CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ELISE
I HAD THE day off. Well, as much of a day off as a backup dancer for Rhodium at the Sunridge Summer Bash could have.
My cell phone rang, and I smirked at the name that lit up my screen.
A quick glance at the time told me that I would be walking to my desk right now. Was he waiting to see if I showed up?
“You’re not at your desk.” Nathan said upon answering the phone.
“What an astute observation. I guess that’s why your name is on the building and not mine.” I teased.
“Where are you?” Nathan pressed, choosing to ignore me.
“I’m on my way to the Summer Bash; Rhodium is kicking off the festival.
” This was something that was added to the calendar months ago, but I don't blame him for not remembering. He’d been in back-to-back meetings all week, juggling the Monarch acquisition and one of Edge Records’ outreach programs, a reform initiative aimed at reintegrating individuals back into the workforce.
“I forgot that was today,” Nathan grumbled. “So I’m not going to see you in the office?”
“No. But if you come to the festival you can see me all you want.” I told him, only because I knew he wouldn’t actually show up. That would require him to leave the office for a non-work-related issue, which he’s never done in the last three years.
“Okay. See you soon.”
“Wait, what?”
He already hung up.
Figures. It’s just like him to mindfuck me and then leave without any explanation. Neither of us talked about his moaning comment in my kitchen, and since he hadn’t brought it up, I figured he wanted to pretend like it never happened, which worked for me.
With a little less than two weeks left working together, the last thing I needed was for our relationship to become complicated.
Deciding Nathan only said what he said to mess with me, I stored our conversation in the back of my mind and concentrated on getting the rest of my things ready for my performance today. I grabbed my Stanley cup, duffel bag and car keys then headed out the door.
The drive to the festival was about twenty-five minutes, which flew by thanks to my playlist. The festival was in full swing when I arrived but I didn’t have time to take in my surroundings since I was officially in work mode.
“You made it!” Kelsey immediately rushed over and hugged me.
“Yeah, sorry I’m late.” I blushed as I noticed all the other dancers already in full glam and costume stretching and hanging out.
“No worries.” Kelsey waved off my apology after pulling away from the hug.
I took in her dark orange knee-high boots and tailor-made leotard with slits and the sides cut out. The material was just enough to cover her private bits. Barely. “You look hot.”
“Thank you!” She jokingly did a little pose just before the event coordinator approached her, handed her a mic and told her to get into position because it was her time to go on stage.
Kelsey left with a quick wave before she made her way towards the curtain, awaiting her cue to appear on the stage.
I gathered all the dancers in a circle and we said a quick prayer before we followed behind Kelsey.
I was always nervous about performing, even though I’ve done it over a thousand times before.
I think it was a testament of how much dancing meant to me.
I never wanted to give an audience half the energy I was capable of or give them less than my best. Every opportunity I got to be on stage, I treated it like it could be my last one.
So despite the winged creatures fluttering around in my stomach, I danced my way onto stage and let the energy of the crowd fuel me.
Kelsey or should I say Rhodium was amazing.
Her soulful voice filled the air and was as beautiful as ever.
The crowd sang her songs with her word for word, and cheered and screamed when she handed me the mic without missing a beat and joined the dance break portion of the song.
It wasn’t until the last eight counts that I looked towards the side of the stage where I saw a familiar pair of blue eyes, almost causing me to lose my focus.
Nathan was here. Watching me dance.
His stony expression gave nothing away as I twirled and twisted my body confidently and seductively on the stage. My body flowed through the routine, but for one fleeting second, my pulse misstepped. I didn’t have time to think about what his presence here meant because I had a dance to finish.
The song ended a minute later, and the other dancers and myself strutted off stage, leaving Kelsey alone to close out her set with a sultry song.
All the other girls around me were trying to catch their breath and reaching for bottles of water, but I’m afraid that the cause of my irregular breathing and suddenly dry throat was standing in front of me looking sexy as ever in a black three-piece Brunello Cucinelli suit.
“What are you doing here?”
“Rhodium is one of Edge Records top-selling artists; so I figured I’d come down and show some support.”
“Are you sure it has nothing to do with me telling you that I was going to be here?”
“What are you trying to imply, Elise?” Nathan raised a brow at me.
“Maybe you miss me because I’m not at work, so you came here.” I grinned.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I came here to see one of my artists.”
“You are a terrible liar Mr. Edge,” I grinned before walking over to the cooler so I could grab an ice water. “So what did you think of the show?” I asked, twisting the cap off of the water bottle.
“Rhodium is very talented… and so are you.” Nathan answered.
“Thank you.” I blushed. “Well, since you’ve seen your artist, I guess I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re in a hurry to get rid of me.”
“N-no,” I stuttered, feeling heat spread across my cheeks, like the warmth of a summer sunset. “I just know this isn’t your thing.”
“What’s not my thing?”
“Fun.”
“Guess I have to prove you wrong.” Nathan replied, and the daring spark in his eyes told me he intended to do just that.
***
IF SOMEONE TOLD me that Nathan Edge would take a day away from his billion-dollar company to win me a giant squishmallow, I would’ve told them that they needed to seek medical attention immediately, but as I watched Nathan toss another neon ring around a coke bottle for the fifth time, I was starting to think maybe I was the one who needed to see a doctor, because there was no way this was really happening or that I was actually enjoying myself.
Once Rhodium performed her last song, I changed into denim shorts, a cute crop top and sneakers and Nathan tagged along with me as I explored all the games and activities.
We did the bean bag toss, house of mirrors, and ate cotton candy.
Okay, I ate cotton candy and Nathan paid for it.
He passed though on getting into the dunk tank but other than that, I was having a really fun time with him and now we were wrapping the day with hopefully winning a stuffed animal.
Nathan threw his final neon ring around the coke bottle, which landed with a satisfying clank, and the owner of the game hooted and hollered. “Looks like we have a winner over here! Step up and claim your prize.”
Nathan looked at me, and I pointed at the giant cupcake Squishmallow. The concession stand worker picked it up and handed it to Nathan, who passed it to me without hesitation.
I hugged my newly earned prize, feeling giddiness spread over my body for reasons other than the adorable plush cupcake in my arms.
“Thank you.” I beamed up at Nathan.
“You’re welcome.” Nathan fell into step beside me. “Are you having a good time?”
“Yes,” I grinned. “It comes every year, but I never get a chance to go because I’m always working.” I stared pointedly at him.
“If I give you the day off to come here every year, would you change your mind about quitting?”
“Tempting, but no.” I admitted. “But if you did the dunk tank, I could possibly be persuaded.”
“Nice try. It’s still not happening.”
I pretended to be disappointed. “Damn it.”
“If you want to see me in a wet T-shirt, Cupcake, all you have to do is ask.”
“That is not the case,” I argued, heat creeping up the back of my neck. “Cupcake?” My brows furrowed at the unexpected nickname.
Nathan’s cheeks tinted the most adorable shade of pink. “You’re just as sweet as your new friend here.” He motioned to my stuffed dessert.
Now, it was my turn to feel the burn of embarrassment.
“Thanks… I think.”
“I’m glad you’re having a good time,” Nathan said after a moment.
“I know this might sound silly, but I didn’t get to do things like this growing up. My parents thought festivals and amusement parks were a waste of time and money. Even school field trips were off-limits most of the time. They said it wasn’t worth the expense.”
Nathan glanced at me, brows pinched slightly like he was seeing me in a new light. I kept my eyes on the path ahead, trying not to shrink under the weight of my own words.
“Growing up in Florida, I’ve always dreamed of going to Disney World,” I admitted. “I know it’s childish, but I just wanted to know what it's like to feel that kind of magic, you know? Even just once.”
There was a long pause before he said anything. When I finally dared to peek up at him, his expression was unreadable.
“I’ve been,” he said softly, then shrugged. “It’s a blur. Lines, overpriced snacks, and a heatwave. You’re not missing as much as you think.”
I smiled at that, grateful he downplayed the whole thing for my sake, even if I didn’t believe him. “Still sounds like a dream.”
Nathan tucked his hands in his pockets. “I know you think I don’t know how to have fun.” He began.
“Oh no,” I deadpanned, my tone dry. “I definitely don’t think that.”
He gave me a rare smirk, but it faded just as quickly as it appeared. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just feel guilty when I do.”
The quiet between us shifted to something deeper, weightier, forcing me to stop walking.
Nathan glanced at me and then looked out at the crowd.
“I was at a sleepover the night my mother...” His jaw hardened, unable to finish the sentence.
“I was laughing with my friends while she was taking her last breath. I was goofing around while the woman who raised me was dying—terrified, in pain, and completely alone.”
My heart split in two.
“I think about that a lot,” he murmured. “About the timing. About the fact that the last night of her life was—at the time—the best night of mine for a long time. And how that never stopped feeling backwards.”
A silence settled between us. It was thick but not uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to say at first. Nothing could fix something like that. Nothing should try to.
So I did the only thing that felt right.
I reached out, slipping my hand into his, just enough for him to feel that he wasn’t alone in that memory anymore.
“I’m really sorry that you have to carry that,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “That it happened at all.”
Nathan didn’t speak, just stared ahead with his thumb brushing over mine slowly, like he wasn’t even aware he was doing it.
“I don’t think she would’ve blamed you,” I added quietly. “And I don’t think she would’ve wanted you to carry that kind of guilt with you for the rest of your life.”
His jaw flexed, but he gave a small nod. Not a full agreement, but maybe the start of one. And for a moment, that was enough.
We stayed like that, with his thumb brushing against mine, our silence no longer heavy but full. Full of things we didn’t need to say out loud just yet.
“I kinda don’t want the day to end,” I confessed, my voice softer than before. If I could, I’d freeze time and stay here forever.
“Me neither.” Nathan gave me a rare smile.
And as the soft flutter of butterflies brushed against my stomach once again, I knew with certainty they were here to stay.