Page 9 of Valley

Casimir took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders like he was about to go into battle. “Okay, let’s do this. No more tripping over your feet, I promise.”

As we moved through the steps again, I couldn’t help but admire his determination. His earlier clumsiness began to give way to something more fluid, and for a brief moment, it felt like we were actually in sync. Ellie’s giggles filled the room, her little hands clapping in delight, adding a joyful rhythm to our movements.

“There you go, Cas!” I cheered, genuinely impressed by his progress. “You’re getting it!”

He shot me a triumphant grin. “Told you I’d get it. Just needed a little Ellie inspiration.”

We continued dancing, the music blending with our laughter, and in those moments, the weight of my worries lifted, if only temporarily. Casimir’s presence, his humor, and his unwavering support were like a balm to my soul, reminding me that I could always talk to him to ease my worries.

As the song ended, Casimir twirled me one last time, our feet moving in perfect harmony—until we stumbled, collapsinginto a heap on the floor. We both burst out laughing, the sound echoing around the studio.

“I think we nailed it,” he panted, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Yeah, I think we did,” I agreed, still catching my breath. “Thanks, Cas. For everything.”

He reached over, squeezing my hand in a gesture that spoke volumes. “Anytime, Madeline. Anytime.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Chapter Six

I LEANED AGAINSTthe wall, the pulsating beat of the nightclubvibrating through my chest. My eyes locked with Madeline’s again for the hundredth time tonight. She moved behind the bar, her tiny red bikini catching the light, each curve of her body highlighted in a way that made it impossible to look away. She looked so fucking hot that it made my mouth water, and my cock take notice, but it was more than that. There was something about her presence—confident yet guarded—that made it hard to reconcile with the girl I used to know.

Memories of high school flickered through my mind, and I couldn’t help but compare then and now. Back then, I spent countless hours at those damn ball games, just to catch aglimpse of her in that sexy cheerleading outfit, her smile lighting up the stands.

Hours well spent.

But it wasn’t just her looks that kept me coming back—it was her kindness. Even in high school, she treated everyone with the same warmth, no matter where they fell in the social ladder. That was rare,especiallyin my world. My dad had always drilled into me that you take care of number one first, and everyone else can go to hell. I wasn’t as mean as my old man, but that lesson stuck.

I watched her now, that same sweetness still evident in the way she smiled at customers, those damn dimples making an appearance with each genuine laugh. But seeing her here, in this place, unsettled me. The pounding music, the swirling lights, the haze of smoke and sweat—it didn’t fit her. I’d imagined her life turning out differently—married, kids, a house, the whole suburban dream. The thought that she might be doing “extra” like some of the other dancers bothered me. It just didn’t sit right.

Before I could dwell on it, Snipe’s gravelly voice cut through my thoughts, leaning beside me with a casualness that only years of working here could develop. “No problems tonight?”

“Not yet, but you know how it goes,” I replied, my eyes still glued to Madeline. I hesitated, knowing I should let it go, but the words slipped out anyway. “What do you know about Mandy?”

Snipe raised an eyebrow, following my gaze. “She’s been here about a year. Exceptional dancer, liked by everyone, doesn’t stir the pot... why?”

“She just doesn’t seem like the type to work here,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the crack in my voice gave me away. The bass thumped louder, shaking the walls as a new song started, amplifying the dissonance in my chest.

“She needs the money. I hear she works at a dance studio too; Hillbilly has her teaching those bar dances over there.” Snipe paused, giving me a once-over. “You got a thing for her?”

I forced a shrug, though my heart hammered in my chest. “We went to high school together. Surprised to see her here, that’s all.”

Snipe chuckled, a low, knowing sound. “Small world, huh? But yeah, she’s different from the usual crowd. Seems... decent.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, but my mind was spinning. The Madeline I remembered didn’t belong in this world. She was better than this, better than me. But life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect, does it?

“When I used to walk her out at night, I always got the feeling she’s just trying to get by,” Snipe added, pushing off the wall. “You know, doing what she has to do.”

“Hey, one more question,” I stopped him, the words out before I could rethink it. “Does she... you know, do extra?” The question hung in the air between us, heavy with the implication I hated to voice.

Snipe’s expression hardened, his voice dropping an octave. “No, Valley, she doesn’t. Not even lap dances. She’s not like that, so don’t go there.”

“I was just curious,” I defended, but relief washed over me, almost knocking the breath from my lungs. “Makes sense with the girl I used to know.”

“Makes sense,” he parroted my words, his tone flat, as if challenging me to deny what we both knew. He walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts, the silence in my head louder than the music pounding through the club.

I turned my attention back to Madeline, our eyes meeting across the room. There was a flicker of something—expectation, maybe, or a connection I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. Pushingaway from the wall, I made my way toward the bar, each step heavy with the weight of old memories and new realizations.

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