Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Everett said something to her, and she broke eye contact, the applause quieting as they took their positions center stage.
“Wow. She looks great,” Caroline whispered. “You’re sure you don’t want to move up to the front?”
“This is the best seat in the house.”
The music started, and within the first few notes, Vasily tensed up like a steel rod had been shoved up his ass, and Eva fell back against her seat. “She wouldn’t,” Eva whispered.
“Find-out portion,” Gavin reminded her in a hush.
All my focus shifted to Allie as they began, moving effortlessly through the pas de deux from the first act of what would be Equinox. They were beautifully matched, clearly comfortable with each other, and set the stage on fucking fire as they acted out the love story between day and night, the reluctant sun and the darkness desperate to feel her warmth.
Allie landed every leap, nailed a series of Italian fouettés, and moved seamlessly with Everett, completely in time and absolutely flawless. Her joy was palpable as he followed her through the piqué turns, and my stomach clenched when he finally captured her as the music built to a peak. I knew the feeling of chasing daylight all too well.
My breath froze as she rose onto her right toe and lifted her left leg to over a hundred and eighty degrees to point at the ceiling, her arms arched gracefully as she held a perfect penché. Every ounce of her weight was exquisitely balanced and supported by the ankle that had betrayed her seven months ago.
And it didn’t so much as wobble.
Pride swelled in my chest, numbing the heartache as Everett turned her in place as though the night wanted to see his prize from every angle, then swept her into his arms and carried her offstage as the music ended.
The room rose to its feet and the applause rattled armrests, the lights on the judges’ tables, the very world.
“Oh my God.” Caroline clapped as we stood. “She’s . . . she’s . . .”
“Perfect,” I finished for her, cradling the bouquet awkwardly in one arm so I could clap.
The noise escalated as Allie and Everett took the stage for a bow, and I felt her smile in every cell of my body as she looked over the audience, her eyes crinkling when she caught sight of Juniper.
Our eyes locked and she nodded, her smile never waning as Everett led her back offstage, and slowly we all took our seats.
“And that,” Anne said from the edge of the curtain, “is how it’s done. Please stick around, we’ll be starting our beginners in five minutes. Naturally, we’ll adjust our expectations accordingly.”
Everyone chuckled except Vasily. He turned in his seat and leveled a look of utter, complete disdain at Eva, who shrank back in her seat and stared blankly ahead.
“Now that was a performance,” Caroline noted, slipping her purse onto her shoulder. “I’m really glad we got to see her.” She rose and glanced down at Gavin. “Are we going?”
Oh shit. Anne had arranged for Juniper to be in the first few, but we hadn’t thought through how to keep her seated until the performance.
“Uhh . . .” He lifted his eyebrows at me. “Sure. But I need to stop at the bathroom first.”
“Seriously? You can’t hold it? Are you five?” she asked, and I forgot my siblings even existed when Allie walked by the main doors.
I jumped over the back of my seat like a teenager and ran into the hallway to catch her, dodging a couple of latecomers. “Allie!” I shouted as a photographer urged her outside.
She said something to Everett, then turned and came straight for me. My grin echoed hers as she crashed into me, throwing her arms around my neck. I held her tight, one hand across the bare skin between her shoulder blades and the other careful not to squash the fortune I’d spent in flowers.
“You were perfect.” I whispered in her ear as she buried her face in my neck, and just like ten years before, I gave two fucks about the stage makeup on my dress shirt. “Stunning. Exquisite. Flawless.”
Her chest shuddered against mine. “Thank you for being here. Seeing you in the back row meant everything.”
“I’m just so fucking proud of you.” I pulled back and cupped her face, letting myself drown in her eyes. “I’m so glad the rest of the world gets to see you shine the way I do.”
She rose up and brushed a kiss over my lips. It took every ounce of my control not to deepen it, but I’d smear the shit out of her lipstick, and she had photos to take. Besides, this wasn’t about what I wanted.
“They’re not from a grocery store this time,” I said as she pulled back, and I handed her the flowers.