Page 80 of The Lies We Tell Ourselves

I cast a final look at Taylor’s back vanishing across the field and sighed. One more thing to tuck away and think about later. I had a meeting with a frenzied pixie I couldn’t be late for.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

JAMIE

“Oh, there you are, babe.” Levi’s voice was barely audible over the screeching of rusted door hinges.

I turned to see him leaning out of it and burst out laughing. “Oh my god, Levi! You do realize it is freezing out here, right?!”

“Yup.” He shivered and rolled his eyes at me before motioning me to come inside. “That’s why I’m inside and not out there.”

“But this is just, there’s like nothing there.” My eyes bugged out of my head at the black lace hot pants and chucks he wore. “Do you need to put a shirt on?”

“Jamie, I’m in a harness. One doesn’t wear a harness under a shirt.”

I chuckled and followed him into the glass building, my nerves swarming in my gut like angry wasps.

“Baby cakes!” Ava squealed as we stepped into the biggest room I’d ever seen, with a huge runway in the center. I was immobile as I stared at the thing, feet welded to the floor and absolutely terrified. I was so focused on the glowing white plank, I didn’t see Ava coming. So when she crashed into me, we both went down with a bang on the marble floor.

“Oh shit!” I laughed and collapsed backward as she scrambled to haul herself off me. “What are you doing here?”

Ava dusted herself off. “My dance group are doing the opening number before you strut your little tushie.” She cackled and bounded over to a group dressed in black leotards and rainbow leg warmers while I was still trying to get up off the floor.

Clearing his throat, Levi appeared next to me and held out his hand. “If you think she’s nuts now, just wait until performance time. She’ll blow your mind.”

I smiled as he led me behind the glittering white curtain to what I could only assume was the backstage area. “No matter what, I love her.”

Levi gave me an indulgent smile before launching into the plan for the day. The number of costume changes I’d have, what they were, and how to wear them. Looking at some of them on the hangers, I thought I’d look naked under the lights they had rigged up, but who was I to argue with greatness? So I just nodded and agreed to everything he said. The day faded away under Levi’s tutelage, and I actually felt excited for the show the following weekend.

My eyes burned and my legs ached. Who knew walking up and down the runway so many times would cause this much pain? The blisters on my feet had blisters because none of their shoes fit my small feet, so instead, they packed the shoes with god-knows-what to make them fit better.

The bitter cold cut through my clothing like it was butter the second I limped out of the center, despite how wrapped up I was. My teeth chattered, and I was sure I’d be every shade of blue by the time I got to the dorms.

“Thank you so much, babe.” Levi grinned as he hugged me. “I knew you’d be perfect. See you Friday.” He blew me an air kiss before sauntering off to his car, likely as desperate as I was to get out of the cold.

A small smile played on my lips. Despite the aches and pains I had, I’d had a great day. It was an amazing insight into what Levi and the other guys did. The passion they had for their work was inspiring and had me thinking about what I really wanted to do in life. I still wasn’t sure, but maybe one day I would be. I needed to live before I could find my true calling.

I popped the collar up on my peacoat to block the icy wind, regretting once again my lack of gloves. I fished my beanie out of my pocket and pulled it on before brushing my curls out of my face and sighed thinking about the long walk home.

The air changed, growing thicker around me, and the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stood on end. I glanced around but couldn’t see anyone. The pools of light from the street lights weren’t large enough to illuminate much of the parking lot or surrounding space. I shivered as the slamming of a car door rang out in the otherwise quiet night.

“Little crow?” I whipped around. Dillon strode toward me, wearing a puffer coat, and that faded rainbow beanie. The sight of that beanie brought forth a thousand memories of our childhood. I gave it to him for his tenth birthday, and my heart squeezed knowing he’d kept it all these years. “Can I take you for a drive?”

“I’m only heading back to the dorms. It’s fine,” I said, brushing him off.

His shoulders slumped, his whole body seeming to sag as he peered at me with wide pleading eyes. “Please, Jamie. Let me take care of you.”

Talk about being stuck in a catch twenty-two; I wanted to go with him. I wanted to drown in him until he saturated every atom in my body, but I also needed time and distance to process everything that had happened. I hadn’t had a chance to really think about what Taylor told me. I only knew my head was a mess, while my heart begged to be closer to its counterpart.

A cool finger lifted my head until I found myself drowning in the swirling darkness of his eyes. “Please, baby,” he whispered, his lips brushing mine. I shivered at the contact and the intensity in his eyes. He was bewitching. “Let me. Please, Jamie.”

His soft husky voice broke through my hastily built defenses, and I nodded before I realized what I was doing. Dillon laced our fingers together and pulled me along with him, his heat radiating into mine. “Straight to the dorms?”

A wicked grin curled his lips. “I want to show you something first. Then yes, I’ll take you to the dorms.”

“You’re not gonna kill me, are you?”

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