Center of Gravity

by K. K. Allen

  He shifted me on his lap so I could feel him again. I sucked in a breath. “We need to go,” I tried.

  The disappointment in his eyes weakened me. I leaned down, pressing my lips against his with the intention that it would be our last. His palm cupped the back of my head and held me to him, deepening our lip-lock.

  “We should go,” I whispered against his mouth.

  He nodded without releasing me.

  “Winter’s coming today, remember? We can’t both walk in late.”

  That did the trick. He released me with a groan, his eyes flashing in obvious frustration. He breathed through his nose, shoved his fingers through his hair, slammed his eyes shut, then nodded as if the effort were painful.

  I took that opportunity to slide off him, then grabbed my duffel and opened the car door. Theo caught my arm before I could step out of the car.

  “Wait.”

  I turned to face him as he was leaning across the console. He took my face in his palms, his eyes intense, and kissed me breathless.

  When he pulled away, it was just enough to murmur against my lips, “That was only the beginning, Lex.”

  The crew’s boisterous voices died when I walked through the main studio doors. Tension filled the room as heat crawled up my back at their stares and whispers. I quickly found Amie and sat down in front of her. “Is everyone pissed at me?”

  Her eyes darted around the room and back to me. She shrugged. “Maybe. Fuck ’em. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  A wave of shame washed over me at what had happened outside. I’d broken the rules. I’d just had an intense make-out session with our choreographer. And though Theo and I had acted only innocently before today, feelings had been building.

  No one has to know about the kiss. I tried to calm my nerves by reminding myself of that simple fact, but it wasn’t effective. If the others knew what I’d done, I would no longer be the talented newbie who had been handpicked by her choreographer to help move rehearsals along. I would become the other woman, the rule breaker, the one who used sex to get ahead.

  Reggie strutted over and took a seat beside Amie, a grin plastered on his face. Something about him looked … off. “Hey, Lex, Amie.”

  Amie shot him a curious look. Even she appeared to notice his strange demeanor. “What has you so giddy today?”

  He shrugged and threw his legs out in front of him. “One more week until Vegas. Things seem to be going well. Right, Lex?” His pointed stare made my insides twist. He exchanged his stare for a glance between Amie and me.

  “Uh, yeah. Sure.” I couldn’t hold back my unease at his nonchalance. Something was definitely up.

  He raised his brows, eyes pointed at me. Something about it felt like cold fingers gripping my stomach. “Do anything fun last night, Lex?” His question wasn’t a question at all. He knew. But how?

  Theo walked through the doors then, shades covering his eyes and leather jacket in place, wearing his famous hard jaw. The entire crew’s eyes were on him, effectively saving me from responding to Reggie.

  My heart stuttered as I remembered the way Theo’s lips felt against mine, the way his arms felt around my body. So strong, so natural. Despite every ounce of guilt I felt as soon as I’d walked into the studio, I wanted him again.

  He walked straight for the stereo and set his jacket and glasses down. He didn’t turn around until he’d set up his playlist and started the show’s intro track. “Get up. We’ll mark it from the top. We’ll run it full out when Winter gets here.”

  He sounded and looked ready for whatever the day would bring.

  I wasn’t sure I was.

  CHAPTER 29

  Theo

  By the time Winter finally made her grand entrance, the crew had already finished marking the set top to bottom.

  “Afternoon, Ravens,” she greeted without her normal chipper demeanor. She appeared serious. Focused. And clearly still pissed off from yesterday. Winter didn’t like surprises, and neither did I.

  What is she up to?

  She walked straight to me and handed me a manila folder. “Here. I assigned the features, no thanks to you.”

  I ignored her terse tone and held the folder. She hopped up on the speaker box and gestured for me to open it. “Go ahead. Announce the names. I know how important it is to you that we finish choreography next week.”

  I turned to the group as I pulled the sheet out. “All right, guys. Winter was generous enough to select the dancers for the three remaining numbers.”

  The cheers were present but faint. When I looked down and saw what was written, my blood ran cold then boiled almost immediately. What the fuck? I looked at Winter, appalled at the selections. Her lips curled knowingly at the sides.

  “What are you waiting for, Theo? You’re wasting time.” Sugary sweet venom dripped from her words.

  I snapped the folder shut and approached her, making sure to lower my voice. “Look, I know you’re pissed at me, but can we at least talk about this?”

  She crossed her arms and shook her head. “It’s a done deal. Now smile and read off the names. You don’t want to keep them waiting.”

  Turning back to the crew, I stifled my rage, cleared my throat, and read the sheet verbatim. “The ‘Moonlight’ solo will be performed on rotating nights by Contessa, Brenda, and Simone. And the choreography will be your own, not the one showcased by Lex yesterday.” It took everything in me not to look at Lex and apologize in whatever way I could without words, but everyone was watching.

  “‘The Cure’ will be performed by Amie and Wayne. Zaira and Nick. And—” I swallowed. That next pill was the hardest to go down. “Lex and Reggie.” This time I did look up, but my eyes didn’t catch Lex’s. They caught the beaming smile of Reggie, who I was now convinced had everything to do with this lineup. I shot a look at Winter, who nodded for me to continue.

  “Dancing to ‘What Do You Mean?,’ which is now a male rotating solo, will be Chaz, J.C., and Garrett.” I let my hand fall against my leg as I looked up again. “Congrats to all.”

  Everyone applauded as Winter stepped forward, a proud smile on her face. “We felt it was only fair to reward you all with the hard work you’ve put in. You will all have your chance to spotlight in some way.” She laughed and took my arm, as though I had everything to do with this decision. “I went ahead and reserved an extra studio in case you want to split the group up. What do you think, Theo? ‘The Cure’ partners in Studio B and soloists in here?”

  I cocked an eye. This is going to be a nightmare. “Sure thing,” I said instead.

  She squealed and jumped, still hanging onto my arm. “Perfect. Let’s get started. Oh. Lex, would you be a dear and teach the choreography for ‘The Cure’? You know that one, right?”

  What the fuck? “I can do it,” I said.

  Winter squeezed my arm in warning. “Don’t be silly. Someone needs to teach ‘What Do You Mean?’”

  “But—‘The Cure’ is Theo’s choreography. I just partnered,” Lex said, wearing a confused expression.

  I don’t think Lex meant anything by her comment, but Winter sure as hell took offense to it. She drew back her shoulders, released her hold on me, then stepped forward to get in Lex’s face. “I’m aware of whose choreography it is. Clearly, since I sign the checks around here.” She laughed in an attempt to cover up her annoyance. “But Theo needs to be in here with the soloists.” Winter narrowed her eyes. “Is that going to be a problem for you, Alexandra?”

  Lex blinked then shook her head. “No, of course not.”

  “Great.” Winter’s condescending smile grew big again. “I’d love to see what you two cooked up.” She raised a challenging brow at me. “Mind showing me?”

  I stepped forward and clasped Lex’s hand in mine. “Not a problem.”

  When we got to the center of the floor I pulled Lex into a hug like it was part of the choreography. “Don’t hold back, Lex.”

  With my words, I felt her entire body relax in my arms, a
nd if someone hadn’t already cued up the music, I might have forgotten where we were, and what we were about to do. But now, I was ready to kill it, with Lex in my arms.

  The moment the song ended, Reggie was stepping forward and placing his arm around Lex’s shoulders. “Not bad. What do you say we go lead some choreo?” He looked over his shoulder and winked at Winter. “We’ve got this.”

  Her eyes flickered as if she’d been in some kind of trance. Then she smiled with pinched lips. “Great. Have fun, you two.”

  If the disappointment that crossed Lex’s face told me anything, it was that she felt exactly as I did about the feature assignments. “The Cure” was ours. I didn’t want her partnering with Reggie any more than she did.

  I released the group for a fifteen-minute break before turning to Winter with all the rage I’d been feeling since she’d arrived. “How the hell did you make these decisions last night? I thought we were going to try out pairings today. You can’t just throw two dancers together and pray they work.”

  She shrugged. “I was ready to make the decisions last night. Since you weren’t able to join me, I had to get creative.”

  “How?”

  “I might have had some help.”

  A ball of fire spun in my chest. “Help from who? Reggie? Is that how he ended up partnering with Lex?”

  She let out a laugh. “Calm down. Reggie has been dancing for me almost as long as you’ve been choreographing for me. And right now, I can count on him more than I trust you.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What are you trying to prove? Because I’m not following. I thought you gave me this job because you wanted my creative input, yet you’re taking control from me when it matters most.”

  “I did give you this job for your input.” She slipped off the speaker box and crossed her arms. “But clearly, your judgment has been lacking lately. Assistants and now backup dancers.” She tsked as she shook her head. “I can’t keep up anymore.”

  “That’s not fair, and you know it. Lex is not Mallory. Not even close.”

  Winter’s eyes widened before she rolled them. “The fact that you’re so defensive over Lex worries me. You didn’t see it coming with Mallory either.” She released an aggravated breath. “I’m looking out for you. There’s nothing you can do or say that will change my mind about the pairings. You need to be careful with that girl.”

  “There’s nothing—”

  Her nose flared, halting my lie in my throat. “You were with her last night.”

  “How do you—?”

  She sighed heavily. “Reggie saw you two drive off in your car.” She looked at me pointedly. “From her apartment.”

  Fuck, fuck, fuck. “She doesn’t have a car. I just took her to the studio and we worked on some choreo.”

  “I’m sure you did.”

  “What the fuck, Winter? Stop being so damn dramatic.”

  “Okay.” She shrugged. “Then no more partnering. No more alone time in the studio with Lex, period.” Winter’s eyes dug into mine. “I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

  How could I convince her that Lex wasn’t some obsessed psycho stalker? I couldn’t. I knew any further pleading would result in more suspicion, and that was a risk I wouldn’t take. Not for me but for Lex.

  Winter patted my arm as she walked past. “You don’t need me today. Get your shit straight, Theo. I’ll be back Monday.”

  CHAPTER 30

  Lex

  Reggie’s arms were like lead around me. They were heavy and forceful, as if he were trying to make up for my lack of passion with more of his own. It wasn’t working. Nothing was working, and we’d been in the studio for the past four hours.

  “You’re supposed to mirror me here,” I explained as I marked the steps, but he just shook his head.

  “I don’t like that. What if we did this?” He grabbed my hips, his fingers digging hard into my skin, and lifted me off the floor.

  I gasped and kicked until he set me down, then spun on my heels to face him. The jackass was laughing at me.

  “Seriously? Can you stick to the choreography?” I was convinced he was trying to ruin the entire dance out of spite for Theo. He’d been tweaking steps since we’d started, and even though I tried to correct him, the other dancers followed his lead.

  By the time Theo walked in to observe us, I felt as if I’d yanked all my hair out of my head. My patience was worn thin.

  “Let’s see it from the top, guys,” Theo called, his eyes skating over me.

  I stared at him a little longer, waiting for him to acknowledge my presence, and maybe then I’d feel a little better about how the day had progressed, but no. I’d lost my solo and got paired with Reggie when I was adamant I didn’t want to pair with anyone. I’d made an exception for Theo. It took time to build trust with the person who would be flinging me around the dance floor, and it wasn’t starting out well with Reggie.

  With an internal groan, I got into position and faced the mirror.

  Reggie pressed against me from behind, and I shuffled forward an inch, as I’d done every other time. He was so close it was hard to breathe. His hand moved to my cheek, and I stiffened. I would have thought I’d gotten used to his touch by now, but I cringed each time I felt him near me.

  “Ready, Coach,” Reggie said with mock enthusiasm.

  Finally, Theo turned in our direction. I could practically feel his eyes heat at the sight of us.

  As soon as the music began, we executed the start of the number. It was slow and sensual at times, the way Theo and I had choreographed it. And just as before with Reggie, everything felt completely wrong.

  Theo cut the music halfway through, his eyes moving over the dancers. “That’s not my choreography.”

  Reggie stepped to my side. “I changed some things.” He spoke boldly and unapologetically. I cringed as he continued. “It needed lifts to feel natural. It was lacking that extra oomph of intimacy.” He winked at Theo. “That’s cool, right, man? Figured since we’re trying to get comfortable in pairs, we should make the changes that feel right for us.”

  Theo looked at Reggie as if he were crazy. “No, that is not okay. I didn’t give anyone permission to change my choreography. If you can’t make it work, then maybe you’re the wrong partner for Lex.”

  “And who would be a better partner? You?” Reggie challenged, a grin spreading across his face.

  Theo’s eyes darted to mine and pinned me with his stare. “Do you like the changes?”

  I opened my mouth, my chest swelling as I felt all eyes in the room on me. What was I supposed to say? If I told the truth and turned against my fellow dancers, I’d surely pay the consequences through their harsh stares and whispered gossip.

  Reggie lifted a hand and rested it on my shoulder, then he squeezed harder than I thought he meant to. I winced under the pressure as he glanced at Theo. “The changes were mine, not Lex’s. Lay off her.”

  When I failed to speak up, Theo’s expression lost its fire. I expected him to fight back, to lunge at Reggie or something and remind him who was in charge. Part of me hoped he would.

  Instead, he did the one thing I never expected. He lifted his hands in a sign that he’d given up, then he walked out the door.

  I was still shaken by the time our group ended class for the night. Theo hadn’t come back, I didn’t have his address, and everything I cared about was in his car. I was pretty much screwed and starved.

  Reggie and I walked to the curb in silence. Things had remained tense after Theo had left, but we’d gotten through the rest of the number with the tweaks to Theo’s choreography. It didn’t take a genius to see that Reggie had overstepped by leaps and bounds, but the other dancers weren’t concerned about who created what, they just wanted to learn the steps. I couldn’t make excuses for Reggie. It was clear he was trying to create a wedge between Winter and Theo, and I hated that I was in the middle of it. And I couldn’t understand why.

  “You need a ride?”
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  I looked around. There was still no sign of Theo. “Thanks, Reggie, but I can walk.”

  “You sure? We could grab a quick bite. Your place is on my way home.”

  I thought about it, checked my phone again, and shot Theo a text asking where he was. When I didn’t get a quick response, I sighed. “Yeah, okay. Let’s grab a bite.”

  Reggie flashed me a grin, and he steered me down the sidewalk and around the building to the main parking lot, where his red Camaro sat. “There’s a French café a few blocks away. They have the most amazing dips, if you’re into that kind of thing.”

  “I could eat just about anything right now.”

  We arrived at the quaint café. It had a blue awning with yellow script lettering—Bonjour Deli. We ordered our food then found a table outside where we watched the Ventura Boulevard passersby.

  When the waitress approached with two glasses of red wine, I held up my hand and noted her confusion when I said, “Oh, I didn’t order that.”

  She set the glass down and smiled. “The gentleman ordered it.”

  Reggie looked up from his phone and spotted the drinks. “I’ve got this,” he said with a wave of his hand, completely missing the point.

  I sighed and handed the glass back to her. “I’m sorry. I can’t drink this.”

  She looked between us, annoyance flitting across her features. “I’m afraid I’ll still have to charge you.”

  The sharp look Reggie cut me next filled me with unease. “I’ll drink it.” He pointed at a spot in front of him for her to set it down, never taking his eyes off me. She placed the glass in front of him and stalked off with a huff. Then he looked at me, an overly friendly smile appearing on his face. “It’s against my nature to waste. Food, drink, whatever. I should have asked.”