Page 180 of By His Play

“I’m actually glad you’re here. My usual partner has sprained her ankle.”

I shake my head, still staring up at him in disbelief.

“Will you,” he asks, holding his hand out, “dance with me?”

I don’t move or do anything for long seconds.

“I might be really bad,” I blurt.

“As might I.” He winks, and I begin to relax. “Come on,” he says, gesturing me over to where he’s abandoned his bag.

I lower my purse and rucksack beside his duffel bag before he talks me through a warm-up.

“When did you get back?” he asks, finally addressing the elephant in the room.

Guilt hits me, and his expression falters.

“He doesn’t know. Does he?” He doesn’t need a verbal response; he can read it on my face. “Shit, Effie. This is?—”

“I know, Brax. Every day, I’ve wanted to tell him. But…but things between us?—”

“I know what happened,” he tells me.

I’m not sure if I’m relieved he knows or not.

I close my eyes, trying to process my thoughts, but before I get a chance to figure out what to say, our teacher begins the class.

“I think we need to go for a drink after this, don’t you?” Brax says firmly.

I nod, although I’m not really sure I want to.

He’s going to tell Kieran no matter what I say.

His loyalties will be with his teammate. As they should be.

Hell, he should tell Kieran.

I barely hear our teacher as she begins the class, and it’s not until Brax turns toward me, takes one of my hands in his, and wraps the other around my waist that I come back to myself.

I stare up at him, confused, but then the music starts and he begins to move.

“Waltz,” he whispers. “Do you know the Waltz?’’

I nod, but it’s already obvious I do, because I fall into step with him as our teacher talks us through the step pattern.

Squeezing my eyes closed, I’m immediately a child again.

“That’s it, Effie. You’re such a beautiful dancer.”

Gramps’ hand tightens on mine as he guides my body, and Grams talks me through the steps.

I stumble, getting my left and right mixed up, but after a few minutes, I get into a rhythm.

“That’s it. Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.”

I forget where I am and lose myself in the music, the movement, the memory. So when Brax speaks again, I startle.

“You’re a beautiful dancer.”

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