Page 50 of Fielder's Choice

“I think he is. I think I really like him, too, and that’s kind of scary.”

“Do you think maybe it’s time you open up to him, Olive?”

I laugh lightly. “I have a feeling you’re going to tell me it is.”

Corinne smiles softly. “I’ll never tell you what to do; you know that. But I can say that opening up to him would help relieve some of your anxiety. It’ll get rid of the what-ifs because you’ll already know what he thinks. If you like him as much as you think, you won’t be able to show him all of you when you’re still holding back.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to do that yet,” I answer honestly.

“And that’s okay. Only you get to decide when you’re ready. But think about it. Think about letting someone who isn’t a family member all the way in. I know you’re capable of doing that. Do you know why, Olive?”

I smile gently. “Because I am courageous. I am loved. I am not my trauma.”

“Let’s try a pirouette.” I take Sage’s hand in mine as she positions one foot on her knee, standing on one leg as I help her spin around. “Great job, sweet girl! You’re a ballet natural.”

“Ballwina like Owive!” she chimes, grinning from ear to ear.

“You want to be like me?”

“Yes! Ballwina!”

Somebody grab a mop because I’m officially a puddle on the floor. Sage wants to be a ballerina like me. How fucking cute is that?

I glance up to see Lane talking with my mom. She decided to watch the lesson today and has been chatting with him the entire time.

What are they talking about, though?

And why am I so curious?

Lane catches me looking and shoots me that cocky side grin, sending fire blazing all through me. Rather than shy away like I usually do, I smile at him instead, owning up to the fact that he caught me staring at him.

“Sage,” my mom says happily, “you’ve been learning quite a bit with Olive, haven’t you?” She nods enthusiastically. “Do you mind if I help a bit?” she asks, looking at me now. “I miss working with her.”

“Of course,” I reply, popping up to my feet.

My mom and I exchange places in the studio; she walks over to Sage, and I come to stand right beside Lane.

“You were staring at me, Ballerina.”

“I was,” I admit, cheeks flaming.

“Damn,” he smiles brightly, looking right at me. “That feels good.”

“You held me when I cried, Lane. The least you deserve is honesty.”

“Fine by me,” he grins. “I like to know you’re looking at me.”

“I bet you do, Hotshot.” I nudge him with my hip. “So, what were you and my mom talking about?”

Lane cocks an eyebrow. “Why do you wanna know, Liv? Worried we were talking about you?”

Yes.

“Nope, just curious, is all.”

Lane leans in closer, and I can feel his breath ghosting over the shell of my ear, giving me a very unfamiliar sensation in my lower abdomen. “Well, we were talking about you. About how amazing you are with my daughter and how much I love seeing the two of you together.”

I bite down a smile. “I love being with Sage. I’ve always adored kids.”

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