Page 5 of Dared

The music started up, and Leo remained frozen in place. Next to me, I heard Ander’s muttered “Shit,” but I kept my gaze on Leo, willing him to move. There was movement to the side of the stage, and then the spotlight dimmed, soft sidelights blinking on instead. Leo’s expression changed to one of determination, and when the music started from the beginning again, he began to move.

I’d thought Alyssa was amazing, but there was something about Leo that had me caught up in his performance, making me feel weirdly emotional watching him dance, his body moving effortlessly across the stage like he was born to do it. When he finished and the final notes of music died away, I clapped harder than I ever had in my life. This guy had overcome his fear and completely smashed it.

“So?” Ander nudged me as Leo made his way off the stage. “What’s the verdict?”

“Fucking incredible,” I said. “The way he looked so scared at the beginning, and then he did that whole routine…yeah. Incredible.”

“No comments about football this time? Are you sure you’re straight?”

“For fuck’s sake, Ander. What’s up with you today?”

His teasing grin disappeared. “Sorry. I’m just fucking with you. I can’t help it sometimes. I should probably tone it down.”

“Nah, it’s part of your personality. I can handle it, and you know I don’t take it personally.”

He gave me a fist bump, and then we settled back in our seats to watch JJ’s performance. And yeah, it was easy to see that he was a star. Being a part-time paid dancer obviously helped him refine his skills, but that man was clearly talented and insanely flexible. He could bend in ways I wouldn’t even want to attempt.

“Fucking amazing. Fucking bendy,” I said to Ander when the dance had finished before he could ask me what I thought of the performance.

Ander nodded. “Did you know I almost beat him in a dance contest?”

I stared at him. “You were in a dance contest with JJ?”

“Yeah, at Revolve. It was a lap dance competition. I got to dance for my boyfriend—not that he was my boyfriend then, and I was in denial or whatever. The point is, I almost beat a professional dancer to the title.”

“Almost.” The amused voice came from his other side, and Elliot slid his arm around Ander’s shoulders. “But you were my winner.”

Ander smiled softly, leaning into Elliot. He kept his gaze on me, but he squeezed his boyfriend’s thigh in acknowledgement. “Yep. I came second, and it was my first-ever time giving alap dance. Have you ever given anyone one? It’s harder than it looks.”

Stretching my legs out in front of me, I shook my head. “Nope. I’ve never even had a lap dance.”

“Awww. Poor Finn. Want me to give you one now to make up for it?”

“Don’t even think about it,” I warned him.

Levi leaned around him and Elliot, meeting my gaze with an eye roll. “Count yourself lucky. I had to watch him and JJ practising their dance routine in my house. No fucking escape when you live with them.”

“You and Asher filmed me when you were watching. Don’t deny you liked it.”

I missed Levi’s reply to Ander. The three dancers appeared back onstage, immediately stealing my attention.

My gaze scanned them again as they began their group routine. Ander was right—Alyssa was gorgeous, and when I looked at them all together with a critical eye, they made an attractive trio. Their looks weren’t important, though—it was the way they moved. Their routine was strong, and although I knew nothing about dance, to me, their moves looked as good as anything I’d seen in a music video. There was no sign of Leo’s earlier nerves, which was good because it meant I could relax back in my seat and enjoy the show before I returned to reality.

My reality?Lesath Legendsand Erik.

“Hi.” I grinned at Erik’s character as if he could see me. “How did your thing go? If you wanna talk about it. I saw someone earlier who reminded me of you.”

“Ready up,” he instructed, and the countdown began. “Hi. Yeah. I…I feel really good. Great, in fact. Who reminded you of me?”

“I was doing a favour for a uni friend earlier. My friend’s housemate is a dancer, and he had this dance rehearsal thing. I think it was a kind of test performance.” I broke off when we landed in the game, spinning my character in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree circle to view our surroundings. “Wait—let’s head into the swamp region this time. See if we can loot any chests.”

“D-dance rehearsal?” His voice was so quiet I had to strain to hear him. His character followed mine as we jogged down a cobbled path into the mists that marked the swamp area.

“Yeah. There were three people, and they did individual dances, then a group dance at the end. There was this one guy who got on the stage, and he kind of froze. He seemed really nervous, you know? But he pushed through it, and he did a fucking amazing routine.” I paused, slashing at a monster that had suddenly appeared on the path before I continued. “It just made me think of you. Y’know, with your presentation. The day we first started talking to each other. I was proud of him for going through with the dance, and I’m so fucking proud of you, Erik. And whatever you did today, I’m proud of you for that, too.”

There was a sharp intake of breath from Erik. “I feel sick,” he mumbled. “I-I-I’m gonna go.”

The call cut off, and his character disappeared from the game.

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