“They’re messy and get stuck all over my fingers.” Evie purses her lips.
“But they still taste delicious, even though they’re not perfect.”
Evie looks thoughtful. “So, even if my dance isn’t perfect, you think it will still be beautiful?”
“Exactly.” I give her what I hope is a comforting and encouraging hug, trying to instill all the confidence I have in her.
My eyes find Tyler over the top of her head just as he’s wiping away tears from his cheeks. Seeing the genuine emotion from him stirs up feelings in my heart that scare the daylights out of me, but I’m not sure I could stop them now if I tried. He smiles softly at me, and I return the gesture.
Releasing my hold on Evie, I nudge her arm. “But you know what?”
“What?”
“I know you’re going to crush it.” I reach my hand out in a fist, and she bumps it with hers, a small smile returning to her tear-streaked face.
A woman’s voice comes over the speaker system. “We need all dancers backstage. I repeat, all dancers are needed backstage. Thank you.”
I give her one last hug. “It’s your time to shine, Evie girl.”
All of my friends are suddenly around us, and Evie’s grin widens. “You’re all here!”
“You’re family. Of course we’re here.” Shayna smiles.
Evie walks down the line, giving each of my besties a high-five.
“I saved us seats in the fourth row. I’ll meet you there,” Tyler says before taking her backstage.
My friends start heading into the auditorium. Shayna turns around when she realizes I’m not following them. “Are you coming?”
I shake my head. “I’ll meet you in there.”
“Have fun with yourboyfriend.” Shayna giggles.
“Yeah, she will.” Alyssa wiggles her shoulders and hips.
“He’snotmy boyfriend. I just want to say hi.”
“If by ‘say hi’ you mean suck face,” Mallory deadpans.
“Y’all are the worst.”
“You know you love us,” Shayna calls back over her shoulder with a wink.
She’s not wrong. They’re my family—the girls who have stuck by my side through thick and thin, and I don’t know what I’d do without them.
A few minutes later, I’m looking at the artwork in the lobby when arms snake around my waist, making me gasp. Not because I don’t know who it is, but because Tyler’s touch has a visceral effect on me every time.
He spins me around and presses a kiss to my lips. It’s gentle but filled with so much feeling. When he pulls back, his eyesare a sea of emotion, tears pooled at the corners. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t need to. With that tender kiss and the warm way he’s gazing into my eyes, I can see how much he cherishes me.
Tyler shoots me an affectionate smile—one reserved for me—and leads me into the auditorium down to the row where Alyssa, Mallory, and Shayna are already seated. We scoot past them, and Tyler removes his jacket from the seats he was saving for us. I sit next to Shay, and Tyler takes the open seat beside me.
We shout our praise for Evie after she participates in her group ballet and hip-hop dances. When it comes time for her jazz solo, I move to the edge of my seat, wringing my hands together.
Shayna discreetly pulls out her phone to record it so Tyler can send it to his sister. I’m sure she’s sad about missing this big moment.
The music starts, and Evie hits her opening steps like a seasoned pro. She moves effortlessly across the dance floor, executing all the moves to perfection, her personality written all across her face.
In the middle of her solo, Tyler reaches over and grabs my hand, squeezing it so tightly that I fear I might lose blood circulation. I think he might be even more nervous than Evie, but it shows how much he truly cares about her happiness. I guess that’s what love does—it makes youfeelso much more.
