Page 73 of Midnight Whispers

I cradle his cheek with my palm. “That’s very sweet. But this is way too expensive. I can’t accept it.”

“Can and will.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys. “Here you go. There’s no actual key to start the car, but you need them on you for the engine to start.”

I sigh. “We’re going to talk about this later, understand?”

“Sure. Totally understand.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head, knowing I’ll get nowhere with him. “Well, thank you very much.” I give him a chaste kiss. “I’ll be sure to show you how appreciative I am this evening.”

He grins and slides his hands around me, squeezing my ass. “I look forward to it.”

I laugh and swat them away. “Okay, I need to leave, otherwise I never will.”

It takes me a moment once I’m in the car to make sense of the dash and where everything is. I’ve never driven anything like this. During the entire short drive to the studio, I’m paranoid that I’m going to crash the car, driving like a grandma, but my worries fade when I park in front of the studio.

I get out and stop on the sidewalk, admiring the sign I had installed above the storefront yesterday.

GLASS SLIPPER DANCE STUDIO

It took a while to figure out the name of the studio, but it felt right the minute the words glass slipper came to mind. It represents transformation, and if you’re going to wear a glass slipper, you have to be light on your feet. You have to be intentional about where you place your weight on the bottom of your feet, and you have to move with confidence. All things that are important when you dance.

With a smile still on my face, I unlock the front door and step into what I hope is the start of a new beginning.

I’ve worked all day, cleaning up the construction mess and responding to parents’ inquiries. My grand opening is next week, and I still have to figure out the schedule of classes, which is next on my list. After that, I need to tackle getting my account set up with one of the point-of-sale companies so that I can take payments in the studio.

I’m in the back storage room, looking for the paper I bought to fill the new printer, when the chime rings over the front door. I startle but relax, knowing it’s probably Nero. Or maybe Anabelle came by to check things out. I told her she’s welcome anytime.

I exit the storage room, and my smile slides off my face and down to the floor as though it’s been melted off.

Louise and Maude narrow their eyes at me.

My heart hammers, and a whooshing sound fills my ears.

“Are you not going to say how good it is to see us?” Louise sneers. “After all, it’s been quite a while.”

“Wha… what are you doing here?”

Now that the initial shock has worn off, panic consumes me. Are they here to hurt me? Do they know about Nero and me? Have they talked to him?

In an instant, I worry they’ll strip everything I care about away from me. Part of me always knew they would come back and ruin anything good I’ve made of myself. The universe has never been kind to me, not allowing me to keep the people I love most.

“We wanted to congratulate you on your big accomplishment,” Louise says.

“Seems things have really turned around for you since you left home,” Maude says.

“You should go.” I step toward them to shoo them out.

“We’re not going anywhere until you explain to me how it is that you hooked up with my ex-fiancé.” Maude’s face is red, her jaw clenched. I’ve never seen her this angry before.

My eyes widen. I don’t know what to say. They obviously know, so there’s no point denying it. The question is—what will they do with the information?

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Maude takes a threatening step toward me, and I freeze, unable to move my feet.

“Hey! What the hell is going on here?”

I squeeze my eyes shut at Nero’s voice. Pain lances my chest because this is the beginning of the end of my happiness.

Chapter

---