deep breath, wondering why I’m more anxious for this than I’ve ever been trying new lifts.
Surely being thrown in the air is way more dangerous than swinging around a pole, and yet I can’t seem to make my other foot leave the ground.
That foot is all that stands between me and the unknown, and there are few things in this world I like less than the unknown.
“I’ll be right here,” Chloe says softly. “I promise I won’t let you fall.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. Closing my eyes, I lift my foot and let myself spin. For a second, I feel almost weightless, but my hands and one leg are still gripped tightly to the pole, keeping me from faceplanting on the ground.
“Good! That was great for your first try!” Chloe’s enthusiasm sounds completely genuine.
I don’t fight the small smile that curls my lips. Dare I say, that might have been a little bit fun.
“Try it again, and this time try to make two rotations before you stop.”
I follow her instructions, inordinately pleased with myself when I make it around the pole two and a half times before my momentum slows me down.
Chloe claps her hands as I come back to the ground. “Amazing! You’re a natural!”
My cheeks flush at her praise and it makes me want to keep going, keep pushing to work my way up to more spins. Just the simple act of her positive reinforcement makes me feel like I want to do more.
Hmmm. Perhaps this is what has been missing from my studio classes and rehearsals lately.
When David gets into show mode, it’s all corrections and critiques, and by the end of the day, I leave feeling exhausted and practically brain dead.
How might a compliment or two act as a recharge in the situations when we need them most?
“Thanks,” I tell Chloe. “This is actually kind of fun.”
She grins. “Just wait until we work our way up to some of the bigger tricks. Want to try something else?”
I nod, letting Chloe take to the pole as she demonstrates the next move.
I don’t even notice the time, it flies by so quickly. Chloe and I are deep into practicing some more advanced moves when the trill of her phone breaks us out of the zone.
She hops down from her pole and grabs her phone, answering and holding it up in front of her face. “I think it’s safe to say our dear Allegra has a new favorite Donovan twin and spoiler alert, it isn’t you.”
Cord’s voice booms through the room. “You wish, Coco.”
My stomach swoops, and it has nothing to do with the way I’m wrapped around the pole a solid six feet off the ground.
“Calling to check up on me or your star pupil here?”
“Why can’t it be both?”
I look down just in time to see Chloe spinning the phone so it’s facing me.
“Not to take all the credit, because Allegra here has been killing it, but pretty sure it’s mostly my stellar teaching skills.” She nods at me, gesturing for me to show off what we’ve been practicing.
And I should feel nervous. There should be butterflies beating their wings in my tummy as I think about performing this new trick where I flip upside down and spin around the pole, one that could make me look like a complete idiot in front of both Chloe and Cord if I can’t do it.
But those aren’t anxious butterflies flapping around in my stomach. They’re excited.
The idea of Cord watching me perform these moves is exciting.
I don’t shy away from the anticipation, I let it fuel me. I arch my back and kick out my leg, letting my body lead me in the moves. Spinning around the pole is exhilarating and the smile on my face is genuine.
This is fun.
And knowing Cord is on the other side of that screen watching me, it does something to me.
I work my way back down to the ground, my feet hitting the floor with a graceful sweep.
Remembering Chloe’s number one tip, I toss my hair as I straighten and stand, letting the mass of it trail down my back.
Chloe’s grin is wide, her eyes bright with pride, but all I can really see is Cord.
Even through the grainy screen and slow connection, his eyes are wide, the blue somehow darker, though it could be a trick of the light.
Chloe pulls me to her side so both of us are in the picture. “Isn’t she amazing?”
“Incredible,” he says, his voice sounding a little strained. “That was incredible, Slippers.”
Instead of brushing off the compliment, I accept it. “Thank you. And thanks for setting this up. I was hesitant at first, but this turned out to be a lot of fun.”
Chloe presses her cheek to mine. “Anyway, thanks for introducing me to my new best friend, we’re off to have fun without you! Bye!” She doesn’t wait for Cord to respond before ending the call.
I see the time on her phone and reality sinks back in. “It’s late. I should go, I’ve got early class tomorrow.”
“Of course!” She pulls me into a side hug. “Make sure you stretch really well in the morning, I wasn’t kidding about the sore muscles.”
I nod. “Got it. And thank you, for tonight. This was awesome.”
“You’re welcome anytime. I have the class schedule listed on my website, but you’re also welcome to come after hours for a private session anytime you want.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you, Chloe.”
On the subway ride home, I start to think that Cord might know what he’s doing after all. When he was watching me, even through that tiny phone screen, I’ve never felt sexier.