Page 48 of You're the Reason

She shook her head as she fiddled with the drawstring on her shoe bag. “When I was ten, I moved from Ms. Margret’s School of Dance to Belle Pointe in Grand Rapids. My dad didn’t think Ms. Margret could take me further. Being the new student, I went from being the star to the bottom of the class. But I knew it would be worth it, and I was just happy to dance. At the first performance, I stepped on stage determined to be the best poppy that had ever taken the stage.”

“I’m sure you were adorable.” His eyes crinkled at the sides as his face split into a grin.

The impact of it hit her in the chest, making it slightly hard to breathe. It was more than the fact that his smile seemed to transform him back into the shy kid who’d lived across the street, and definitely more than the way it highlighted a soft set of dimples she’d never seen before. There was something in his gaze that was personal. Intimate. And being the sole focus of that smile made her want to forget the audition, forget the future, forget everything around her and just sit right here for the rest of the day.

“So, what did your parents say?”

Right. She blinked, and then again, as she tried to ignore the effect that smile had on her. “After finishing my number and holding my pose, I scanned the audience for my parents. Fourth row left.”

“Just like these.”

“And there was my mom, smiling, clapping, but my father wasn’t there.”

“Did he step out for a second?”

“No, there wasn’t even an empty seat. Later he told me he’d only come to shows where I was the star. The rest weren’t worth his time. After that it wasn’t about the fun of dance. It was pushing myself to be the best. It became my job. A job I am very good at.”

His face pinched as his grip tightened on the armrest.

“Easy.” She patted his forearm. “They would like the chairs to last another century. Besides, don’t look at me like that. It was fine. He taught me that hard work was rewarded. And failure had consequences.”

His grip relaxed as his gaze lingered on her hand still resting on his arm. “No, he taught you that love was based on performance.”

“Isn’t it?”

“No. Real love doesn’t come with conditions.” He finally lifted his gaze to meet hers. “It isn’t based on your performance, it’s based on who you are. We all have wins and losses. People who love you are with you for both.”

She must not have looked convinced, because he leaned a little closer. “You already believe that. If you didn’t you wouldn’t have waited with Susie this morning.”

“How did you?—”

“You were sitting on the step right outside my window.” He rotated her arm so her hand now lingered on his forearm.

“Right.” Her breath slowed, and as if by their own will, her fingers began toying with the material at his wrist.

“And you wouldn’t be here with me.” His hand slowly shifted until his fingers caught hers. “The criminal.”

Her pulse pounded in her ears. “Breaking and entering isn’t too bad.”

His brows pinched together, and his mouth opened. But a door slammed open, and Seth pulled his hand away.

Grace lifted her bag as the room filled with the voices of her friends. “I guess everyone is arriving. Do you have anything you can do in Chicago while I audition?”

“I’m not allowed to stay?”

“You can, but the whole process can take hours.”

“Would you like someone here?”

The question caught her off guard. She had never considered it because it had never been an option. “I would.”

“Then I’ll stay.” His eyes softened.

When she stepped away, his fingers snagged hers once more. She sucked in a quick breath and turned back to face him.

“You’ve got this. You deserve this part. I know it, and so do you. Now sell it to them.”

She nodded and let her fingers drop. She immediately missed their touch, and it took every ounce of willpower to walk away from him. She needed to clear her head if she was ever going to pull off Giselle.

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