Page 34 of Dirty Dancer

“Sorry, I’m not much of a catch, Boo-Boo.”

I smacked his arm with my free hand. “Shut up. You’re amazing.”

He blinked. “I meant about the future planning and stuff.”

“Freddie, are you planning to be here tomorrow?”

"Yes.”

“Next week?”

He let out a long breath. “Yes.”

“Next month?”

“I get it…”

“Ah,” I waved a finger at him. “Just tell me yes, you’re planning to be here next month and next year. That’s all I need to hear. We can figureanythingout, but I need you to be here. I need to know you’re not going to give up. Even if it gets hard or you need help, that you want to be here and with me.”

Pausing, he turned to look down at me. “Yes, Boo-Boo, this is where I want to be and I want to be right here with you. Today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. Next year. I promise.”

That lifted some of the weight off my heart. “I like this plan.”

“I guess it is a plan,” he said with a chuckle.

“Yep.” I bumped him with my hip. “Now, let’s head back and do your very first dance lesson. We’ll play your favorite song and we’ll dance together.”

“Here’s hoping I don’t suck,” he muttered.

“You’re not going to suck,” I told him. “You’re dancing with me. I got you.”

CHAPTER 14

EMERSYN

Once we were back at Clubhouse, we headed straight to the studio. Among the reasons I mentioned it to Kel was that I needed the others to let us have the time without feeling excluded, and because Freddie deserved the attention. They would never begrudge him, but he would also be less inclined to say he needed the specific time or he’d want to slip away to not “bother” us.

That whole turn of phrasebotheredme more. Freddie didn’t bother anyone. He would put himself last and had for far too long. The others saw it and so did I, but it was also why when he asked foranythingthe answer would be yes. Once we were inside the studio, I slid off my shoes next to the door, then locked it. He toed off his own shoes before following me into the middle of the room. He glanced at his socks then at me, but I waved at him to keep them on for now.

I didn’t usually care if anyone came in to watch me practice or rehearse. Today was not about me though. Coffee cup in hand, I took another drink then stole a look over my shoulder at him.

Since I finished the first cup before we were even back to my favorite shop, Freddie indulged me by sliding in to get us fresh cups. He shifted in place, one hand going to the back of his neck. The nervous energy vibrated in the air around him.

Not pushing right now, I diverted to the stereo system and flipped through the CDs the guys had collected for me, as well as the ones I’d added over the past several months. At the top were several playlists from the tour. I moved them aside. I wanted something else entirely.

“I haven’t really decided on a favorite song,” Freddie admitted and I flicked a look up to catch him watching me in the mirror.

I grinned. “We have time.” Holding his gaze, I raised one of the CDs. “Trust me to pick a couple for us to get started with?”

“I trust you with everything,” he said easily. Almost too easily. A cloud drifted across the clear blue of his eyes as his shoulders drooped. “I should trust you more.”

“Don’t do that.” It wasn’t an order so much as a plea.

“But, Boo-Boo…”

“No buts. Don’t diminish anything about you. You have to protect you and since that’s my first choice too, I want you to protect you. You trust me as much as you can and you’re working on trusting me more.” Spinning the CD case in my hand, I pulled the scar tissue of my psyche taut. “You have been there for me on every step of this journey, even when being there cost you more than you’re willing to admit.”

Pinetree cost us both.

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