“Watching you. You are incredible. Where have you trained?”
She shrugged her shoulders. Reese entered the room, stopping in front of her. She was almost the same height as she was, the same build, but there was nothing but hurt and anger swimming in those crystal blue eyes. Reese remembered Harper saying the girl hadn’t had an easy life, and it showed in her eyes.
“Are you the therapist?”
Reese looked down at herself before looking back up at her.
“Do I look like a therapist?”
She was wearing sweatpants and a ripped-up tee shirt that hung off her shoulder, showing her sports bra.
“No.”
“I’m Harper’s sister.”
“Oh, yeah, you are watching Ally while she goes to some appointment.”
Reese smiled. “Yup, my name is Reese. Can you tell me who you train with now?”
She shrugged her shoulders as she looked away.
“I didn’t train with anyone specifically; I just took private classes with different instructors for cleaning the mirrors at their studios in Minnesota.”
For some reason, Reese’s heart skipped a beat when the girl looked up at her. Behind all that anger and sadness was someone really special. Reese could tell that this girl not only didn’t think she was special, but that she completely hated the world. That made Reese want to help her. Why? Who the hell knew, but she did.
“What’s your name again?”
“Why?” she sort of snapped.
“Because I’d like to know,” she snapped back.
“Claire.”
“Okay, can you show me that fall out again?” Reese asked, taking a step back.
“Why?”
Reese rolled her eyes. Claire was hiding behind the shitty attitude, but that wasn’t going to scare Reese off. She wasn’t a bitch—she was hurt. She had raw talent, and Reese knew she could make her a star. Looking back down at the ground, Claire shook her head.
“I don’t want to.”
“Why? I want to see it again. I think if you strengthened your foot, you’d get better balance.”
“How do you know?” she asked with a glare.
It was obvious the girl didn’t like to be corrected, but then again, it could be because she didn’t know Reese. So, with the patience of a saint, she said, “I own a dance studio. I’m a dancer too. I know my stuff. I think that you could be something amazing, if you’d let me help you.”
“How do I know you’re qualified to help me?” she snapped.
Reese laughed.
“Wow, you’re a little bit of a brat, you know that?”
“I’ve been told, but it’s better than being a bitch.”
Reese’s laughter stopped as she held Claire’s gaze. She was challenging her, and trying to push her away, but little did Claire know, Reese loved a challenge. When Ally screamed that Mommy was home, Reese turned around and left the room without a word. Going down the hall, she found Harper hugging Ally close.
“Everything looks great. We are going to have a baby in eight months!” she said with a bright smile.
“Awesome! Listen, when do you have Claire again?”
“Claire? Why? Did you talk to her?” Harper asked, surprised.
“Yeah, when do you have her again?” she repeated.
Harper gave her a look before answering, “Monday through Thursday next week.”
Reese thought for a moment.
“Does she go to school or something?”
Harper laughed. “Yes, Reese. She’s a sophomore at Belle Meade Private Academy.”
“Okay, bring her to the studio every day after school. I’m putting her on probation,” Reese said, reaching for her bag and throwing it over her shoulder.
“Does she want that?”
“Sure she does, she just doesn’t know it. Or, she does, and she is being a brat about it. She is amazing, Harp, like super good.”
“I’ve seen her.”
“Bring her.”