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“You look totally bangable. Your makeup is hot, too.”
I do a little curtsy. “Well, thank you. Bangable is just what I was going for.”
“Are your sisters here?” he asks, waggling his brows.
Groaning, I point my finger at him and scowl. “Yes. One is married, and one is engaged, so don’t get any ideas.”
“You sure you don’t have any other sisters?” He crosses his arms.
“Nope. I’m the baby and your last chance at getting into the pants of a Corrigan.” I shrug teasingly.
Before he can respond, Annie claps her hands and gives us a ten-minute warning.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I put on a final layer of lip gloss and double-check my hair. The guys are wearing black tights over leotards, which leaves nothing to the imagination. The sheer purple dress I’m wearing over my backless leotard barely covers my ass, but thankfully, I have on nude tights.
And I can’t wait for Liam to see me in it.
I sneak out and peek through the curtains, finding my group. They’re sitting close to the front, and when my eyes land on Liam, I smile wide. He looks so damn handsome in a suit with his hair nicely done and his facial hair neatly trimmed.
“That’s him, huh?”
“Jesus, Joel. You scared me.” I lean back and pull the curtains closed. “And yes. But he’s just a friend.”
He rests his back against the wall with his arms crossed. “Mmhmm.”
Rolling my eyes, I grab his wrist and pull him away. “Let’s get to the side stage before Annie has a heart attack.”
Standing on the right-hand side, we watch the first two groups dance. They do a great job, and once the lights fade, I take a deep breath, and we walk on stage. Our first routine is set to “Eastside,” which goes flawlessly. Joel spins and catches me right on beat, and we end the number smiling and laughing. The audience goes wild, making my heart race harder. We lock hands and bow, the cheers from the crowd reminding me how much I love performing and the adrenaline rush it gives me.
As the lights dim, we get into formation for the next number, “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line. This one was choreographed in groups with girls versus boys. The back and forth of the male and female singers cue us when to dance in the center and when to wait on the sidelines.
The beat in the verses is a little slower, but when the chorus speeds up, so do we. Annie even incorporated some ballet and hip-hop moves, making the dance unique and a complete blast to perform. The smile on my face is permanent, and when I lock eyes with Liam, who’s beaming at me, it somehow widens.
The song ends, and we immediately scramble into our final piece for “Let You Love Me” by Rita Ora. This one reminds me of Liam so much. These past few years have been a roller coaster, but his friendship is everything, even if we’re not where I’d hoped. The little moments we share give me hope that perhaps someday he’ll see me as more than just a friend. Though I’ve learned not to read too much into Liam’s actions, considering he goes from hot to cold in half a second.
I’m front and center and can feel Liam’s gaze burning into me. When I glance at him, it’s confirmed. He’s staring intently with his jaw locked in place as he studies my every move. Though all the seats are taken, everyone fades away as our eyes connect. Somehow, I keep my hips swinging and feet moving without missing a beat.
As the song comes to an end, we huddle closer together until the final note rings out. The crowd jumps to their feet, applauding, and I’m pretty sure I hear Lennon and Sophie screaming like lunatics. It hurts so much to smile, but I don’t care. I trained hard for this, and it was worth every bruise, sore muscle, and exhausted morning after.
The adrenaline has my heart pounding so rapidly I can barely breathe as we exit the stage. Joel nearly breaks my ribs when he spins me around, and I laugh so hard I get the hiccups.
“Oh my God, stop!” He finally sets me down, and I giggle at his expression.
“You slayed, Mads!”
“You did too. Hell, we all did,” I tell him quietly.
We all stay backstage as the seniors perform their final showcase. They picked a great variety of music, which amps me up for ours next year. Once they’re done, everyone cheers.
“Let’s go,” Annie says, clapping her hands. “Final bows. Go, go, go.”
All the dancers merge in the center of the stage. Hand in hand, we bow, then applaud our professors and choreographers. The standing ovation is a pleasant sight, and soon, the auditorium lights brighten, a sign that the show is over. When we’re finally allowed to go out into the audience, I rush down the steps and crash into my sisters.
