Page 110 of Someone to Tempt
Relief and confusion flood my veins as I stumble from the bed, the hardwood cool against my bare feet. As I round the corner, laughter greets me, my book club friends buzzing around my kitchen like human honeybees. My gaze is drawn to the shiny balloons tied to the backs of the dining chairs. They spell out the messageyou’re a star.
“What is all this?” I slowly move forward, still a bit dazed and definitely confused.
Sloane turns from the stove, spatula in hand. “Surprise! We’re here to hype you up for your dancing debut.”
“Lucky for you,” Avah adds, looking me up and down, “Sadie stopped by The Roasted Sky and had Sally make a double-shot latte. You look like shit.”
Molly elbows our blunt friend. “She means you look like you didn’t get a good night’s sleep.”
“I’m sure I look like shit,” I agree, running a hand through my tangled hair. “I feel like shit.”
I take the coffee Avah hands me along with a tight hug. “Helium and caffeine hyping works,” I tell her, blinking back tears.
“We’ve got you.” Taylor joins the hug.
I let out a watery laugh. “I don’t think porcupines cry.”
“You aren’t really a porcupine.” Sloane plants a soft kiss on my cheek. “And you can handle Fun Fest.”
“We’ll make damn sure of it,” Avah promises.
“What would I do without you all?”
“If you stay in Skylark,” Taylor says gently, “you won’t need to find out.”
“We’re not convinced Seattle’s right for you.” Avah wrinkles her nose. “I don’t think hair like yours does well in humidity.”
Sloane slides two perfectly fried eggs onto a plate and places it on the table. “More importantly, we want you to stay.”
Sadie wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I might have mentioned your potential plan to Sally. She wanted me to tell you that you’ve got a job at The Roasted Sky whenever you want it.”
“From mayor to barista?”
Sloane pushes me into a chair in front of the eggs and hands me a fork. “You could do worse. They have a killer tip jar.”
I glance up at her. “I’ll think about it.”
“Think hard. Seattle is too far away.” Her voice softens. “You belong with the people who love you.”
“That’s us,” Taylor adds.
I press a hand to my chest. It feels like my heart is splintering again, but for a totally different reason. “You guys are the best.”
“And we’re better together.” Avah flips a lock of chestnut hair over her shoulder. “Now eat your eggs, and then I’m going to do your hair and makeup.”
Molly claps her hands together like an excited kid. “Yeah, we’re going to get some sexy pictures of you and Char’s instructor friend and make Jake Byrne rue the day he walked away from you.”
“Rueit,” Sloane confirms with a smirk.
I smile, but my throat feels tight. “Not necessary,” I say. “But I’ll take the hair and makeup anyway.”
As much as I appreciate having these women in my corner, I miss Jake. He’s been gone less than twenty-four hours, but I miss him every minute. His absence feels like losing something precious, and I don’t know how to make the ache in my heart go away.
After my Fun Fest makeover, complete with kohl-rimmed eyes and hair that would do a Vegas showgirl proud, I head to the dance studio, the weight of the day starting to press down on me again.
The dress Char helped me order for the performance hits just below my knees, with a flared skirt that swirls with every spin. The sequins on the sleeves are a little flashy for me, but I appreciate the built-in bodysuit that keeps everything in place. My new partner is just as talented as Char claimed, with a laid-back smile that puts me at ease despite my nerves and toe-trodding. Fortunately, I’m not quite as bad as I was when Jake and I first started.
Apparently, falling for my partner made me a better dancer. A better person.
