Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
“So will you. And everyone will see the photos. You’re asking me to go public with a relationship that doesn’t exist.” I unfolded my legs. “A little help here?” I lifted my eyebrows at Kenna.
“I think the entire situation is a ticking time bomb.” She bounced. “But if there’s a chance I get to see the man who’s pretty much sabotaged every relationship you’ve ever had—without even knowing it—struggle to fit into your world for a night, then I’m on Anne’s side for this one. Should make for an amusing evening.”
“Thank you.” Anne smiled and straightened her shoulders, then cocked her head to the side. “Wait, did you say you think the situation—”
“A ticking time bomb that’s going to blow up in your face.” Kenna nodded. “I get that she’s Lina’s daughter, and you probably have some big, complicated feelings about her being the last living piece of her that you should definitely address with your therapists, but hear me out.” She stilled the ball beneath her. “If she was your daughter, how would you feel about the absolute shenanery going on here? And what would you do when it came to light?”
I winced. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t thought before.
“If she was mine—” Anne’s voice faltered, and my chest clenched as she cleared her throat and fought for composure. “I would like to think I’d be happy that there were more people in the world to love her. And I wouldn’t be so difficult that these morally gray actions are necessary. We just want to know our niece.”
Kenna looked my way.
“I care about what Juniper wants.” I snagged my water bottle and rose. “It doesn’t seem fair to me that she should have to wait eight more years to find out her medical history, or where she comes from. And yes, I have some very complex feelings about what I owe Lina, and whether or not that includes helping her daughter dance like she did.”
“I don’t envy the position any of you are in,” Kenna acknowledged as she stood. “I think we’re done for the day.”
“You did great, Allie. I’ll go grab some ice for your ankle.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s what older, enabling sisters are for.” Anne left the studio, and Kenna walked my way.
“You should start actually jumping on the jumpboard, work the resistance up.”
I nodded. “Thank you for coming out here.”
“Of course. You would have done the same for me.” Her gaze darted to the open door. “Two things. You’re medically cleared for pointe. I’m not going to infantilize you by telling you how slow to take it. You know your body. Do whatever you want with that information.”
I took a quick drink to help swallow the sudden lump in my throat. “And the second?”
“You don’t owe Lina anything,” she said quietly. “Not when it comes to Juniper, or your mother, your sisters, or your career.”
Except I did.
“I’m the one who got out,” I whispered.
“You living for her isn’t going to bring her back.” She gave me a sad, knowing smile, then headed out of the studio, leaving me with the cacophony of my thoughts.
I closed my eyes, then centered myself, willing the chaos to quiet so I could make the necessary decisions, starting with the easiest ones first.
First, if I was cleared for pointe, then I’d start tomorrow, period.
Second, I picked up my phone and texted Hudson.
Allie: My company’s gala is in two and a half weeks. June twenty-eighth in New York. Black tie. It’s probably a good idea for you to come with me.
Third, I opened the internet browser and started a search.
Hudson: Consider it done.
I pulled up the website, and selected the schedule tab. The second it opened, I scrolled through, then sighed in pure angry frustration.
“Damn it, Juniper.”
Chapter Seventeen
Hudson
OnPointe34: Whoever said you could pull off that outfit lied.
Bright2Lit: This is a bad take. She’s killing that leo.
OnPointe34: That leotard is considering unaliving itself.
“You look like you’re going to prom.” Eric laughed, slinging his arm across the back of the green velvet sofa in the center of Franklin’s Formalwear.
“He was shorter at his prom,” Mr. Franklin himself muttered as he judged the lines of the third tux I’d tried on this morning.
“I still don’t understand why you don’t rock the dress whites.” He crossed his ankle over his knee. “Women love that whole Officer and a Gentleman vibe. At least Jess does.”
“Allie said black tie, and whatever she says is what I’m going with.” Especially since that invitation had been the only communication she’d given me since last weekend. It had been the first and only time a woman hadn’t returned a text or a call after I’d kissed her. Talk about bursting an ego.
The kissing itself hadn’t been the issue—that had been in a realm beyond perfect. For a second, she’d been right there with me, fire and all. No mask, no walls, just Allie. Fuck, I could still taste her, still feel the thrum of her pulse beneath my lips, still hear the moan that went straight to my dick. We’d ignited the second our mouths met, and as much as I’d loathed bearing painful witness to the hurt I’d caused her, I was also thankful she’d stopped us when she did. My control had been hovering on the edge, and the first time I sank inside her sure as hell wasn’t going to be in a public shower stall. After that kiss, I knew there would be a first time. And a thousandth. I’d never felt chemistry like that in my life. We were a foregone conclusion.