Stone gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “If I win, I’ll be able to do both, with some left over. How’s your hip?”
Pepper patted the hip that had been replaced. “Better than the old one.”
He leaned down to give her a hug. “I love you, Mom.”
“Oh, where’s this coming from?” she sputtered, but she hugged him back.
“Just missed you is all.”
“We all miss you, too. Now, you’ve got a big day tomorrow. You’d better go up and get some sleep.” She climbed into the car. “We’ll be in the audience cheering you on.”
It should have comforted him, but it didn’t. His worlds were merging. His family—andLiving Wild—were sucking him back in. The person he’d become onThe Dance Offdidn’t fit into the Nielson dynamic, which had been set decades before, changing slightly with the addition of each new child, or the show’s script.
He didn’t want to go back to being the person he’d been. It was already happening, though. He’d been quiet through dinner, while Reed and Violet dominated the conversation. He was quieter in rehearsals, since he wasn’t joking around with Gina anymore.
His old life was calling. What would it cost him to stuff himself back into theLiving Wildrole? And was it worth it?
One more day. And then he’d find out.
Gina gave Stone a high five after they finished their redemption jive. “That was great,” she said evenly. “Good job.”
They’d reached a tentative peace, where they could at least work together. Despite their distance, Stone’s dancing was better thanever. He’d thrown himself into rehearsals with a gusto that made his previous efforts look like those of a slacker.
She, on the other hand, felt as brittle as blown glass. Through sheer willpower, she’d managed to smile and play the role of the excited finalist, but her control hung by a thread.
Stone nodded, a glint of determination still in his eye. “One more dance,” he said.
“One more.” Was this night ever going to end?
They joined Reggie to receive their scores. Stone chatted with the host, which was great because Gina was barely following what they said. Before last week, she would have been proud of how he handled the questions. He’d come a long way since their first meeting, more at ease on camera and in his own skin. TheBoylesquedance seemed to have marked a turning point for him, and while she was glad he was opening up and having fun in front of the cameras, it hurt at the same time. The impending separation would be easier if he were still the same closed-off, recalcitrant giant she’d first met.
Their score flashed on screen. One hundred percent.
Holy shit. Their first dance of the finals, and they had a perfect score.
With a cheer, Stone picked her up and spun her in a circle.
Even as Gina held on to him, her chest ached. While her anger had diminished over the week, it left in its place despair and guilt at the things she’d accused him of. After blowing up at him in the kitchen, her warning about Lauren had struck some kind of truce between them. But being this close to Stone every day, missing him and wanting him, and pretending that things were fine, was utter torture.
The show must go on.
The rest of the night was a haze. Every minute that passed brought them closer to their rumba, and she dreaded it. The dance contained everything she felt for him but didn’t dare say.
All the longing, the passion, and the incredible gratitude. Stone had opened her heart and made herfeel.He’dseenher, and helped her be comfortable with being seen. With him, she didn’t have to hide, to guard herself. She’d felt safe with him.
And despite his boneheaded mistake, she still did.
More fool she. He was leaving soon, just as she’d always known he would.
After changing into her rumba costume—a bedazzled beige leotard with a sheer white skirt draped loosely over her hips—Gina hung around backstage in the Sparkle Parlor. She cheered for the other dancers, did funny dances for the cameras before commercial breaks, and made small talk with the celebrities who’d returned for the finale.
No matter how many times she repeated the wordsone more danceto herself, it didn’t sink in that this was the end. She’d never made it to the finals before. She’d wanted to win for so long. Now, she was closer than ever, but… she didn’t care.
Maybe some things were more important than winning.
Gina turned and caught Stone staring at her from across the room. His troubled gaze churned up her longing for him. They were both suffering. She shook her head and shrugged. What did he want her to say?
There was something in the set of his jaw that made her think he was going to come over and comfort her. But she couldn’t take his sweetness right now. Not with the end so imminent. Instead, she slipped through the crowd and found Kevin. Kevin would talk, and she’d pretend to listen. It was what she needed.
