“So, what happened?” heasked.
I snorted. “What happened is Kyra is a masochist who forced me to wear these three-inch heels when I usually wear ballet flats,” I grumbled. “That’swhathappened.”
“Sadist,” Taylorsaid.
“Excuseme?”
“If Kyra forced pain on you, that makes her a sadist. If she enjoys pain, she’s a masochist.” He shrugged as if knowing this fact wasn’t sexy as allhell.
“What if she’s both?” Iasked.
“Those are her shoes not yours?” he asked and I nodded. “Then she’s a definitely both.” I smiled, the sound of his deep chuckle vibrated through me and warmed me right along with the fire. “But that being said, I don’t buy it for a second that the shoes caused you to trip.” He turned that smirk toward me. “The Paige I knew could dance, time step, and cartwheel inheels.”
I sighed. “That Paige’s been gone alongtime,” I answeredquietly.
“What happened? Last I heard you were headed to Northwestern on a fullscholarship.”
I shrugged. “The usual sob story. Mom got sick toward the end of my sophomore year. I tried to do both—care for her and keep up with classes, but I ended up having to fly home more and more. And eventually, I lost my scholarship. It was obvious I had to make a choice.” I swallowed. “But really… there was no choice. She’s family. And Scott couldn’t do italone.”
“Shit, Paige. I’m sorry.” He paused and we stood there in front of the fire in silence for a few minutes before he asked, ‘Have you ever thought of going for itagai—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish that thought as the back door swung open and Yvonne and Kyra came runningout.
Thank God. It was a question people asked me in the beginning when I dropped out. Hell, I even convinced myself I would go back to acting. I thought for sure I’d have time to audition for summer stock and Boston repertory theaters. In theory, I could have even kept teaching and had done that in the summer. Then, the questions surged again after mom passed away. Eventually, most people stopped asking altogether. They assumed, and rightfully so, that I had given up on thatdream.
“Oh my God,” Yvonne said, pausing and staring at me. “Paige is in heels. I can’t believeit.”
I rolled my eyes. “I wear heels sometimes.” That was a blatant lie and based on Taylor’s smug smirk, I think he knewit.
“Yeah,” he said. “On stage you used to, but other than that, I don’t think I ever saw you in anything besides flip flops andconverse.”
“Shut up,” I smacked his arm with the back of my hand. “Idoso wear heels.Sometimes.”
“Well, if that’s the extent of your acting skills, I can see why you gave up on thatdream.”
I heard Yvonne’s gasp from behind me and I knew that for some people, that would be an insult of the highest caliber. But for Taylor and me, it was like old times. Sarcastic banter like this was what we did together inGuys and Dolls. We hated each other back then—or at least, we pretended to. I hated that they had cast the stupid football star rather than my friend Grant who had worked all four years for a leading role. We were enemies, Taylor and I… until we weren’t. “At least I don’t get concussions for a living. What I do takes skill. And when you’re retired in, oh, two years, wondering what the heck to do for the rest of your life, I could still pick up and begin acting any time Ichoose.”
His smirk widened, crinkling his eyes in the most charming way. “There she is,” Taylorwhispered.
“God,” Kyra said from the open door. “It’s like seeing you two on stage all overagain.”
I lifted a brow at Taylor and started humming the tune toI’ve Never Been in Love Before,one of the duets we sang together inGuys and Dolls. “What do you say?” I paused my humming. “Want to do an encore withme.”
His face split into a grin and he shook his head. “Not a chance inhell.”
“Oh, come on. You know you want to.” I started singing the lyrics, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Yvonne and Kyra exchangeglances.
Taylor crossed his arms, but his smile stayed firmly in place. “After closing night, I made a vow to never watch, listen to, or sing that damn showagain.”
I pushed my bottom lip out in a pout. “Not even withme?”
His mouth dropped from its smile, only slightly, but it happened all the same. “Especially not with you,” hewhispered.
