Page 106 of Someone to Tempt
“Before we begin, I have an announcement to make,” she says, and we all draw closer. “Unfortunately, one of our students is not going to be able to attend the Fun Fest showcase this weekend.”
I glance around. Is it Tom? Did something happen to Janie?
“Jake has to go back to Texas for an emergency.”
My eyes lock on him, but he’s looking anywhere but at me.
“Can it wait?” Gloria asks, disbelief and disappointment warring in her voice. “We’re two days from the event.”
“I’m afraid it can’t,” Jake says, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
Everyone looks at me, and it’s clear by their sympathetic gazes they think I’ve already heard the news.
“Are you sure about this?” his grandfather asks. By the way Gilbert’s jaw is working, he’s no happier about it than the rest of us.
“It’s for the best,” Jake says.
For whom?I want to demand. “I guess I’m out of the performance, too,” I say, not sure how I’m supposed to react.
Quite honestly, the showcase is the least of my worries at the moment, but it’s safer to focus on that rather than the fact that my heart feels like it’s splitting in two.
“I was just on the phone with a friend of mine in Denver,” Char says with a tight smile. “He’s a dance instructor in the city, one of the best I know. He’s going to drive up for the showcase. We won’t let our mayor sit on the sidelines.”
A smattering of applause echoes through the room, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“He’ll be here early Saturday, so you two have time to meet and do a short rehearsal before our curtain call.”
A short rehearsal? It took me weeks to get comfortable enough with Jake not to look like I was stumbling all over the dance floor.
But mostly, we started looking like we belong together because I started to feel like we belong together. I have a hard time believing that will work with a new partner.
“Jake’s going to run through this last rehearsal,” Char tells the group in general, but I feel her eyes searching mine.
“Great,” I say with a tight smile.
Jake’s shoulders are stiff, his expression unreadable as he approaches me.
“Are you okay?” He finally looks at me, the regret in his eyes making my chest ache.
“Fine,” I lie, not fooling either of us.
The music starts, and we fall into step. It should be awful dancing with him right now, being so close that the warmth of his body heats my icy skin. It’s anything but. His hand on the small of my back is firm but gentle, guiding me across the studio. Even though he’s leaving me—like everyone leaves—my heart races with each spin. I want to soak up every touch. Fall into the way our bodies fit like they were made for each other.
I can feel the tension in his body, as if he expects me to stomp on his foot or offer some big argument about his choice.
I don’t. I won’t.
I’ve fallen in love with him, but I have no claim to his heart. He doesn’t owe me his loyalty. He’s done everything I asked and then some.
Each dance is bittersweet and the hour passes far too quickly. Near the end of class, Char turns on the music for our solo dance. If Jake notices my trembling hand as we begin, he doesn’t say anything. What we’re doing here feels like more than a simple dance.
It feels like a question, an apology, and goodbye all rolled into one.
How can it end like this? Maybe that’s my luck. Maybe it’s just me.
Our performance is perfect. And it breaks my heart.
The other members of the class break into applause when we finish.
