Page 67 of I Got You

“Nothing,” I grumble on my way to my side of the bed.

“How was Liv?”

“Better. She was asleep before I even made it to page three. Monica sent a card, but I’m not sure I’m going to give it to her. I worry it’ll just confuse her even more.” Shane doesn’t say anything, so I continue after lying flat on the bed, completely done. “I don’t know how to handle any of this stuff.”

His chin tips down so he can look at me. “I wish I would’ve had someone to tell me the things you told her tonight. These kids are really lucky to have you.”

I want to laugh, but I’m too tired. I feel so inadequate. “What are you reading?”

Shane’s brown-green eyes shoot to the corner. “It’s about a guy who walks through the Himalayas.”

“I would’ve never pegged you as a brainiac. Read to me.”

“No.”

“Come on, pleeeeaaase. I hate reading, but audiobooks I can handle. I bet you have a very sexy reading voice.” He doesn’t say anything. “Come on, Grizz. Read to me.”

He slaps the book shut. “Nice try. Tell me what’s up with Danny the Douche and the show.”

“Danny the Douche? How do you know he’s a douche?” I fold my arms and tuck them behind my head.

“I have good instincts.”

I don’t want to talk about this. Talking about Danny and everything that led to me leaving New York only dredges up bad feelings and old scars. “Can we not talk about it? I’m not doing the show.”

“I won’t make you talk about something you don’t want to, but you shouldn’t give up an opportunity to do something just because of him.”

I huff and throw my other arm over my face. Shane can be a real pain in my ass when he wants to be. “It’s not because of him.” I’m getting snippy now.

“It’s not?” he challenges.

I groan. “It’s complicated. I don’t want to go back there, and I certainly don’t want to dance with him.”

“But do you want to dance in the show?” The freakishly big guy next to me asks like he’s somehow figured out how to read my mind.

I push a surrendering breath out between my lips, sit up, and prop a pillow behind me. “I don’t know. It’d be an amazing opportunity, but Shane, I don’t know if I can even do it. My ankle is weak, and it’s not the same. Dancing is one thing, but pointe is another.”

“Pointe?”

“Yeah, you know, pointe shoes. The ones ballerinas wear where they’re on their toes. If I’m going to dance, that’s the only way, and he knows it.”

Shane’s dark brows come together. “He’s a hip-hop dancer.”

“Yeah, but you should see what it looks like when you mix that with something incredibly conservative and classic like ballet. It’s contradictory. Exotic. Captivating. Alluring.”

“Nevermind. You definitely shouldn’t do it.”

I swat his arm. “This show is going to be huge and grueling. He doesn’t accept anything but perfection.”

“And that’s why he wants you.” The way he says it, so calm and casual, awakens my nerves.

I shake my head. “I can’t dance like that anymore. He doesn’t understand that.”

“What if you could? Would you do it?”

I roll it around in my head for just a second. “I don’t know. There are too many things that just wouldn’t work.”

Shane’s quiet for a minute before he speaks. “If there was even a chance that I could run back out onto the field, I wouldn't think twice to give it everything I’ve got to at least try.”

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