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)
Allie’s closest friend.
“It is.” I offered my hand. “Honored to meet you. I’m Hudson—”
“I’m one of the only people in this room who actually knows who you are.” She shook my hand, then tilted her head and studied me. “You make your move yet? Your real move, that is. Not this fake bullshit or a shower stall.”
I instantly liked her. “She told you about the kiss?” A flame of hope caught behind my ribs.
She lifted her brows. “Whole-ass beach out there just waiting for some cinematic romantic moment, and you choose a shower stall?”
“No regrets. Had to know she wanted it, that she wasn’t performing.” I slipped my hands in my pockets, keeping watch on the people gathered around Allie from the corner of my eye. “And she’s skittish when it comes to real moves.”
“Wonder why.” She shot me a look that would level cities.
“Guilty.” I nodded, then peeked Allie’s direction and found the same beautiful but bogus smile on her face as she talked to the other dancers. “Any advice?”
“Hell no. I’m her friend, not yours.” Kenna’s brown eyes narrowed. “But you are going to make a move, aren’t you? Because she needs to get with you or get over you. Hear me?”
“Heard.” Allie wasn’t getting over me, the same way I was never getting over her.
“Good.” She nodded, then glanced at Allie. “And you’d better be ready to fold yourself into her life, because the only time ballerinas bend is onstage.”
“I’ll fold,” I promised, my voice lowering. “I’ll turn myself inside out if it means I get to be hers.” Saying it out loud took pounds off my shoulders and untwisted the first of about three million knots standing between Allie and me.
“Okay, then.” Kenna’s shoulders relaxed, and she turned to stand beside me. “Everyone, this is Hudson Ellis,” she announced to the dancers. “Allie’s boyfriend.”
Every set of eyes turned toward me, more than one appraising me in a way that would have made my mother blush. “Nice to meet . . . everyone.”
“Would you look at those eyes,” Everett muttered. “Allie, where did you find this delicious specimen?”
Allie huffed, then tucked herself into my left side. “At the beach when I was sixteen.”
“Technically you were off the coast about a mile,” I corrected her with a wink, wrapping my arm around her and sliding my hand over her hip.
Reagan lifted her hand to her chest and sighed. “Oh, Alessandra, please tell me you’re bringing him back to New York.”
“Hold that thought.” Kenna stepped in front of us and lifted her phone. “Smile.”
We posed and she clicked. Tonight’s goal had been accomplished.
“You two have fun. I’ve got Matthias for a whole night and I’m not wasting him.” She waved, then disappeared among the tables.
Jacob’s gaze tracked a blonde with a pixie-shaped face. “I’ll see you guys afterwards.” He made a beeline for the woman.
“Really?” Allie lifted her brows.
“Oh, they started fucking as soon as summer rehearsals started,” Everett remarked.
“Don’t be jealous.” Harlow kissed his cheek.
“Please, I’ve got all I can manage with Michael right now.” He shook his head. “Speaking of which, we should find our seats. Candace and Reagan are here with you, but I’m over there at the other principals’ table.”
“You could be back with the soloists,” Harlow teased in a way I wasn’t sure was teasing. “Good to see you, Allie.” She headed back a row.
Everett leaned in and kissed Allie’s cheek. “Get your ass back to New York.”
“Working on it,” Allie assured him as the others filed off. She leaned into my side. “I guess I forced you to learn their names for no reason.”
“I like knowing who your friends are.” I bent and brushed a kiss over her forehead just because I could.
She sighed and leaned into me. “Besides Kenna, I’d only consider a couple of them friends,” she said softly. “Reagan”—she nodded across the wide table—“and Everett.”
“I told you that dress would look killer on you.” Eva walked between the tables, a brunette with a predatory look in her eyes following about ten feet behind. “Holy shit, Hudson Ellis.”
“Hey, Eva.” I nodded.
“I told you he was coming.” Allie swirled her finger. “Turn around, your straps are twisted.”
“I wasn’t sure he’d actually show.” Eva did as she ordered, and Allie unhooked two of the dozen straps crisscrossing Eva’s back, then hooked the correct ones together.
“I go wherever your sister beckons.” I looked over Allie’s head and noted the other brunette hovering in the background. Pointed nose. Shrewd blue eyes. Charlotte Larsen. Soloist.
“You’re all set,” Allie told Eva.
“Thanks.” Eva turned my direction and looked me over. “Were you always this gorgeous? I mean, I remember you being pretty hot, but wow did you grow into all that.” She waved her hand my direction. “Five stars. No notes.”
My eyebrows shot upward.
“Eva,” Allie snapped, but her sister only smirked. “No.”