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“Then we’ll have to keep the location a secret,” Luke countered. “Sierra, can you keep this place a secret? Johnny? Jackson?”
“What bulldog rock?” Sierra asked, grinning.
“That’s my girl,” Luke said, putting his arm up so she could lean down from atop the boulder and give him a fist bump.
My cell rang and I pulled it from my shorts pocket. “It’s Georgia,” I told everyone.
“I know you’re going to some penis-named place in Nebraska tomorrow,” she said. “I think you’re going to want to hold off.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I just got a call from your ballet company in Spain. They saw Luke’s social media clip of you dancing and recognized you. Then I guess they saw the show and figured out you have a new name. Anyway, they want you to come dance with them. A special performance.”
Luke must’ve seen the surprise on my face. “What’s the matter?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Um… my old ballet company wants me to do a special performance, Georgia said.”
Mallory hopped up from the ground, came over and threw her arms around me. “That’s amazing! You’re doing it!”
I looked at Luke over Mallory’s shoulder. “You’re doing it, tiger.”
I nodded. I was doing it. I thanked Georgia and ended the call, promising to get details later.
Life. Friends. Love. I had it all.
“Let’s get a picture with the superstar,” Tom said, taking Luke’s phone from him.
“That’s right. Luke, get in the middle,” I said.
“Not Luke,” Tom corrected.
“Yeah, Mom,” Sierra said. “You.”
“You’re the superstar, honey,” Mrs. Waddle said, patting my arm.
Luke kissed me, not caring that Johnny and Jackson were making fake gagging sounds. “They’re right. YOU are the superstar.”
“And yours?” I asked.
“And mine.”
60
LUKE
* * *
“It’s all planned out,” Momma said, coming out the back door with a huge serving bowl. She set it on the center of the table. Potato salad. My fucking favorite.
Aspen followed behind with a platter of steaming corn on the cob.
The kids were screaming and shouting, playing under the sprinkler and using the Slip and Slide. We’d been here two days and Sierra was having a ball. My nieces and nephews had quickly pulled her into their brood.
We’d driven to Peckers Cutoff the day after my parents returned. Aspen had been able to delay our trip to Spain by a week so we could come here first.
Yeah, our trip to Spain. As if I’d miss out on watching her practice and perform with her old ballet company. Sierra was coming with us. I couldn’t wait.
I was at the picnic table with Pops, and my brother and sisters plus their spouses. The sun was setting. The scent of barbecue and summer grass filled the air.
