Page 77 of Dancing on Air

When she stepped out onto the stage to loud applause, his heart fell all over again.

He wished more than anything he could just stand there and watch her dance. But his mother was right. He had a job to do. He had to make sure everyone was in their places and had what they needed. That all of the props were swapped out or where they should be.

There was a bead of sweat rolling down his back at the end of the first act.

“Here.” His mother found him and handed him a bottle of liquid. “Electrolytes. You’re doing great. She’s doing great.”

He downed the drink and was very thankful when he instantly started feeling better.

“What do you need?” his mother asked.

He glanced around and sighed. “I hate to say it, but a sandwich. I think I’d feel more stable.”

She nodded. “I’ll get you one.” She glanced around and then disappeared. Less than five minutes later, she returned with a turkey sandwich and a bag of chips from the dining cart.

“Thanks,” he said and then the guilt hit him. “After tonight, we need to talk.”

Her smile wavered slightly, but then she nodded.

When Cora was done dancing after the second act, he found her. She had a little over fifteen minutes before she was due back onstage. She had a costume change and makeup and hair refresh.

Still, he had at least three minutes with her during that time.

“Well? Is it everything you’d hope?” he asked her.

“And more. How are you?” She glanced at his shirt.

He shrugged. “I’m working through it. Hopped up on adrenaline. You know how it is with small injuries.”

“That wasn’t a small injury. I can’t think about it right now, but my mother pretty much tried to kill us tonight.” She shook her head. “Not thinking about it.”

He leaned in and kissed her. “Don’t. I’ve got to go check on a few things. Just think about this. Being the star. Each dance move you need to make and know by heart. Be in the moment,” he told her. “Be amazing like always.”

She smiled and nodded. “I love you.”

“I love you.” He kissed her once more then left.

When he stepped out toward the stage, he glanced out into the audience and spotted her family—Rowan, Kayla, JT, and Emma. They were so captivated by the show that they didn’t notice him.

Later, he’d have to find out exactly how Cora’s mother had gotten out of the mental health facility and, most importantly, how she’d gotten backstage to attack Cora. There were strict security measures in place for backstage visitors.

He’d given her family members passes, along with his sister. There was no way in hell her mother should have been allowed back there.

For now, he focused on the show. Soon, he’d have the answers. And by god, for what had happened, someone was going to be fired.

Epilogue

Cora held her body as still as she could while Reece hovered over her, danced around her, died on top of her.

Several heartbeats of silence passed before she finally moved.

She was, at the moment, Juliet Capulet, young lover scorned by her family. She had just discovered her lover dead at her feet. Filled with sorrow and pain. And then, death.

Her feet didn’t ache, her muscles didn’t scream. All the hours and years of training were invisible to the audience watching her float across the stage. The only thing that mattered to them was the story she told. The story everyone in the audience knew very well.

When she took Romeo’s dagger and finally plunged it into her own heart, she was death.

Then the curtains fell and the crowd exploded in applause behind it.