Page 76 of The Way We Dance

Giselle

Getting shot in the leg was a dancer’s worst nightmare.

Being dead would have been a better outcome. Especially since my heart would be dead with the rest of me.

My very broken heart.

All this time, it was Ty’s brother that was helping himself to the cover of my studio. It was him that was hurting me, threatening me, scaring me, and causing my entire life to be chaos. If that wasn't enough, Ty seemed to be helping him.

Honestly, I think I meant more to Ty than he bargained for. I wasn't sure how much he was involved in his brother’s tryst, but I knew at this point that he was helping him in some capacity. He didn't anticipate feeling the way he did for me, though.

Just like I didn't plan on falling for him.

Tyson Black, the bad boy of the NFL. The guy with trouble tattooed all over him. The guy that when it came down to it, chose trouble over what we were developing between us.

I had been out of surgery for a few hours. It wasn't dire or life threatening, so they removed the bullet and stitched me up in no time. According to the doctor, I would need to rest and rehab but I should be back to normal in no time.

But it was still too long. This set back meant once again, I was failing Brisé and failing the kids. My heart twisted again for the kids not getting to do their show, but I found a little relief in having a good excuse to let Brisé go once and for all.

Trying to replace the stage with teaching hadn’t been as seamless as I thought it would be. Maybe it is because my heart was no longer into being Miss Perfect all the time. If being with Ty showed me anything, it’s that I started Brisé because it was what I thought would be best for my skill set, but I hated the front I always carried.

Ty broke through those walls and I was still ok—still me. In fact, I was able to be me and continue to teach the kids at a professional level. I even found out that I really liked teaching football players how to dance. Sex with Ty was one thing, but the high I got from watching him utilizing what he thought of as “feminine” dance steps was something I hadn’t expected.

Growing up, I knew athletes of all sports used the lessons in ballet to help in their own sports, but Ty was my first attempt and it was amazing. I had even talked to Mr. Peyton about helping one of their other tight ends.

Ugh, Mr. Peyton. Now that this had happened, there was no way I could take him up on helping another one of his players. I would inevitably be around Ty and that could never happen.

Not that it mattered since I was most likely going to have to close Brisé and head back to New York for a while.

In the meantime, I laid in that hospital bed and contemplated where I went from there. It had been less than 12 hours since Ty walked out that door to “inspect” things and my world had been flipped upside down. In all actuality, it was too soon to be making life decisions, but I had nothing else to do while laying there.

“Miss Metrovik?” I looked up as I heard the nurse enter the room. “You have a man here to see you, but he is not a family member so we cannot let him up unless you ask to see him.”

Ty, it was Ty and I didn't want to see him at all. I had already come to terms with the fact that when it came time to speak with the police again, I wouldn't tell them the role I was told he played. I wouldn’t tell them anything about Ty.

I had no proof he knew what was going on, and I wanted to keep pretending he had no clue. Was I an idiot for that? Sure I was. But that is what love did to you, it made you stupid.

No matter how involved Ty was, falling for him was not fake, and that part of me was stupid enough to protect him.

However, I couldn’t face him. Not now and maybe not ever. I would believe anything he told me. Footballs are round, the sun is cold, dogs go moo. I would believe it all, and until I was sure where I stood, I needed to protect myself.

So no, Ty couldn’t be here.

“His name is Levi Peyton,” the nurse continued, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Mr. Peyton?” Shit, did I want to see him?

“Yes ma’am,” she smiled. “Goooood looking man. Fine. Sexy. Mmmm Hmmm.”

I smiled at her enthusiasm in what I was sure was an actual attempt to make me smile. The lighter moment gave me a chance to stop panicking and decide on instinct. “I want to see Mr. Peyton.”

“I bet you do,” she winked. “I’ll go get him.”

While she was gone, the panic set back in. What was I going to tell him? How much did he know?

I guess it didn't matter. He knew enough that he was here first thing in the morning and I could only assume it was Ty that told him where I was.

This was good though. Seeing him allowed me to see Ty, in a way. I can get an update and then explain why I couldn’t see Ty. The one thing I was sure of was that Ty respected Mr. Peyton. If I could appeal to him to tell Ty to let me be, then Ty would.

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