Page 49 of Power Play

“I’m going to tell your dad you said that, you silly girl!” Stella laughs. “Go finish dancing with your friend. I’m going to talk to Ms. Daniels for a second, okay?”

“Okay! Watch me twirl!” Rory says as she spins away, or attempts to, but ends up falling in a fit of giggles with Bailey.

“She seems like she’s having fun,” Stella says with a small smile.

She seems nervous, almost uncomfortable, but I’m not sure why. She’s different than she usually is.

“She is. She’s opened up a lot since we started doing these dance classes,” I tell her.

“It has a lot to do with you, you know that, right?” Stella says, her eyes less bright than usual. Stella is always happy and bubbly, but today she doesn’t seem the same. She seems burnt out.

“I just teach the classes for them. That’s it,” I tell her.

“No, Sawyer, it’s more than that. She talks about you nonstop. She loves spending time with you, and you’re the first person outside of my family or my brother’s weird friends that she’s actually connected with. She was introduced to you away from us, yet she opened up to you.”

“What are you saying, Stella?”

“I’m saying that you’ve made a difference in her life, and I just wanted to point that out. I’m still pissed at Rex for what he did at his apartment. I don’t want to pry, but I can’t help myself. It’s just who I am. I poke. A lot. Were you two just friends?” she questions.

“Yes, we were friends. I mean if you could call us that. Him and his friends came to my other job at Atlantis one night, we met there. I, uh, kind of gave your brother a lap dance,” I say with a cringe.

“That was you?! Trevor and Harris mentioned that Rex got a little action at the club, but I didn’t realize it was you. Thank fucking God, someone got him out of his shell,” she says excitedly.

“Uh, yeah, that was me. After that, we ran into each other at a dive bar my friends and I go to, and we hung out with them a few times after that. The night before you saw me was just a drunken encounter that led me back to his place.”

“Are you telling me he let you stay the night?” Stella asks, her eyes wide with shock.

“Yeah... look, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable talking about Rex like this.” Before I can continue, Stella waves me off.

“Look, I don’t need all the details on my brother’s sex life. I’d just be fucking happy for him if he had a real relationship that wasn’t just a quick fuck, sorry to be crude. But you don’t get it. Rex doesn’t bring people to his house, especially not women. Before Rory, he only had one girlfriend, Emily, and it took him weeks of actually dating her before he felt comfortable bringing her to his house. Since Rory? It’s ten times worse. He’s been even more particular about who he lets into his home. He gives me a hard time for bringing my friends over,” she finishes.

“So? It was convenient and close. Plus, we were really drunk,” I say.

“No. Like, he doesn’t do it. At all. He’s been through a lot, but he has these abandonment issues ever since Rory’s mom left. He really doesn’t trust anyone outside of family. Rex doesn’t date, and he’s never been the best at peopling.”

“Look, I don’t mean to sound like a bitch, but what’s the point of this? We both saw what happened that day. Your brother kicked me out because I’m Rory’s teacher. He was embarrassed about my job. Plus, my fucking asshole of a brother is on his hockey team. That’s like three strikes against me,” I say with a shrug, hoping we can end this conversation soon.

“The point? The point is, Rory’s happy when you’re around, and whether my brother likes it or not, he’s been a complete and total jackass since that day, which makes me believe it might have meant more to him than he’s letting on. All I’m saying is don’t completely give up on him. He’s slow, but when he figures things out, he has the best heart I’ve ever known.”

“Auntie Lala!” Rory yells, thankfully getting me out of having to come up with a response.

Turning to me quickly, Stella smiles. “I hope you don’t think I’m overstepping; I just miss seeing my brother happy. He hasn’t been in a long time.” Rory runs into Stella’s arms excitedly.

“Can we go get dessert? We don’t have to tell daddy!” Rory whispers conspiratorially.

Winking at me, Stella laughs. “Of course, sweetie. Let’s get going.”

They grab her stuff, and Rory comes and hugs me before heading out. Bailey is picked up shortly after, leaving me with an hour before I have to be Atlantis.

Part of me wants to go get changed and head over early. Maybe a night of busy work will keep my brain clear. Another part of me wants to turn on music and lose myself in the sound. Let my body move on its own accord. Whenever I used to get stressed or overwhelmed, I would dance. It clears my mind, and honestly, while I’m dancing, I don’t think about anything else.

But I’m scared. I’m scared of failing, of losing another part of me.

So, I stand up.

I close up the daycare.

Then make my way over to Atlantis, hoping that a night of working with Serena will keep me busy or entertained.

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