“Yes! We’d love to come. I’ve always wanted to come to Tennessee, but Kevin is really weird about that state, don’t know why! I’m so excited!”
“Me too,” Kevin said, looking Reese right in the eyes. “So I guess we will go straight to Tennessee after the rest of the senior solos. Maybe we can get together tomorrow, work out some stuff, and then have the class on Tuesday?”
Reese wanted to scream more than she wanted her next breath, but with Claire and Brian looking at her like she was holding the world in her hands, she nodded and said, “That will be fine.”
“Awesome, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Gives us both time to sleep.”
Reese could only nod as dread filled her. “Great.”
Phillip knew that Kevin coming to Reese’s studio was on the other side of great. It was from his understanding a fucking nightmare but, for some reason, Reese was just standing there, nodding and saying yes, when Phillip knew she didn’t want to do that at all. He didn’t understand what the hell was going on, but he intended to find out.
“I’m so excited!” Claire gushed as Brian grinned beside her. Reese looked away, moving her hand through her long hair. She had it down today, only a pin holding back one side, and she looked sweet. In a pair of tight jeans that hugged every inch of her sexy legs, she wore a long, honey-colored shirt that brought out the color in her eyes. She had light makeup on, but that was his fault. He kept her busy most the morning, trying to fill the void of not having her for the last three weeks, so she only got to throw a little bit on.
“Claire Anderson?”
Everyone turned to see the backstage lady walking towards them. Her clipboard was in her hand as she pointed to Claire. “There are three numbers left, please follow me backstage.”
“Okay,” Claire said before looking up at him and smiling. This weekend was great for them. Not only had they finally talked about things that needed to be said, but also they had connected. She knew that he was proud of her, that he loved her, and couldn’t live a decent life without her. Dance had turned into something they both needed, and he hoped to God, she went up on that stage and killed the shit out of this dance. He knew she could do it.
Reaching out, he squeezed her shoulder. “Go kick some major ass.”
“That’s my plan,” she said with a cocky grin before looking over at Reese, who had pride shining in her eyes as she hugged her tightly.
“Whatever happens up on that stage, remember that no matter what I am super proud of you. You’ve performed amazingly this weekend. I know that you’re going to murder this dance and own that stage. I am so insanely proud of you. You aren’t the girl that first came to my studio. You have grown so much and my God, I could just squeeze you.”
Claire giggled. “I wouldn’t be where I am without you, you know that, but thank you. You better believe first place is mine.”
They all smiled as she ran off with Brian to catch up with backstage lady.
“We are going to go watch,” Reese said to the douche and the pretty woman beside him as she started for the stage.
“Of course, we’ll see you tomorrow!” the lady said as she waved quickly, her little boy mimicking her with a huge grin on his face.
Turning around, Phillip walked along side of Reese as they headed for the spot for the instructors to watch.
“What was all that about?”
She shook her head. “Hell if I know. I don’t know how he weaseled his way into my studio, but he has and I’m not happy about it.”
“So tell him no.”