Page 207 of Rock Me All Night
10
My dance workoutrelieves the tension wrecking my body. So Drew dodged a dare to kiss me, then stared at me like he wanted to consume me, so what?
I focus on hitting every step in my routine. It's been a long time since I've done any real performances, but the steps are drilled into my brain.
By the time I'm finished practicing, I'm dripping with sweat. My heart pounds against my chest. No lust, just good old-fashioned exercise.
I pull off my tank top and use it to pat dry. No sense in wearing more than a sports bra and leggings. Not for modern dance.
One more time. The track is on repeat. I get into position and wait for the song to finish. The instrumental intro kicks in. Five, six, seven, eight. I launch into my routine, throwing myself into every movement.
I hit the ending pose, catching my breath as the music fades into the outro.
Something is different.
I turn around. Drew is standing at the front door in a t-shirt, running shorts, and sneakers. I must not have heard him come in.
"You're amazing," he says.
"Thank you." I go to put my music on pause.
I can still feel his gaze on me. My sports bra and leggings are tight as hell. That must be it. He's just checking me out. Whatever that means.
I nod to the exercise mat sitting in the corner of the room. "I was going to do some floor work."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Kendrick."
"That right?"
"I have push-ups and crunches to do."
Well then. The mat is just big enough to fit the two of us, side by side, even if half of my exercises involve opening my legs as wide as they'll go.
I bite my lip. I can handle this. Maybe. "You can do push-ups on the floor."
He shakes his head. "How do I tolerate such a selfish best friend?"
I roll out the exercise mat and lie on my back. I pretend like I don't care Drew is watching me and do my first set of leg lifts.
He drops on the floor next to me and puts himself in push-up position. He lowers and raises his body with a grunt. There's sweat dripping off his chest and shoulders. He's practically glistening.
Not going to stare at Drew. Just doing leg lifts here. Not lusting after my friend. Not at all.
He moves to the table for inverse rows. I use the time to do bridges, but he's back by my last set, watching as I lift my ass and torso toward the ceiling.
Okay. Enough of that. I switch to forearm planks. I'm already spent. My arms and legs are shaking. I shift, lifting my ass higher than I should.
Without a word, Drew grabs my hips and adjusts my form.
My body buzzes. That flutter between my legs goes into overdrive.
Fuck it. I drop to the floor. Drew lies on his back. He lifts his leg in the air.
"Stretch my hamstrings," he says.
"Ever hear of the word please?"
"Never."
