Page 171 of A Sky Full Of Stars

“I do.” She beams. “I love dancing though it’s hard for me to do sometimes. Dad told me that you may not be running dance classes here, but he thought I should still meet you.”

My heart breaks for her as a hint of sadness enters her tone. “How about we run through a few things today, just for fun, and we’ll see what happens after that. What do you say, girls?” I turn to the group, my smile widening at the joy on their faces.

Idance around with the kids for an hour, teaching them some basics—well, teaching Katie and Addie the basics, since Bailey knows quite a bit—and by the time we’re done, I have to admit, I feel like I’ve got a bit of my spark back.

“Okay, you well and truly pulled at my heartstrings with this one,” I say to Thomas when we’re alone. “You did all of this?”

“I had help.” He shrugs again and I almost punch him, just like he expected me to.

“Thomas—”

“Okay. I spent a lot of time on this. After watching you dance and seeing the way your entire demeanor changes, I had to do something. I have the means, and I wanted to give you the opportunity to dance and work with kids, while also allowing you to set the pace. This is all up to you. It’s yours to do what you want with it. But I can’t take all the credit.” He smiles and my heart stops. “I dragged Dylan and Luke along for the ride. I was hoping three professional football players might have more sway.”

“What does that mean? You were trying to use your status to get a discount on the space?” He lifts a shoulder in a noncommittal answer and I laugh. “Did it work?”

“Nope. I actually think she charged us more. She said if we paid a little extra, she’d leave all the equipment. So, of course,we signed right away, but I’ve since been doing my research and…”

“She hustled you.” I bite back a smile.

“She did.”

“I love it, Thomas,” I say honestly, pulling him closer, wrapping one of his hands around my waist before lifting the other beside us. “And I love you. Let’s talk more about it at home, but first… What do you say? Should we dance?”

Thomas laughs, not only because he’s used that line on me many times before, but also because he knows I love any excuse to say the wordhome. I moved in with him last week, and I’m still giddy about it. Was it fast? Yes, if you only take into account that we reconnected a few months back. But when you consider how long we’ve loved each other, it was the perfect moment. When you know, you know.

Thomas squeezes my hand, bringing me back to the present, and I can’t stop my beaming smile.

“I guess we can dance,” he says with a grin. “You know, since you went out of your way to position me like this. DJ,” he calls out, looking over my shoulder. “Play ‘I Swear’ by All-4-One.”

I burst out laughing, but when “I Swear” starts to play, my jaw drops as I spin around, finding Wes near Thomas’s phone.

“Katie left her bag, and I was here…” He smirks as he lifts a shoulder in a half shrug.

“It was perfect timing,” Thomas says. “Like magic.”

I stand in shock as the two of them laugh.

“Now, I’m going to abracadabra my way out of here,” Wes says with a wave. “Consider me gone. Have fun, you two. And thank you, Lainey. Katie won’t stop smiling.”

He disappears out of sight before I have the chance to respond, and then Thomas and I are alone.

“Okay, I’m ready,” Thomas says with a cheesy grin, making me laugh while my heart flutters.

“You, Thomas Kelly, are really something.”

“I’m trying.” He pulls me back into his arms, spinning me around with a smile, and there we dance. Inmydance studio. Arm in arm, eyes locked on each other, my pulse racing.

It’s surreal and wonderful and perfect…

Yet, I’m still not completely sure it’s my calling. But how do I admit that when I don’t know what my calling is?

Thomas

For the next few weeks, Lainey moves forward with the dance studio—teaching Katie, Addie, and Bailey—and it’s easy to see she’s a natural.

But while she’s all smiles when she finishes a class, and always talks about how much she adores teaching, she’s willing to admit something is missing. And even I can see it.

When we’re getting ready for bed after a long day, Lainey runs her fingers through her hair, smiling as she fills me in on the session she had with Bailey. And it makes me smile.

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