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“And Knix can’t do this, why?”
This is all a ploy to cheer me up, I know it. He thinks if he gives me more work, it will somehow make me forget that I’ve fallen in love with someone who may never love me back. Screw love and screw him. I’m a grown man and I don’t need my boss pulling strings in my personal life.
“Nesce wants to come home.” He shrugs. “You know how women can be. Shit.” He winces. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
“I’ll think about it,” I tell him, wanting to be done with this conversation so I can wallow in my misery. “Give me some time to decide, okay?”
“Of course. Take all the time you need. They can wait a while. I’ll still send a few guys tomorrow to help them in the meantime, so don’t rush.”
He awkwardly turns and leaves, not closing my door all the way. I realize that Tori’s in the hallway with him, waiting to see how this strange conversation has gone.
“Well?” she whispers, though I can still hear her.
“He says he’ll think about it, but I’m not hopeful,” Seer tells her. “I’m worried, Tori, he’s not himself lately.”
The two continue discussing how to fix my life as they walk down the hallway, out of earshot. It’s ridiculous that all my friends think it’s their job to make this situation better. They’ve been giving me crap about finding love for years, and now that I’ve found it and lost it, they don’t know how to handle me. That’s just typical, isn’t it?
I grab my phone and check the time. If I leave now, I can get to the center right as practice ends. I get up and grab my jacket. There’s only one person I want to talk to and I’m tired of pretending I don’t.
When I reach the parking lot, I see parents leaving with their kids. Meredith and Charlie walk out together, chatting. Meredith stops short when she sees me, but gives me a small smile as she looks over her shoulder. Close behind is Melissa, a relaxed look on her face. You’d never know what she went through just a few weeks ago. When she sees me, she slows down, changing her course to meet me at my bike.
“It’s been a while,” she says when she reaches me. “I thought you’d fallen off the face of the planet or something.”
“I’ve been busy,” I tell her casually. “Really busy. In fact, Seer’s just asked me if I want to go to Houston for a few months to help with operations there.”
She looks down at her shoes and frowns. “Oh,” she breathes simply. “That’s a big deal, huh? He must have a lot of faith in you.”
“He’s tired of me moping around,” I admit, wondering if I’m imagining the electricity between us. Maybe it’s just my desperate attempt to invent something that doesn’t exist. Or maybe . . .
“If you want to do it, you should take him up on it,” she says, staring deeply into my eyes. “But if there’s a reason you don’t want to go, then maybe you should seriously pursue that reason. Maybe you could take that reason out to coffee, or maybe out dancing?”
She’s smiling now, her eyes wide and hopeful. For the first time, I consider that the unspoken thing between us may actually be love. Maybe she really does feel the same way about me that I feel about her. Maybe my idiot friends are right and giving up your life for a woman isn’t giving up at all. It’s something new and special, something worth sacrificing for.
“I’ll take that under serious advisement,” I breathe, taking her face in my hands and bending down to kiss her. She reaches up on her tiptoes to meet me, and for the first time in my life, I’m certain that I’m done with being a bachelor.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
One Month Later
Kids run around backstage at the community theater we’ve rented out for the day, and I think I’m going to scream. This whole recital has proven to be so much more stressful than I ever could have imagined. Parents brought their kids late even though this last practice is the most important, the theater staff messed up every song during the first dress rehearsal, and the preschoolers keep having meltdowns. I’m going to a need a stiff drink when this is all over.
Even so, I’m so proud of everything the kids have accomplished. Less than a year ago, most of them had never taken a dance class in their lives. Now, they’re all in their costumes, ready to show their parents and friends what they’ve accomplished through their hard work and dedication. As their teacher, I’m an emotional wreck, amazed at how far they’ve come.
I call for one last run of the show from the top, earning groans from all of the kids. I know it’s hard work for them, and I appreciate how patient they’ve all been today. Frankly, the fact that all the kids aren’t having meltdowns is a miracle. I’m certainly on the brink of one. I stand in the wings of the stage as the preschoolers come out in their flower costumes.
The good thing about starting with the preschoolers is that they’re so cute, no one will care if they mess up. One little girl goes out on stage and stares blankly into the empty auditorium, not moving an inch during her song. Well, that’s okay. She has the personality to carry it off. Everyone will be so enchanted, they probably won’t care.
Daisy’s class is next, and I suddenly feel very relaxed and confident. Thank goodness for Daisy, seriously. I don’t know what I would do without her here. She’s been so excited and happy all day and it’s helped with the general atmosphere of the group. Everyone is happy when she’s around.
Unfortunately, she takes that feeling with her when she leaves the stage, and I’m left with my ball of nerves. I nearly jump out of my skin when someone taps me on my shoulder. I turn around and see Bones standing there, a large bouquet of flowers held out to me. I could cry. Scratch that, I am already crying. It’s the sweetness of the gesture mixed with the stress already brewing within me. My cheeks flame in embarrassment. I’ve cried in front of Bones enough for a lifetime.
He looks around quickly and, satisfied with our seclusion, bends down to give me a sweet kiss. If only there were time for us to sneak into an empty dressing room and make out. That would certainly help take the edge off. There will be time later, though. I just have to get through this next few hours.
“The set looks really amazing,” I gush, so proud of what he and the boys put together. He ducks his head in humility, but I can tell he’s pleased with himself. “You should never have shown me your building skills. Now I’m going to use you all the time.”
“Use me all you want.” He bends down to whisper lowly into my ear. “Use me right now if you’d like.”
I giggle and swat him away, taking the flowers and holding them against my chest. They’re daffodils, my favorite. Underneath that tough exterior, Bones continues to surprise me with how thoughtful he is.
