Page 94 of The Breaking Pointe
on his own,” he continues my sentence. “I’m not sure what we’re calling this, but I feel confident enough to say it’s not changing.Labels or not.If he can’t handle that, then we’ll just have to handle it in the ring.” He grasps my waist, runningahandalongmylegandunderneathmydanceskirt.
Perfect way to make me want him on top of me.
“We don’t have to call this anything right now.We’re having fun, right?” I bounce my shoulders once.
“I have so much fun with you, Elle,” he stresses.
“Okay, then that’s all.What I don’t want is you getting into it with him at this dinner, okay?” I advise him, holding up one finger. “You have a lot going on right now, and—”
He pecks my lips quickly before speaking. “And I’m gonna be just fine. We both will. Nothing’s gonna happen.”
I sigh, rolling my eyes and smiling. He rests a hand behind him but immediately snatches it away and looks back.
“Woah, what’s this?”he glances at me, picking up the remnants of my music box.
“Nothing.” I pull my body away from his, walking behind my desk.
He stands up straight, turning to face me. “Doesn’t seem like nothing,” he says softly.
“It’s an old music box, but it’s broken now.” I stare at it. “How did it break?” he asks slowly.
I twist my fingers in my hands, still looking at it, starting to feel the same despair I felt that day that Daniel came in.
“Daniel…”Imumble.
His eyes rest on me for a moment before he toys around with more of the wooden pieces.
“And why did Daniel break your music box?” His breath- ing shows hesitance in his words.
“It was a while ago.Around the time that you and I first slept together.He came in and got upset.Threw it on the floor,” I briefly inform him, bringing my arms close to my stomach.“My parents got it for me when I first started dancing.” My voice grows weak.
He takes a deep breath, walking around the desk to meet me with a kiss to my head.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.Don’t worry, I’ll fix it.I got you now,” he whispers, wrapping an arm around me, then pressing my cheek against his chest as he holds me tightly.
24
playbook
COLTON
I need to do something about my outbursts—this I know. However, nobody would believe me if I told them I couldn’t control them. I mean that seriously.
Lately, I find myself in the same position in every match.I start coming in hot, but when I do, it’s as if I’m no longer seeing said opponent, and instead, all I can see is the faceof my father when I look at them. At that point, something possesses me to end them in every way possible, until I come back to reality.It’s similar to a nightmare but feels more like a night terror.I can feel everyone watching me when it’s over, as if it’s a humiliation ritual.
“You keep dancing in circles. It’s annoying. Hit me!” my current advisory taunts, following my every move as we circle each other in the ring.
This fight feels no different than the past few. I had a bad feeling before it started.
“Follow the playbook, Cole, let’s go!” Trey yells, clapping in the background.
My eyes jump to view him, in my corner, then back at the husky man in front of me, a smile smeared across his face. “Yeah, Cole!Follow the playbook!”he yells, mocking Trey as he fakes me out with a few swings.“Or are you too much
of a bitch?!”he laughs.
Myheadjerksbackathismovements,continuingmy circling to stall for time. Now my eyes jump to Noelle, who is standing with crossed arms, looking like a nervous wreck. “Eyes up here, bitch boy! Or did your daddy not teach you
that?!Hemadeyouapunk,didn’the?!”Helaughsmore.
