Page 11 of Braden

The two women who were professional dancers were performing a routine together, having fun, showing off their high kicks and seductive hip shimmies and even while she was enjoying the show, Elodie felt dread creeping over her. Surely they weren’t going to expect to teach the other bridesmaids to do anything similar? The precision of the moves and the skill on display was daunting. Elodie checked the faces of the other bridesmaids and was dismayed at how cheerful everyone looked. But after all they were models, actresses, influencers and even one of Tamarind’s own backup dancers. Probably none of them were going to have a hard time learning the moves.

Elodie never knew left from right, had never been on a dance team and wasn’t the most limber person in the room.

The music ended and the two women took a bow as the rest applauded. Then they were all business, lining the bridesmaids up in two lines, with Tamarind in the center. Elodie ended up on the end in the back, which was actually fine with her. The pros demonstrated the dance they’d created and a few tweaks were made in real time before they began teaching the steps to the women.

Elodie was lost from the third step. She did her best to keep up. She whirled and twirled and shimmied and tossed her hair (really? With the elaborate hairdos we’ll be wearing?) but was always behind the others and missed steps in between. Eventually one of the teachers took her aside and did one on one coaching during the break while everyone else was gossiping and practicing steps. She was embarrassed beyond belief, hot, flushed and sweating. Trying to imagine herself going through a performance of this routine, let alone in her bridesmaid dress and heels was a nightmare.

After the break, the bridesmaids and the bride lined up and ran through it three more times before the teachers were satisfied and told them all to clap for themselves because of a job well done. Elodie was positive they weren’t talking to her and she made a break for the dressing room before anyone else moved.

* * *

Braden arrived at the dance studio gritting his teeth. This wasn’t his idea of how to spend a beautiful day on a resort planet, not when he had the ocean and a gorgeous girl to share it with. But he’d signed up for this mission when he’d agreed to be Elodie’s date and that meant all of it, not just the fun parts like playing tisba with sports idols. He walked into the studio with a group of the other dates, some of whom he recognized from the tisba match, to find the bride and her bridesmaids gathered in the studio, chatting happily.

Elodie was nowhere to be seen. Puzzled, he asked the nearest woman where she might be. The bridesmaid gave him a seductive smile and eyed him up and down. “She’ll be back. In the meantime⁠—”

“I think she went outside to cool off,” said another girl, frowning at the one speaking to him. “She uh she had a hard time with the routine.”

“Thanks.” Whatever that meant, Braden had a feeling things hadn’t gone well for his plucky lady so he hastened outside to search for her.

She was sitting on a bench under a nearby tree and even from a distance he could see she was crying.

Kneeling beside her, he said, “Hey, what’s this? Are you okay?”

Elodie shook her head and turned away from him. “I just spent the worst two hours of my life in that room. I can’t go back. I won’t. I’m going home.” She hiccupped and ended on another huge sob. He could tell she was having trouble breathing.

Never one to hesitate, Braden rose, picked her up and sat on the bench with her curled in his lap. “Tell me and we’ll figure out a way to fix it.”

“You can’t fix two left feet,” she wailed. “I was awful. I knew I would be but I’ll ruin the whole thing for Tamarind—I can’t do that stuff. The other women had no trouble picking it up but me? Not a chance. I got so confused.”

He debated what to say to comfort her, rubbing her back with one hand. “Are you auditioning for a SIPTL dance team?”

“Hell no.”

“Right. You’re trying to learn a dance your friend wants to do at her wedding. It’ll last maybe two minutes tops and then be over. It’s not going to be on interstellar trideo. No holo camera man is going to linger on your footwork.”

“She’s having all of this filmed. There’ll be a documentary—you know this, you signed the form about being filmed.” But Elodie seemed a tiny bit calmer.

“Right of course she is. But is the focus going to be on you or on Tamarind? And maybe a couple of her friends who do happen to be SIPTL professional dancers. Sweetheart, it’s a nice thing you’re trying to do, going along with what Tamarind wants. And if she was asking for something in your wheelhouse, like I don’t know, searching for ancient records, you’d be the undisputed star. You’re the star for me no matter what.” She was quieter, sniffling but not sobbing which he took as a victory. “Tell you what I’m going to do—we’re going to fix this.”

“How? Going to buy me some magic shoes?” Elodie gave him a watery smile.

“Nope, going to talk to Migs and get her to arrange for a private session for you with a neutral dance teacher and then that person is going to simplify this damn routine someone drew up and make it so you can do what works for you and blend in and finish on time. You be you.” He gave her a hug to emphasize the point.

Elodie considered his idea. “Do you think it would work?”

“Seven hells, yes. And then even if the damn holo camera man focuses on you because you’re a knockout, you’ll be doing your dance your way and proud of it. People have to admire that.”

“And you’ll talk to Migs?”

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Right now. I’ll get you some water too. Stay here in the shade and I’ll come get you when it’s time for our big number together.”

She laughed as he set her on the bench. “You’re the best date ever, you know that?”

“I aim to serve,” he said with a bow.

When he got back inside he found the wedding planner and drew her aside, briefly explaining what had gotten Elodie so upset. Migs readily agreed to obtain a copy of the dance video, find a teacher to revise the steps and book Elodie a private session. Braden stated unequivocally he’d pay the charges.

“I hate for anyone to be upset at a wedding,” she said. “She could of course sit out the dance.”