Page 98 of Just a Little White Lie

It cracks me up that a music teacher is married to someone who is musically impaired, but there you go. Love is just love, isn’t it?

I glance sideways and watch Lauren’s beaming face.

Love.

I’ve been thinking it for a couple weeks now but don’t want to say anything. It feels too fast. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this way before, and I don’t want to do anything to mess this up.

We’re going great. The last few weeks have been perfect. Luke’s adjusting and stopped pulling faces every time I touch his sister in front of him. I even kissed her on the lips at the table the other night, and although I felt his stare, it didn’t feel like death rays.

It helps that Mallory is totally into it. She loves the fact that Lauren and I are together. It’s nice to have an ally.

I force my eyes back to the students. Their dancing has come such a long way, and I’m pretty proud of them myself. Even Maverick. He’s been on his best behavior, according to Lauren, and whatever she said to him a few weeks back seems to be working. He still fires a little attitude my way, and I’m not totally convinced that he’s turned over a new leaf, but I’m not worrying about Lauren so much anymore.

The music swells, and the kids break into their new formation for the changeup.

Smooth. Nice!

Tobias and Trixi did a great job with the costumes. Everyone is wearing the same style pants—black and street cool, tapering in at the ankle. The girls’ tops are fitted, showing off their toned arms and slick moves. The glitter in the fabric shimmers with every dip and sway of their bodies. The guys are wearing fitted, sleeveless tops with these hoodie shirts over them. The fabric flicks and dances around them, the jacket-like shirt bringing a fresh dynamic to the moves.

Haven Misfits is scrawled across their backs in graffiti font, and there’s a small tribute to the school beneath—the Haven Academy crest. The school colors are also represented—a burgundy base to the fabric with gold shimmering under the lights.

I think Trixi and Tobias may have found their calling in fashion.

Being fitted out like this has definitely added some punch to the performance. They’re dancing with more energy and passion than I’ve ever seen before.

My grin stays in place for the entire dance. They screw up one small part near the end but recover quickly, and the other adults probably don’t even notice.

The dance comes to an end, and we all cheer like they’re superstars.

I’ve never seen such beaming faces, and it makes me wonder if Lauren should have arranged for them to perform in front of the school. I wonder if the hard-ass principal would allow something like that.

It’d be an awesome way to stick it in all those nonbelievers’ faces. If they saw what I’d just seen, they’d no doubt be blown away.

I make a mental note to mention it to Lauren later. Maybe she can set something up during the term break. It’d be a great dress rehearsal for the dance crew and get them fully prepped for the competition.

“You guys are so great!” The redhead’s sweet voice carries across the studio.

Her husband lifts his thumb in the air. “Awesome work.”

“Let’s go party!” Lauren punches her hands in the air, and all the kids start to cheer, getting a little crazy.

She calms them down and goes over the instructions of where we’ll be picking them up from.

They happily skip off to glam up for their special night.

Turning to her supporters, Lauren beams us all a big smile. “Thank you so much for this, you guys. It’s amazing.”

“You’re amazing.” I grin, sweeping my arm around her waist and lifting her off the floor.

I peck her lips, drowning just a little in the sweet look in her eyes.

“Come on, Party Pants. Let’s give these kids a night to remember.”

LAUREN

After a quick change and sprucing up my makeup in the staff bathroom, we go to collect the Misfits. The name has grown on me, and a bloom of affection spreads through my chest every time I think of them. I so desperately want them to enjoy their night, and when I pull up outside the boardinghouse and see them waiting in an excited huddle, my hopes are given a nice boost.

“Let’s go!” I beckon them over, and we arrange them into three vehicles, then head for town.

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