Page 152 of Tell No Lies

She looked at him sternly and took another bite. I watched her with admiration, wishing I was taking notes. This one knew how to drive them crazy.

“Alright, alright. I admit, it’s good. Really good.”

Mike sighed as if he could finally relax, knowing she approved.

I chuckled and started in on my food.

After a few silent minutes of us enjoying our meal, Mike cleared his throat. “Do you have any big plans this week, Aubrey?”

My mind instantly ran through my list of things to do. Nothing out of the ordinary was jumping out. Did he know something I didn’t, or was he just making conversation?

He must have sensed my confusion and clarified. “Your last few weeks have been pretty busy, so I was just wondering if things were calming down.”

“Oh. Well, we only have two practices this week, plus some optional time too.”

“So, you can hang out after I’m done with football?”

He looked so hopeful, and I groaned internally. How many times were we going to have this same conversation? “Not really. I still have to go in to work on my new solo and a small group piece I’m not comfortable with. Our team practices were just cut back this week.”

“Well, if you don’t have to be there, then we can hang out.”

“I just told you. I have to be there for my solos. It’s just not team practice.”

He sighed and stuffed his napkin onto his plate a little too aggressively. “Once again, you’re putting dance in front of everything else.”

I waited for him to continue, but to my disappointment, he was done.

“Would you ditch football practice to hang out with me?”

“No, I can’t. It’s actually required for school and the team.”

I looked at Brandon and Liv in exasperation. “I might not dance with the school team, but that doesn’t make it less important. Mike, this team can take me to nationals and into a great program in college.”

“Yeah, like that would happen.” He put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed in what I assumed he thought was a comforting manner.

I fought the urge to shrug him off since I didn’t want to start a fight in front of an audience, but when I looked back at Brandon, I realized I might have to stop him too.

“Actually Mike, she is already getting interest from some big schools.”

Immediately, I shot forward. “What?”

Brandon’s face bloomed red. “I wasn’t planning on telling you until after your next competition. I didn’t want to psyche you out.”

I looked at Liv to see if she knew what he was talking about, but she just smiled and looked down at her plate like her fish was suddenly super interesting. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve gotten a few calls from some coaches who are interested in you, and they’re coming to the next competition to see you.”

My mind blanked. “Who? When? Huh?”

“So far, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, and a few schools here.”

“How could you not tell me about this?”

“I know how much your nerves can affect you, and I didn’t want you to panic like you are right now.”

He knew me too well.

Mike was staring between me and my brother. “You can go to college for dance?”