Page 57 of Guarded Hearts
Before I’d gotten out of bed this morning, Alyssa had whispered in my ear,I can’t wait to see you dance.I’d laughed her off, but her words buoyed me now. I didn’t care what anyone else thought, only her. Dance well enough, fast enough to impress Alyssa, to make her proud, to do her routine justice.
At the first beat of music, I switched off my brain and let the intensive training Alyssa had given take over. The pace was fast, and I couldn’t give myself even a moment to slow down or I’d miss a step. Every lift, every twirl, every twist and turn flowed like liquid.
When I brought Mia over my shoulders, around my head, and back through my legs, the crowd went wild. Alyssa’s cry of “Yes, Pasha!” hit me square in the chest, the warmth of pride flooding me.
We’d practiced the complicated lift over and over, and I’d faltered with Alyssa and Amy, since they were both taller than Mia. I’d finally mastered the sequence with Mia last week, but I hadn’t been consistent, sometimes dropping her or having to stop mid-move to adjust my grip.
My feet moved without me having to consider how and where they’d land, and I rode a wave of adrenaline. At some point, this routine had gotten easy without me even realizing.
For the last section of the dance, I faced Mia and grinned, bursting with joy. Her answering spark of laughter gave me even more confidence.The pace of the song increased, and we picked up our footwork, keeping time as though we’d been doing this dance for years instead of weeks.
Normally, at this point in the routine, I was winded, damp with sweat, wishing for it to end, but instead I was energized, truly believing I could dance all night.
When the music came to a close, I dipped Mia, her back arching over my arm, and the crowd broke out into a round of catcalls and applause so loud it was almost deafening. I tipped Mia back onto her feet.
Her smile split her face. “Holy shit. Amazing. Really. So, so, so amazing.” She gripped my face. “You were incredible.” She turned on her heel. “Where’s Alyssa?”
I pointed at her on the sidelines, still clutching her chest, tears in her eyes. Mia rushed Alyssa and jumped onto her. With Mia’s enthusiasm, they both stumbled, falling all over each other and laughing. I winced at the pressure that might put on Alyssa’s ankle, but she seemed fine. A hand clapped me on my shoulder, and I half turned to have Tyler lock me into a Sullivan hug.
“I hadn’t seen the dance since Alyssa demonstrated the routine. I didn’t think you had a hope in hell.” He chuckled. “That was fire. Absolute five-alarm fire. Good for you, man. You’re going to be as famous as my wife.” He rocked back on his heels. “God, I like saying that.My wife.”
I laughed. “Aren’t I already as famous?” My life had become tabloid fodder.
“In the right way this time.” Tyler’s smile was wry.
People swarmed Mia and Alyssa, including the videographer in charge of live streaming the wedding. Perhaps Alyssa would become known for something other than her personal life.
Jazz’s plan, if it had been to somehow diminish this accomplishment for Alyssa, this moment for Mia, had failed.
The dance, so hard to master, had turned into pure perfection, and Alyssa deserved all the credit for getting Mia and me to this point.
The crowd around Alyssa and Mia shifted toward Tyler and me, a few people directing questions at me. My answers were short. I couldn’t tear my focus from Alyssa, who was dressed in an expensive knee-length burgundy dress Mia had given her. When she looked in my direction, a smile emerged on her face, the sun in my world rising. I wanted to steal her away from this scene, hear what she thought in detail. Had I truly mastered all the steps?
The dance had felt incredible, but I needed to know what she thought. Other guests divided her attention, probably heaping praise on her, maybe offering her jobs. If those weren’t coming now, I imagined they would be lining up to hire her once everyone saw how well she’d molded me from a nondancer to someone worthy of sharing center stage with Mia.
Another song blared across the sound system, drawing people’s attention back to the bar, to the dance floor. I checked my watch.Eleven hours. My chest tightened like a vise.
Alyssa waded through the crowd, and when she got close enough, she jumped into my arms, and I held her tight for a moment, relishing the way her body fit against mine.
“You were amazing. I don’t even—I can’t even tell you how incredible it was to watch you and Mia dance so well.”
“Really?” I framed her face, trying to decide if she was just saying that or if she meant it. Sincerity oozed out of her.
“You didn’t feel it? When I dance well, I know it. There’s an energy and an ease you can’t fake. Like the song could go on forever.” She searched my face. “Like all good things—you never want it to end.”
I ducked down, kissed her cheek, and then said, “That’s exactly how I feel.”
Her arms circled my neck. “Come dance with me.”
“Out there?” I pointed at the dance floor.
“You know all the moves. Now, you just mix them up. I’ll follow wherever you lead.”
“Wherever I lead?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Anywhere.” She took my hand and led me onto the dance floor.
Nerves shot through me again. So many people were still watching. I took a deep breath and blew it out.
