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Hunter and Sutton end their performance with a big move just before the curtain drops.
I look over at Poppy. “That was someDirty Dancingshit right there. They might have it in the bag.”
“It was all right, I guess,” Poppy utters, but I know she’s just salty because it was phenomenal, and we both know it.
Within moments, the next performance begins, and I vaguely hear Poppy saying something to me. But my eyes are fixated behind her—on a scene in the small room backstage, where Haley is crying against Watson’s chest and the others there look painfully somber.
“What’s going on?” I whisper partly to myself and partly to Poppy.
Turning, she follows my gaze before we both start walking that way. “I don’t know. We’d better find out though.”
After we walk in, I close the door behind us because the show is still going on. My eyes go straight to Haley, who takes my breath away just from her beauty. Her tight, sparkly black dress forms to her body like it was made just for her. Her shoulder-length hair is pulled halfway up with a few pieces loose in the front. Even while she’s crying, she’s so beautiful.
“What’s going on?” I say to no one in particular, just whoever will answer first.
“Sutton had an asthma attack after her and Hunter’s performance,” Watson answers, grimacing. “She’s not doing good, man. She … she fucking stopped breathing.”
“Shit,” I utter, watching Haley as she squeezes her eyes shut while Watson keeps her close to him.
“That’s … awful,” Poppy’s voice barely squeaks, and a dancer named Lana whirls her head toward her.
“I’m sure you think it’sawful,Poppy. You’ve been rotten to her for weeks. No, since she got to Brooks, you’ve done everything you can to make her life hell.”
Poppy’s face pales, and she seems to shrink into herself. “I know I have,” she whispers. “But I don’t want anything bad to happen to her. You have to know that, Lana.”
Lana, Poppy, Sutton, and Ryann—Watson’s dance partner—all live together. I’ve known for a while that Poppy doesn’t like Sutton, but I’ve gotten to know her well enough to know that deep down, she’d never wish harm on her. Or on anyone.
“I’m going to go find Ryann,” Poppy mumbles, peeking up at me.
At the mention of Ryann’s name, Watson locks eyes with me and glances to Haley, and I know he wants me to take over and hold her instead so he can go to Ryann. It’s pretty obvious he likes the girl.
Haley must sense what he’s doing because she steps back, wrapping her arms around herself before wiping her eyes. “Go check on Ryann. She and Sutton have gotten really close.” She sniffles. “She needs you right now.”
Giving her one last squeeze, he dips his head closer. “She’ll be fine, Haley. Sutton is going to be fine.”
Haley’s eyebrows pull together, and she nods slowly. “I hope so,” her voice croaks.
When Watson leaves, I put my hand on her back. “Do you want to sit down?”
Her head moves side to side quickly, and she doesn’t look at me.
“Okay. Do you want me to take you home?”
“No,” she snaps. “I don’t need anything from you, Cade.” She looks up, her eyes filled with tears. “Just leave me be, would you? For once, can you just do that?”
I feel like I’ve been kicked in the chest, but I eventually nod my head once. “Yeah. Fine. Anything you want.”
“Good,” she hisses before walking away from me.
I’ve made her hate me. And I guess that’s what I wanted, but, fuck, it doesn’t make it hurt less.
11
Haley
Idrive toward the hospital. And for the first time in nine days, I pull in a calm breath and let it out. Because I just got the phone call from my brother that Sutton woke up.
As kids, Sutton and I were so close. But after our families had a falling-out, we sort of parted ways. I’ve never stopped loving her as a friend though.
