Page 31 of Havoc for the Holidays

“He’ll be here, love. I promise you.” She scrunched her eyes and I caught a mischievous smile.

“What have you done?”

“Oh, you’ll see.” She patted my back and moved toward the students. “Break a leg, baby boy.”

Shaking my head, I watched with a smile as she moved through the crowd and exchanged hugs and kisses and quiet words with each and every one of her former students. It might be a small studio in a rural town, but I had big shoes to fill taking over for her. The more I thought about my future here with these dancers, the more excited I got.

The MC called the audience to order on the other side of the curtain and a hush fell over the crowd on both sides. Themoment was upon us, and I asked for one last holiday miracle—hopefully the show would be a success. I took up my position in the wing to orchestrate stage directions and calls as the students all buzzed with excitement. I was so in the zone as the first act of the show began, I completely missed Ollie's arrival beside me. One look at his ensemble and makeup had me forgetting everything I needed to do.

His hair was corralled under a tall hat, and the addition of breeches for his comfort and modesty was not one I was mad about. His dick might not be on full display but his ass? Delicious in those tight pants. As much as I never wanted him in distress, it was good his emotional breakdown had ruined his mother's makeup application. My Ollie looked edible in a smoky eye, dark liner, and subtle contouring. Sorry, Mrs. Branson—my mom got the point for makeup skills tonight.

“Is it me yet?” Ollie leaned in and pecked my cheek. The act snapped me out of my open admiration and brought my attention back to the clipboard in my hand.

“In just a minute.” I looked back to the stage and cringed. Instead of our tirelessly practiced steps, the children were simply running amok with the stage props.

“Wish me luck.” He wiped his hands on his breeches and blew out a tense breath.

“You don't need it. You'll do perfect, my Olls.”

The notes of the music shifted and I gave my boyfriend a wink before directing the next group of dancers and him onto the stage.

He did not, in fact, perform perfectly. He was a gloriously hot mess amid pure bedlam. It was the best performance of the Nutcracker to ever see stage time. Ollie barely managed to keep up with the children who swarmed around him. His tottering movements and the fact that he was counting the steps out loudsimply added to the charm as the dancers, young and old alike, tried to push and pull him where he needed to be.

My brief appearance on stage as the Mouse King was the only time he relaxed fully. It was hard to take the action-packed, tense scene seriously as we whacked at one another with fake swords, laughing the entire time. All around us, the children on the stage went feral with cheering and jeering until the audience was in absolute hysterics. Ollie landed our practiced choreography and his final victory blow with a wobble before I made my dramatic exit and returned to the more important task of trying to herd cats, also known as stage direction.

As the show progressed, the havoc increased. There were too many close calls with the tree on the stage and the tinsel hanging from the ceiling seemed to multiply by the minute. At one point, one of the toddlers ended up with Ollie’s fake sword and the entire candy cane dance went on in the foreground as Ollie chased the little boy to and fro before finally retrieving it. The audience continued to laugh as the next scene came and went. I worried they might start dropping like flies as everyone crowded the stage for the final waltz.

As I suspected might happen, the appearance of all the dancers needed for the waltz resulted in a freestyle routine that looked nothing like what we had practiced. Numerous adrenaline-fueled children and a stage full of tinsel was a recipe for a glorious disaster that almost resembled a dance. At least if you qualify moshing as dancing. Handfuls of the silvery strands began flying as the dancers promenaded at breakneck speeds around a baffled Ollie and the other older students. They didn't slow down until the music came to its conclusion. They only stopped once the lights dimmed.

I hurried everyone left in the wings toward the stage and for the first time all night, everyone hit their mark without issue. At least one thing went according to plan. I slid in beside Ollieand linked my pinky with his. The trembling in his hand was noticeably through the contact. As the lights returned, I stole a glance at his face and noticed how flush he was beneath the makeup.

With the lights returned the noise. Every one of my students bowed and curtsied to uproarious cheers and hoots from proud parents and teachers and friends. The entire town was in attendance and they were all on their feet in a standing ovation. My smile was too big for my face and my heart was too big for my chest. Of every standing ovation I'd received throughout my entire career, this was the one that meant the most. This havoc-filled disaster of a show was my greatest accomplishment, not because of its creativity or technical skill, but because of the pure, unadulterated joy it brought to me and every single person involved in it. I turned to find Ollie smiling at me with utter adoration and realized for the first time in my life, I'd found true happiness. I'd found where I was always meant to be. I'd found home.

Chapter nineteen

Ollie

Isurvived. By some miracle, I survived dancing in the showcase with zero dance experience. Even as we took our last bow, I still could barely believe it. With any luck, I wouldn't have to do something as harrowing as this in the future. One glance at Ez’s ear to ear smile told me I would cave in a heartbeat if he asked. Frankly, I'd probably walk over hot coals if it meant he would smile at me like that.

The first and foremost love of my life crashed into me from the side and sent me stumbling into Ez. I couldn't call her the onlylove of my life any more, but she would always be my first. And just like with the man beside me, I'd do anything to keep the brilliant grin on her face.

“Daddy! You did so good!” She planted a kiss on my cheek as soon as I hoisted her body into my arms.

“And you did perfectly, my darling girl.” I nuzzled her nose and lowered her back to her feet. “Go find Nana and Pops. I have to do something.”

My daughter skipped away unbothered, but Ez was far keener and hadn't missed my comment. The nerves returned in full force as I held my hand out to him.

“What are you up to?” His eyes narrowed in wariness but his smile played over his features.

“Surprise,” I replied with a shy grin. “Merry Christmas.”

He almost responded, but the speakers crackled back to life in time to interrupt him. I'd learned two very important lessons in the days leading up to the showcase—a little embarrassment was worth making the people I loved happy and I also had a knack for salsa dancing courtesy of secret lessons from Ez’s mother herself.

Burning bright red but wearing a huge grin, I led Ez into the space cleared amongst the chairs in the audience section. As the Latin-inspired remix of a classic Christmas carol filled the venue, I tugged him into a tighter hold and began the simple steps I had practiced tirelessly over the last three days. It was awkward and gawky and not at all in time to the music, but naturally, my Ez was able to pick up the slack.

“Ollie?”

“This is for you, Ez,” I murmured, tugging him even closer to press our cheeks together. “I'll do anything for you.”

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