Page 5 of Off Balance

Because I have to see him again.

Cameron.

CHAPTER 1

CAMERON

Sunlight pierces my eyelids. I roll away from the offending brightness, hoping I can get back to sleep. I was out late last night and this is the first day in weeks that I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn. I'd rolled out of Emile’s bed after two in the morning. We'd gone back to his place after shmoozing with his rich friends late into the night, and that was after a full performance day. I'd wanted to go straight home or back to his place to celebrate quietly, but it was important for me to tag along to the afterparty. The people want to see his new star, after all.

Emile’s driver took me home, which was awkward. He'd obviously been instructed to wait for me, which meant Emile had planned ahead. I'm still not sure how to feel about it. I know he doesn't like sleeping next to anyone, and I should be grateful I didn't have to find an Uber at that time of night. Iamgrateful. Either way, the walk of shame is never comfortable.

Groaning, I pull my pillow over my head to muffle out the sounds of Dwayne singing along to Otis Redding in the kitchen, but it doesn't help. I'm awake now. Even if the curtains were suddenly darker and my stepdad magically wasn't a morningperson, my body is trained to get up at ridiculous hours. Once I'm up, I'm up.

My mother's voice joins Dwayne's, and I figure I should go up and say hi before she leaves for work. I've been busy with the production, afterparties, and Emile nearly all day every day for weeks. I've only been home to sleep between long days of rehearsals, training, and performances. Letting out a deep sigh, I stumble out of bed and to the bathroom to freshen up. I'd stripped down to my briefs in my sleep, so I pull on a pair of worn cotton shorts before begrudgingly heading upstairs.

My stepfather's house is huge compared to what my mom and I are used to. I resisted moving in here for the longest time, thinking my mom deserved to focus on her happy relationship. She didn't need her adult son cramping her style, nor did she need any reminders of what we left behind when she met Dwayne. Eventually, I gave in. It made sense, and if I'm honest with myself, I want to be around in case things go downhill with this relationship. The basement has a full bathroom and kitchenette, so I've basically got my own apartment. Even better, there's a door to the outside, so I can come and go as I please without disturbing anyone or being disturbed. Dwayne won't let me pay rent, insisting I'm family and family doesn't owe anything. It still puts me on edge. I'm waiting to find out what the catch is. Not that I'm not grateful, I just don't believe anyone's actually that nice without ulterior motives. But Dwayne's basement apartment saves me from having to work three jobs during the off season, which allows me to train harder and audition more. It's because of him I was able to pursue an opportunity and was eventually offered a position in theDe Pointe Elitecompany.

The music gets louder as I ascend the stairs. The door to the basement opens into a hallway just outside the entryway to the kitchen. Normally I'd already be at the gym or the studio at this time of day, so they're not expecting me. It gives me the chance to observe them without being noticed.

Dwayne is holding my mother close, swaying to the music. He's got his arms wrapped around her, eyes squeezed shut, and a goofy smile stretching his already wide mouth. He looks completely blissed out. My mother kisses his cheek and murmurs something that makes him laugh. The sound is deep and jolly. There’s no other way to describe it. Dwayne is a jolly guy, through and through. He's the quintessential dad, down to the jorts, white sneakers, and corny jokes. I wonder all the time why he never had children of his own.

When he opens his eyes again, Dwayne sees me lurking in the open doorway. His grin widens even further, exposing every one of his straight, white teeth. He spins my mother, wrapping his arm around her from behind so she can see me, too. Her cheeks turn pink, but the smile on her face brightens.

Stepping away from her husband, she hustles over to me with her arms wide open. "Cami! I didn't know you were home." She hugs me tight, and the smell of tea and her shampoo sink into the recesses of my brain, relaxing me even more than seeing her candid moment of love.

My mother deserves all the love and happiness in the world after what she went through with my father, and the handful of men she dated after he died. She had bad luck in the love department until the day she met Dwayne Connor. She fell for him hard and fast, and I admit I didn't trust it at first. Hell, I still don't trust it completely. Although every time I walk up on them when they aren't expecting me, they seem happy. It all seems too goodto be true. One day they ran into each other—literally bumped right into each other in the hospital cafeteria. Mom splashed hot coffee all over the front of his shirt. Within the week, they’d graduated to a proper coffee date. Not six months later, Dwayne whisked her away on a weekend trip to the mountains. She'd come home from that trip with a ring on her finger and the news that we were moving into Dwayne's fancy gated community.

"My principal dancer! You were beautiful last night," she whispers in my ear. "Absolutely breathtaking."

Breathtaking.That's the word he used.

Dom.He’s the other reason I've been avoiding spending time at home. He’s been here a lot since opening night. Since those fathomless onyx eyes bore into me. I could feel his dark gaze like it was a tangible thing. I keep getting flashes of him watching me, of his big hand wrapping around mine. My skin erupts in goosebumps just thinking about it. The way he stared at me was… strange. Bordering on creepy. Though I have to admit he was sexy as hell, and I might have spent more than a passing glance wondering what was underneath his ill-fitting suit. Emile must have noticed, too, because he spent a little too long trash-talking him as we were walking away, and then again later in the evening.

Domenick Connor looks and smells like trouble.I wonder if he tastes like it, too.

"Cami?"

I flinch out of my errant thoughts and smile apologetically at my mom. "Sorry. I didn't get much sleep. What were you saying?"

"I was asking what you're up to today. I'm assuming you have the day off?"

"Mm-hmm. I was planning on sleeping in and then lying around on the couch all day, taking several naps, and gorging on junk food until I puke."

Dwayne snorts and hands me a cup of tea. It's perfect, of course. Spicy chai with honey and the tiniest splash of non-dairy creamer, exactly how I like it. I have to force myself not to scowl at him for being so damn perfect.

He must catch my narrowed eyes, despite my attempt to school my features, because he chuckles and shakes his head.

"What?"

"Have you ever been lazy a day in your life?" he asks me pointedly.

"Yes."

He crosses his arms, forcing his biceps to bulge and stretch the arms of his dark redConnor Bros Gymt-shirt. "When?"

My mom answers for me. "He got COVID about a year before I met you. He slept past sunrise two days in a row and even skipped doing yoga on one of the days."

Dwayne gasps. "He did not!" he exclaims dramatically.

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