Page 71 of Protecting Jess

“You know, Jess, you told me when you were eight that you were going to marry Finn. I shrugged it off, but I guess I was wrong.” Slick came up and Finn reluctantly handed Jess over to her father.

“Dad, you should know, when I say something, I’m going to make it happen.” She caught Finn’s attention. “It just took a while to make my dream come true.”

He grabbed the hand she held out. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making that dream come true.”

Epilogue

The lights dimmed, and Finn held his breath, waiting for the spotlight to light up the dancer in the middle of the stage.

Beside him, his mom grabbed his hand and on the other side of him, Aunt Poppy grabbed Slick’s hand.

He imagined his mom’s other hand was being clasped tightly by his dad.

The moment had arrived.

It had taken eight long months, but Jess was about to light up the dance floor with her first performance as the principal dancer for Baxter Dance Company.

The music began, and his heart stuttered in his chest.

What if her shoulder cramped up?

What if she couldn’t hold all the positions he’d seen her practicing the last few months?

Jess’s commitment to getting back to peak performance quicker than the doctors had predicted was something to admire. She had the same fire and determination as he’d had to get through BUD/S.

His mom squeezed his knee with their conjoined hands, the knee that was bouncing up and down. “Relax, honey. She’s going to be fine,” Mom whispered.

Then the lights brightened and there she was, his Jess, looking ethereal with a beautiful smile on her face.

Like he had been when he’d seen her dance all those months ago, Finn was speechless as he watched her glide across the floor. Her moves were flawless and there was no sign of her injured shoulder giving her any trouble.

She twirled for the last time and collapsed in on herself to end up on the floor.

Finn leaped from his seat and clapped loudly.

Everyone in the row joined him. His parents. Jess’s parents. Oak and the guys from his new team. Kaley was here somewhere, too, from what Jess had told him, but he hadn’t seen her, and he hadn’t asked Oak what the story was with the two of them.

They all cheered, and when Jess stood, her smile was huge.

He was so damn proud of her.

All he wanted to do was go backstage and kiss her, but the show had just started and there was a lot more dancing to go.

Every time Jess took the stage, whether with the entire company, or as a duet, or by herself, the loudest cheer was from Finn and those surrounding him.

Nothing showed in her performance that there’d been times when he’d been worried she wouldn’t get up on the stage again. Times when she’d come back from physical therapy in tears.

It had been hard because there were many times he hadn’t been there. His move to Virginia had taken time, and the dance company wanted Jess to have her treatment in New York. Their long-distance romance had tested them, but Finn could say they were stronger than ever.

Finally, the show ended, and everyone in the theatre gave the company a standing ovation. Madame Baxter came out on stage with a large bouquet of roses and presented them to Jess.

Finn touched his pocket; he had something to give to Jess he hoped would keep that smile on her face for all eternity.

“Are you ready?” his mom asked, and he didn’t think it was to go backstage to see Jess.

“More than ready.”

She kissed his cheek. “I’m so proud to be your mom. It was one of my luckiest days when you came into my life.”

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