“Figures you’d like the one that covers all of her,” Reese teased, poking him in the side and making him jump.
He smiled as Claire continued to turn for what seemed like forever before falling to the ground and arching her back. Tears stung his eyes like they had the first time he saw her perform this dance. When the song ended, her eyes were wide and full of emotion. Phillip let Reese go to cheer like he was in a hockey rink, and not at a national dance competition. He knew people were looking at him like he was nuts, but nothing mattered but letting Claire know how proud of her he was. When she went off the stage, Reese took his hand and led him backstage, where Claire ran right into him, hugging him so tight he couldn’t breathe.
“I was so scared I was going to mess up,” she whispered against his chest. He held her, kissing the top of her head.
“No way, you had that.”
She shook her head before looking up at him. “You think so?”
“I know so,” he said with a wink.
“I agree, I think you’re going to be three for three, Claire,” Reese said with a wide grin.
Claire looked from her to Phillip. He smiled before hugging her tight. “Now go up there and get your hardware so we can go home.”
Claire smiled as she let him go. “Can we get ice cream, too?”
“Ooh, can we? I second that request,” Reese chimed in.
He chuckled as he shook his head but, inside, he was on his knees, thanking the sweet Lord above. This was what he wanted. He wanted these moments with the two women that meant the most to him. He knew that it was only ice cream, but it meant way more to him. It was the start of something that he never wanted to end. He knew that Reese was nowhere ready to settle down and admit that she loved him, but he felt like she was getting there and he wasn’t about to stop loving her. Not when the end result was within reach. When Claire went three for three, getting the highest score, only three points away from perfect, and placing first overall, Phillip saw tears in Reese’s eyes and he knew right then that she was almost there. She only needed a little more time to see that they worked together as a unit, a team.
That they could work as a family even.
STANDING ALONE in a room with Kevin Edds was probably the last place she thought she’d be when she walked away from him three years before.
But sometimes the moments you’d think would least happen come around and bite you in the ass. Blah, she wished she were anywhere but here. She felt naked with his lazy gaze on her. He stood against the wall, looking up at her from his phone while she stood by the iHome. Despite the fact that she was fully clothed in black tights, shorts, and a long-sleeved sweatshirt, she felt like he could see right through the layers she wore. Before, she loved it. She loved how he looked at her like she was a piece of the most succulent meat he’d ever put in his mouth but now, now she wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire. She didn’t care that he looked sinful, all tall and lean in a pair of dance shorts and a tank, because she didn’t want anything from him.
Ever again.