Page 11 of Dancing Diva
“You did this,” I whisper to her.
She shrugs but doesn’t answer. “You saved me tonight a few times. I guess the universe is repaying you for the favor.”
“I was worried you’d be so mad at me for taking us to the roof and getting us in trouble.”
"Trouble like that with you will always be welcome." She grins.
“I think we can leave the law out of the equation, but I see more good trouble between us ahead.”
“Promise?” she asks with a giggle.
“Forever and always, babe.”
Epilogue
CLAIRE
Adam is beaming with pride as he watches Chloe stand in line on the side of the stage to accept her high school diploma. She was only a few tenths of a point away from getting top of her class. Not that it kept her from getting scholarship offers from all of her top choice schools. My grandmother made sure to write her one hell of a recommendation letter for her to try and help tip the scales in her favor.
“Chloe Maia Crowder,” the announcer calls out over the speaker.
Eva whistles loudly, startling little Aidy in her father's lap. Her face crumples, ready to cry, and she reaches out for me. I try to get a few more claps in for Chloe before I pull her into my arms. We've been trying to train her for her new big girl bed for the last few days, but she doesn't seem to want to stay in it. As a result, she's taken to having multiple little naps in the day. It's all a vicious cycle.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” I coo in her ear as she settles into my arms. I prefer she stay awake, but I don’t need her having a meltdown at the ceremony and ruining the experience for the parents sitting around us.
“Sorry, kiddo,” Adam leans over and kisses the top of her head.
“She’s just tired.”
He nods and leans back in his seat, wrapping his arm over my shoulder and pulling me close.
“I’m tired too,” he whispers conspiratorially to me.
I glance down at Aidy, not that she’d understand what he’s talking about, but her eyes are already closed.
“That was all you last night,” I whisper back.
“Totally worth losing any amount of sleep when you decide you want to put on a little dance show for me.”
"I wasn't the only one putting on a show," I giggle. "Your routine toPonyin my panties was worth it too.”
"Oh my gosh," Eva hisses over Adam’s shoulder. “You two aren’t whispering as quietly as you might think you are.”
A guy sitting in front of us snorts with laughter as a confirmation of Eva's comment.
"What, E? I can't help it that the silk feels so good on my skin," Adam says.
The guy turns around and surprises us all when he says, “He’s right. There really is nothing like it.”
“See, he gets it.” Adam points to the man.
“I need a drink,” Eva grumbles to herself.
I can barely contain the laughter bubbling up inside me. I'd already be rolling on the ground if I wasn't trying to keep quiet and still, so I don't wake Aidy.
Adam turns back to me and chuckles. “You done telling stories about me to amuse yourself?”
“For now.”
