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)
“Absolutely.” I nodded. Tomorrow kicked off the one week we’d all cleared in our schedules to spend at the beach house. Mom had passed over almost four years ago, but we still kept her rules.
I glanced at the empty seat next to me.
“She’ll be here.” Hudson brushed his lips over my temple.
“Punctuality is not her strong suit,” Kenna reminded me, then arched her neck to look behind us. “But look who made it!”
“As if we’d miss it.” Everett leaned over and smacked a kiss on my cheek. “Give us a second and we’ll make our way around.” His wedding ring flashed under the lights as he reached for Michael’s hand, and they walked toward the end of the aisle.
“Not even a twinge of homesickness?” Hudson asked, his fingers stroking the top of my thigh.
“I performed here last year,” I reminded him, turning my head so I could steal a quick kiss. “And you’re my home. Best of both worlds.”
He leaned in and deepened the kiss a step beyond what would be considered appropriate for the Met, and I reveled in every second of it. I would never get tired of kissing this man.
“Ugh. You two are nauseating.” Eva slipped past Kenna and sank into her seat, the plastic wrap surrounding her bouquet crackling.
“And you were almost late.” Peace settled in my soul, the same way it always did when we managed to get ourselves under one roof.
“It hasn’t started yet, and therefore I am still on time,” Eva argued. “Did everyone bring flowers? How many bouquets does one girl need?”
“I’ve counted six so far,” Gavin answered.
“Sounds right.” Hudson adjusted the roses in his lap to protect the blooms. “Caroline, are you okay? You look like you’re going to puke.”
“I’m fine.” Caroline nodded, drumming her fingertips on the armrest between them. “Just nervous for her. It’s not every day a little local studio gets invited to perform at the Met.”
“She’ll do great,” I promised Caroline.
“Relax, it’s in her genes,” Eva added, then turned to me. “Want the latest Company gossip? We soloists hear it all. Oh, and did anyone grab a program?”
Kenna sighed and set an extra program in Eva’s lap.
“No on the gossip.” I shook my head. “But I’m glad you’re entertained.”
The young woman ahead of us turned in her seat, then stared at me for three awkward seconds before clearing her throat. “I’m so sorry to bug you, but you look like Alessandra Rousseau.”
I smiled. “Alessandra Ellis, actually, but yes. That’s me.”
Hudson’s hand flexed on my thigh, and I caught a glimpse of his dimple popping from the corner of my eye.
“Oh my God. I love you. I watch your performances all the time,” the teen gushed.
“That’s very kind of you. Thank you. What’s your name?” I asked.
“Celine.” Her face lit up, and her gaze caught on Eva. “And you’re Eva! I follow you, and I’m absolutely in love with the series you did on the differences between all the different brands of pointe shoes.”
“Thanks.” Eva flashed a grin.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Celine,” I said. “I hope you enjoy the performance.”
“You guys are legends,” she whispered, then turned around.
Hudson leaned in and brushed his lips over my ear. “I fucking love when you say your name almost as much as when you say mine.”
Heat immediately flushed my skin. “Behave. It’s the Met.” It had taken me all of three seconds to decide to take his name when we got married two years ago. I was simply done being a Rousseau.
“I don’t recall you saying anything about propriety when we were in the dressing room last year,” he whispered, his fingers sliding toward the hem of my short black dress. “In fact, I remember a lot of you asking for more, and harder, and faster at one point.”
“I love you.” And now I kind of wanted to tug him backstage for a repeat performance.
“I love you more. You’re perfect, Allie. You know that, right?” Sea green eyes locked with mine, and I lost track of my thoughts.
“Awh, look!” Eva rustled the program. “Haven Cove Contemporary Dance, and there’s her name!”
The lights went down, and Caroline started rocking in her seat.
Anne took her left hand.
I reached over Hudson’s lap and took her right.
The curtain rose, and excitement bubbled through my chest like I was the one about to take the stage. My smile widened to impossible proportions as Juniper appeared with the rest of her class.
She was flawless.