Page 68 of Surge

I needed to get a job.

The reality of it set in again, and I closed my eyes. I could handle this. I was practically eighteen and was going to be away at college next year anyway. Growing up was just coming a little sooner than expected.

There was a knock on the door. "We're waiting!" Bernardo couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.

I took a deep breath and walked into the studio.

* * *

I hadn't wantedto be rude when my last lesson was spent practicing the waltz with Morgan, so I let my annoyance fester inside. He had distracted my focus to the point where I could hardly move without messing up a step.

He had changed into sweatpants that were way too tight on him, but were better than the leather he had been sporting. I even caught Bernardo checking out his ass a few times in the mirror as we moved across the floor.

Morgan was a natural at dance, but I couldn't figure out how he learned the steps and how to move correctly so quickly. It usually took me an entire lesson to get a new step learned and integrated to be fluid, and he could do it after seeing Bernardo model it once.

The end of the lesson came too soon, and Bernardo took my arm and led me and Morgan to the office and shut the door. He slid a box of tissue over to me as we sat since tears were already silently falling down my cheeks.

I was going to set a world record for crying in one day at the rate I was going.

Morgan sat hunched over with his forearms on his knees and watched me as I tried to pull myself together.

"I know today was officially supposed to be our last lesson, but Morgan came by earlier and talked with me." Bernardo gave Morgan a look of endearment. "He has offered to pay for lessons for the both of you as partners."

I looked at Morgan, who was smiling at me. "Why?"

He rolled his eyes and sat back in his chair, propping his ankle onto his knee. "Can't I just do something nice for you?"

"No." I stood. "This last lesson was supposed to be special and you completely took it over!"

Bernardo looked taken aback and looked between Morgan and me. "Riley, he's just trying to help."

"I don't need his help. He probably just wants sex." I crossed my arms and glared down at Morgan. "Or to ruin the only good thing I had left."

He threw his hands up in surrender before lacing them together on his stomach. "So you'd rather not dance than accept my offer?"

I worked my bottom lip between my teeth. Would it really be so bad to take dance lessons with him?

"What's in it for you?" I sat back down, the fight leaving my body. I was tired of fighting. "I won't be able to pay you back, at least not anytime soon."

"Nothing." His eyes twinkled, really bringing out the green flecks in his hazel eyes. "I just want to dance."

"What about swimming?" What about you being a fucking mermaid or whatever the hell you are?

"I can do both. You do this and yearbook." He looked at Bernardo. "Two lessons a week and put us down for Hawaii."

"What?" I blinked at him. "I can't-"

Morgan slid a credit card across the desk. "I can and I will. We're doing this, vixen."

I sat back in my chair and met Bernardo's questioning stare. "Fine."

When the time came, I just wouldn't go.

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