I love to dance. I love the women I’ve met. The confidence I’ve gained. It’s been a part of my journey that I’m truly grateful for. But I see the look on West’s face every time I leave for a shift. I know he’d never ask me to stop doing what I love, but he struggles with the idea of sharing me.
“I think teaching women would make me happier than dancing for men.” I squeeze him tighter. “Especially when you’re the only man I ever want to dance for.”
“Really?” He smiles, and I can tell this one comes straight from his heart.
“Really.”
“I fucking love you so much.” His arms wrap around me, lifting my feet from the ground, and he holds me tight.
“Am I interrupting?” Royal’s monotonous grumble shatters that dream for the moment.
Westley puts me back on my feet, keeping an arm around my lower back as we turn to face Royal.
“How’d everything go?” I ask, leaning into West’s side as I smile at my former guardian.
Royal holds up a manila folder. “Helene’s signed her part. With the help of my contacts, it’s all been pushed through quietly, but legally. Aurora is officially yours.” He places the folder on the bench. Adoption papers. “If you ever need anything, you can always call me.”
“Thanks, Royal. For everything. I know you went above and beyond your normal job to make sure Aurora and I were safe all these years.”
“It was my honour.”
Westley rubs a hand up my back, just as Liv rushes into the salon.
“Hey, everyone! Just came to give you these. You left them on the counter.” Liv holds up a blue pastry box, handing it to Westley.
“Ohh, my beignets.” Westley happily accepts the box.
As usual, she’s got flour dusted on her cheeks, a piece of pastry glued to the same strand of hair.
“Olivia?” The air in the room seems to drop as Royal stares down at Liv as if he’s seen a ghost.
Liv blinks up at Royal. “Hi. Do I know you?”
“Olivia Bennett?” he says slowly, his chest heaving as his eyes search hers.
“I used to be. It’s Liv Adler now.” Liv scans Royal’s face. “Are you from Queens Coast? That’s the only place anyone would know me by that name.”
“You’re alive.”
Liv looks around at each of us, eyes shifting as her mouth hooks up in awkward confusion. “Ahh, yes?”
“Royal, doyouknow Liv?” I ask. He’s still staring at her, wide-eyed, full of hope and disbelief.
“It’s Xander.” He speaks so softly as he reaches forward, taking her hand in his.
Westley taps my hip, stealing my attention. When I look up at him, he’s staring at where Liv and Royal’s hands are locked.
The daisy inked on the inside of Liv’s wrist, and the flowers on Royal’s forearm that wrap tightly around the barrel of a gun. I didn’t notice the first time I saw them. The flowers. They’re daisies.
“I’m so sorry. I was in an accident a few years ago, and I have retrograde amnesia.” Liv continues to study Royal’s haunted face. “Have we met?”
“I-I—” Royal’s chest heaves as he staggers back. “I have to go.”
We all stand frozen as we watch him run out of the salon, looking over his shoulder every few seconds.
“Did that look to you what it looked like to me?” West whispers in my ear.
“That my former handler is Liv’s baby daddy, who she doesn’t remember, and who thought she was dead?”
