Page 120 of My Destiny
“You’re talented enough to perform here. Have you ever considered dancing professionally?”
“I did entertain the idea for a while, but honestly, my passion is teaching. Dancing was my life when I was little, my escape from…” She bows her head and shrugs, but doesn’t finish her sentence. From what she’s told me about her upbringing, I’d say it was her escape from the loneliness she felt due to her somewhat absent mother or possibly the poverty. “If I could just give one little girl what I got out of dancing.” She sighs before continuing. “I can’t even begin to tell you what that would mean to me.”
My smile is huge as I listen to her talk. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“You’re pretty amazing too,” she says, bumping her shoulder with mine.
Leaning towards her, I place a kiss on the side of her head, right beneath the scar sitting on her hairline. It’s more visible tonight with her hair pulled back. I blow out a long breath as images flash through my mind. I’m still incredibly traumatised by that night.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“I’m perfect,” I lie.
I can feel her hands trembling with excitement when the curtains finally open. I fucking love her innocence, and how the smallest things mean so much to her. I barely watch any of the performance because I’m too captivated observing her. She sits forward in her seat the entire time, and the smile on her face warms my heart. I even witnessed her wipe a tear from her eye on a few occasions.
It’s not until the intermission comes that she finally sits back in her chair.
“I take it you’re enjoying the show.”
“Enjoying it is an understatement. It’s a dream come true.” I pull her hand up to my mouth to place a soft kiss on her knuckles. “When I was young, my dance troupe was invited to tour The Australian Ballet—like an excursion,” she says. “I was so excited when I took the note home to my mum, I thought I was going to burst.”
“That’s sweet. Did you enjoy the tour?”
“I didn’t go,” she says, averting her gaze to her lap.
“Why not?”
“It turned out to be a tough week for my mother. Her registration on the car was due, and she needed new tyres. It was necessary for her livelihood; she couldn’t get to work without it.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I knew she was disappointed that she didn’t have the money for me to go, since she always tried her hardest to give me everything she could, so I lied and told her I didn’t really want to go anyway. That night I cried myself to sleep. I was heartbroken.”
“Oh, babe,” I say, as a lump forms in my throat. Her and her mother’s life would’ve been so different if John had been present. Her hardship growing up helps me understand some of her resentment towards him, and why letting him in is so hard for her.
When the second half of the performance begins, she moves forward in her seat once more, resting her chin on her forearms, which are crossed on the bannister. I again remain fixated on each and every reaction from her.
When it finally draws to an end, she jumps to her feet and applauds loudly. The grin on my face is huge as I watch her.
She doesn’t say much as we leave—I think she’s still trying to digest it all. But the moment we exit the theatre and step out into the night air, she throws her arms wide. “That was… Oh god, I have no words for how incredible that was.” I give a small chuckle at her theatrics, but I’m so thankful I did this for her now. I’m pretty sure I got way more out of tonight than she did.
“So, I’m guessing you enjoyed it, then,” I say, pulling her into my arms.
“Hot Stuff,” she replies, taking a short pause. “Tonight, was, hands down, one of the best nights of my life.” She places her hands on either side of my face as her expression turns serious. “Thank you for tonight, for dinner, for my dress, my necklace, for everything.” She takes in a sharp breath before continuing. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you, but not a day passes that I’m not thankful for you.”
Tilting my face forward, I place my lips on hers because I have no other reply. She’s like a breath of fresh air, and thankful doesn’t begin to cover how she makes me feel.
Drawing back, I remove my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. “Come, let’s get you home. The night isn’t over yet.”
When we arrive back at the apartment, I’m pleased to find my uncle has turned in for the night. Grabbing Brooke’s hand, I lead her straight to our room. This had been the part of the night I was most looking forward to, but I’m not sure if this will be the highlight of the evening for me now. I doubt if anything can top the joy I experienced as I watched her reaction to the ballet performance tonight.
“I’ve been waiting to undress you all night,” I say, closing the bedroom door and pulling her into my arms.
“I’ve been looking forward to that too.” Her arms encircle my neck, as she pulls my face down towards hers. The moment her lips meet mine, all my plans for slowly undressing her fly out the window. I want her more tonight than I ever have.
I reach for the zipper on the back of her dress and pull it down in one swift motion. When she lowers her arms, it slides down her body and pools at her feet. “I’m desperate to be inside you,” I say, walking her backwards until the backs of her legs come into contact with the bed.
She fumbles with my bow tie as I reach around behind her to unclasp her bra. Once she’s finally undone the tie, she moves to the buttons on my shirt. I stick my thumb into the side of her lace underwear and tear them from her body.
