Page 150 of Wreckage

We satbeside our dad and Lydia, waiting for the show to begin.

Elena had done it.

She had made it into the East Coast Ballet Company.

Tonight, we watched her dance on stage for the first time as a principal ballerina.

My chest tightened as the lights dimmed and the curtain lifted.

Then, there she was.

Pure magic.

Her movements were effortless, her body light as air, her expression full of emotion.

My butterfly, and Troy's little dancer.

Troy exhaled beside me.

“She’s breathtaking," he murmured. "Fucking beautiful."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

She was.

She always had been.

But now, she was free.

Whole. No more broken wings and crushed dreams.

And God, I was so fucking proud ofher.

"You were incredible,"I praised her after the show as I scooped her into my arms and twirled her. "Pure magic, butterfly."

Her cheeks reddened at my compliment, but before she could react, Troy took her and kissed her slow and deep.

Her cheeks darkened further, something I just fucking loved seeing on her.

"You were truly perfection," Troy said. "I was captivated. Maybe you can come home and dance for me."

She laughed and kissed him again before I handed her the roses we'd gotten her.

"They're beautiful," she gushed, hugging them and breathing in deeply.

I winked at Troy, who rolled his eyes. He wanted to get her a house plant. He baffled me sometimes.

We led her from her dressing room and out to our waiting car.

We haddinner with our parents, celebrating her success.

But the entire time, my heart pounded in anticipation. Because tonight, everything would change.

I kept stealing looks from Troy, who was clearly just as nervous as I was. We'd already told our dad our intentions. He was supportive and said if we were happy, then he was happy. Lydia was beside herself, excited to help plan the wedding with Elena if she said yes.

After dinner, we took Elena to the house.

A new house.

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