Bea:I’m already here. Erma, be reasonable. We only want you to be happy.
Erma:Poppycock. You people are out of control, and I’m nipping this in the bud now.
Myrtle:Erma, they wouldn’t listen to me.
Erma:Why didn’t you tell me?
Myrtle:...
While Myrtle was typing, Erma pointed at a sheepish Riley. “I want to see you and Hayden at the studio too.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see!” Oh, they’d gotten her blood boiling all right. She went to the back room and heard the pinging sound of another text. She stopped to read it.
Myrtle:Because you two have been tap-dancing around each other for years. We had to do something.
Gwen:I’m in Little Rock. I won’t be back until ten or so.
Viola:Lucky you.
Erma shoved her phone in her bag and unlocked the front door. She marched onto the sidewalk to the crosswalk. The coast was clear, and she crossed the street. Her best friends and even her own family thought they knew her heart better than she did. So what if she and Jasper were always ribbing each other? It wasn’t like they were in grade school, him pulling on her hair and her chasing him around the playground.
She came up short in front of Petals and Posies, the shop directly across the street from hers. Oh.Oh.No, they couldn’t be right.
Could they?
The butterflies were a swarm now.
There was only one way to find out. She gripped her purse and headed for Ms. Abernathy’s.
***
Kingston entered the dance studio at six twenty-nine and was immediately faced with his mother’s disapproving look. This was one reason he’d stayed in his car and waited until the last minute to come inside. He ignored her and glanced around the studio, looking for the other reason he’d lagged behind. Olivia. He didn’t see her, but everyone else was here from last week, along with some new students. Bea and Bill Farnsworth. Bill gave Kingston a nod in greeting, but Bea ignored him as she wrung her hands. Olivia must have told them about their “breakup.” Bea would probably never speak to him again.
In addition to the Farnsworths, there was a young couple he didn’t recognize. Sunny was talking to Bubba, Kingston’s mother was showing Pastor Jared an intermediate rumba step, and Senior was standing next to Myrtle, who looked a little pale. Jasper was sitting by himself, his arms crossed over his chest, glowering at everyone.
Kingston walked over and sat next to him, mimicking the old man’s posture. He didn’t want to be here, even though it looked like Olivia was a no-show. She’d been a little late last week, but he doubted she would be two weeks in a row.
“What’s got you in a dither?”
He looked at Jasper. The man was still scowling, but there was a spark of curiosity in his eyes. “I’m not in a...” He shook his head.No more lies.“I’m tired of pretending. That’s all.”
The door opened and in walked the two older womenhe’d seen at the diner last week. He never had remembered their names. Like Myrtle, they looked upset, and soon they and Bea were huddled in a circle. When the door opened again, Riley and Hayden walked inside, both wearing hangdog expressions. Everyone seemed to be in a bad mood tonight.
Sunny clapped her hands, her smile bright and cheery. She was either oblivious to the atmosphere in the room or determined to change it. “Welcome, new students! I’m thrilled we have so many participating tonight.”
Myrtle raised her hand. “Could we wait a little longer before we start?”
Sunny’s smile dipped a little. “I’m sorry, we’re already running late—”
The door flew open and Erma stormed in. She glared at Riley and Hayden, who were now standing by her friends. Well, more like standing behind them, Kingston realized.
Erma looked around the room, her gaze locking on Jasper for a second before she turned to Sunny.
“I’m sorry, this will only take a minute. Jasper Mathis.” She walked over to him.
Kingston glanced at the man’s shocked face. What was going on?
