Page 142 of Just Like Home

“Thanks,” she said. “It was fun.” She pulled from his embrace. “You look incredible.”

He smiled. “I clean up okay?”

She waggled her eyebrows. “You clean up hot.”

He laughed. “I love you, you know.”

Her eyes widened.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to blurt that out. It was supposed to be a lot more romantic than that.”

“Do you mean that?” The stunned expression hadn’t left her face.

He nodded.

Her eyes glassed over, and a single tear slid down her cheek.

“Hey, don’t cry.” He wiped it away, then took her face in his hands.

She wrapped her hands around his wrists and closed her eyes, inhaling a deep breath. “Nobody has ever loved me before,” she whispered.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Then nobody has ever known you.”

She found his eyes. “You’re right. You’re the first.”

He smiled. “But I’m not the last. People seem to keep discovering how amazing you are.”

“Cole, there’s something I need to tell you.” Her face fell.

His stomach went hollow for fear he knew what that might be. “You’re going back, aren’t you?”

“What? No.”

“But you belong on the stage, Charlotte,” he said. “You’re incredible.”

She looked at him thoughtfully. “I belong with you.”

A woman dressed in black, wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard, appeared from the side of the stage. “Cole, you’ve got one tiny tappers class, the football team, and then you and Amelia are on.”

A look of worry washed across her face as she brought her eyes to his.

“Go,” he said. “We’ll talk afterward.”

“Okay.” She squeezed his hand, then inched up to place a gentle kiss on his lips. “And Cole? I love you too.”

Her words lingered as she dashed off to the quick-change room to prepare for her next dance. He wasn’t even nervous anymore. Because Charlotte loved him.

And foolish though it may be, he was pretty sure that was the only thing he needed. Everything else was just detail.

46

Cole stood backstage with Amelia as the tap class banged their feet to an upbeat song he didn’t recognize. He turned and found Connor standing in the doorway.

“Have you already gone on?” he asked.

Cole frowned. “No. What are you doing back here?”

Connor knelt down in front of his little girl and took her by the shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry.”

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