The Dancer

by Jordan Silver

  I’d given her a heads up about the dance school fiasco and as usual she’d told me to leave it to her. By the time we were ready to leave later in the afternoon it was obvious she’d given my girl a lot to think about.

  I’d made her take the day off from the restaurant since she’d made some big decisions that day. Leaving her job and enrolling her brother in a school where he might have to live with my mom.

  She hadn’t said much in the car on the way home but I know her well enough by now to know she was secretly freaking the hell out. She had that look in her eyes.

  Once back at the apartment the three of us sat down and had a serious talk. Travis, who’s that cool mix of kid and almost adult, led the conversation with all the reasons he thought it was a good idea for him to stay at mom’s place for the four months of his last semester of high school after the upcoming winter break, and spend weekends with us.

  It made sense to me but I know my girl, it’ll take her about a year to not worry about it. I talked her into getting some rest for once while Travis and I sat in the kitchen. The boy eats like ten times a day.

  I too was having serious second thoughts about splitting them up now that we’d come down to it, so I wanted to make sure that the kid was really down with the decision.

  ANNABELLE

  A nap sounded really good, but I was way too wound up to comply with Max’s orders. Am I doing the right thing? Everything seems to be going too fast.

  When I look back, we’d only known each other for less than two months. What am I doing? I was starting to feel that pressure on my chest again, like I was about to pass out.

  My mind wouldn’t settle because I couldn’t see around the corner to what might be waiting for me next. I can take care of myself but it’s not just me. My brother is the only family I have left…

  Panic had me jumping from the bed and heading back out of the room headed for the kitchen where the guys were hanging out. I’ll look into his eyes and know if he’s telling me the truth. That this is what he really wants to do.

  I came up short outside the door when I heard Max’s voice. I wasn’t sure what I was about to hear but something told me to listen in. My heart raced in that sickening way it does when you think something bad is about to happen.

  “Are you sure you want to stay at my mom’s place? I remember you saying you came here to be with your sister. We can get you a car and you can drive in and back each day.”

  “It’s true I came to look out for my sister, but that’s before I knew she had you. Besides, I think you two need your space.”

  “What? Is that the reason you’re staying with mom? You think I’d separate you two so I can have time alone with your sister? What do you take me for? If that’s what you have on your mind you can forget it. You’ll stay here with us.”

  “What are you smiling about?”

  “I’m glad you feel that way, I just wanted to be sure.”

  “Sure about what?”

  “You! I watched you the last week or so and I have a pretty good idea how you feel about my sister, I just wanted to be sure.”

  “So you’ve been watching me huh.”

  “Yep! Like you said, I came here to look out for her, but you’re doing a good job so I can relax. At least at your mom’s I’m only an hour away by car or two by train. If I go back to Ohio it’ll take me much longer to get to her if she needs me.”

  “Are you being straight with me? Because you leaving to give us our space is not acceptable. I know no matter how close you are she’s still going to worry about you.”

  “That’s a given, she’s always going to worry because that’s what big sisters do, but this way I’m closer. Just promise me that you won’t hurt her.”

  “Hey, you have my word as a man, I will never hurt her.”

  I was holding my breath so hard it hurt my chest. I fought back the tears as the conversation in the other room continued, wishing it was as easy for me to accept as it seemed to be for my little brother.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “You sound like her. Let me see if I can explain this so you understand. For as long as I can remember there were two people who lived in a special place in my heart. Tony and mom.”

  “No one else has ever been able to enter that place in all these years, except your sister. The people who enter this place can never be removed by anyone or anything.”

  “How do you know that it’s real though? That it won’t pass in a few months or a year?” The

  question and the hint of insecurity reminded me that my brother may have the body of a man but he was still a child. A child who was trying to protect his sister.

  I’d been so focused on taking care of him that it never entered my mind that he would be just as worried about me as well. The boy might not know all of what had happened with mom, but he’d suffered the same things I had. I too was his only family. The reminder was humbling as I listened for Max’s answer.

  “I knew the first moment I saw her. More than knowing there was a feeling that I can’t explain. It felt better than the first time I threw a touchdown in a professional game.”

  “Wow really, is that how it happens? Is that how love works?”

  I could imagine his eyes wide with wonder. Those football references might go right over my head but for Travis they’re like the Holy Grail or something.

  “I don’t know how it works for anyone else, but that’s how it worked out for me. So you don’t have to worry kid. Just do me one favor. If you ever see me hurting your sister in anyway I want you to call me on it.”

  “I don’t mean cheating or any of that assholish bullshit, that’s not gonna happen. But if she ever seems down or like something’s bothering her that she doesn’t want to tell me, I’ma need you to keep me posted.”

  “I’m gonna hold you to that, Max. She’s been hurt enough. Now I can go off to college next fall without worrying about her.”

  “I’ll take care of her and we’ll both take care of you.”

  “You have my permission to kick my ass if I ever hurt her. Of course you’d have to stand in line behind Tony and mom because they’re on her side too.”

  “I like momma Sophie, she gives the best talks.” Momma Sophie? When did he start calling her that? I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but he was right, she did give the best talks.

  “I know she does, I wanted you to have that, you and your sister. She’d never steer you wrong and she’d never let me hurt Annabelle, not in a million

  years so you can stop worrying.”

  ‘Thanks Max.”

  “Don’t mention it. I’m gonna go check on your sister. Be right back.”

  Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. I tiptoed back down the hallway as quietly as I could and jumped into bed. I pulled the covers over me and closed my eyes just as I heard him in the doorway.

  I felt and sensed him come to stand over me and it was all I could do not to open my eyes. There was so much going on inside me and I knew any minute now I was going to start bawling.

  He didn’t stay long, which was a good thing because the hand he brushed over my hair and the sweet kiss he planted on my forehead were my undoing.

  I opened my eyes as soon as I felt him leave and the tears just started flowing. My chest had been tight in one way or another since my parents’ divorce. Today for the first time in almost two years that tightness began to ease.

  There was still a sense of standing at the edge of a cliff in a high wind, but now there was also that sense of impending joy. For once I chose to push the worry and fear to the side and grab ahold of that little glimmer of joy and hope.

  His words still rang in my ears, words that pierced my heart in the sweetest way. Could I really trust in him? I want to, am almost compelled to.

  He’d spoken so easily about the things he’d felt that first night, things I myself had been shying away from. Things I’d refused to trust, my own feelings that first time.

  I took out all the thi
ngs he’s said and done since we met and reevaluated them over and over again looking for any kind of deceit, but I kept coming away with the same thing. He was for real.

  I’d already been swaying after this morning’s talk with his mom. She had some very convincing arguments, things that made sense when heard from someone else. Someone who for whatever reason I seem to trust without question.

  I wish it was as easy as taking a deep breath and diving in the way I used to when I was learning to swim in the deep end, which this felt like, but there was so much at stake how can I?

  Travis seems to believe in him one hundred percent and I know my brother to be a good judge of character. Plus knowing how protective he is of me, I don’t think he’d approve of any relationship that he didn’t think was good for me.

  So the only thing standing in my way was my own fear. Without the fear, Max would be the ideal man for any woman, let alone someone as undeserving as I.

  In the past week I’ve been tempted more than once to just give in, but something always held me back. But now, now I know his heart and there’s no longer any reason for me not to give this thing a try.

  When I look back at the things he’s done it’s almost too much to believe. No wonder it was so hard for me to accept. In less than two months he’s given me a job, moved my brother and I into his luxury apartment, all things that I’d long learned not expect.

  But now that I’d heard him, the emotion and ring of truth in the words, how could I not at least think about it? The fact that he was willing to let Travis stay makes all the difference to me.

  I’d been straddling the fence even after his mother’s counsel, but those words have given me that last little push I needed.

  I wanted to run back down the hallway and jump into his arms, that’s how happy I am. But I don’t want him to know that I know, let him sweat it out for a little while longer. He’s too damn sure of himself. I smiled at the thought.

  Now that my mind was clear I felt light, free, happy, almost giddy in fact. Seen through new eyes everything he did that was once suspect is now mind blowing and very flattering.

  “To hell with this!” I jumped out of bed and made my way down the hallway. I made sure my footsteps were loud enough that they’d hear me coming.

  “Hi guys, what you been up to?” I ignored their confused looks and walked towards the cupboards looking for ingredients. I love baking when I’m happy.

  They were still watching me silently when I turned from the cupboard. “We need to go to the store, I need stuff to bake.” I hid my smile when Max looked at Travis questioningly before getting to his feet.

  The three of us headed downstairs and walked past the two seat Spyder to a Hummer. “What’s this?” I asked as he walked me around to the passenger side.

  “Travis can’t fit in the Lamborghini, this is my backup.”

  “Wait that’s yours?” Travis pointed to the sports car with a crestfallen look on his face that he wasn’t going to get to ride in it.

  “I’ll bring it out to mom’s one of these weekends and let you take it for a spin.” My brother almost fell on his face. That’s all we heard as we drove the few blocks to the supermarket.

  It was amusing to listen to the back and forth between the two of them on the ride. Max was trying to be a father figure it was obvious, and Travis was being a usual teenager who would do anything to have his way.

  When Max put his foot down about him driving the car in the city and even threatened him with an ass whipping if he ever snuck the keys I relaxed a

  little bit more.

  I went for maybe four things and ended up with two carts. Between the two of them, I’m not sure who was worst. “What? It’s been a while since I’ve been in one of these places, I forgot how much fun it is.”

  That was Max’s explanation when I gave him a look after he placed another bag of chips in the cart. The two of them carried the million and one packages to the truck when we were through and I can’t remember the last time something as simple as a trip to the store gave me so much life.

  Back at the apartment, I sent them out of the kitchen after planting a kiss on Max that left him all kinds of confused if the look he gave me as he left was any indication.

  I spent the next two hours making brownies which are Travis’ favorite and my special German chocolate cake. They descended on it like starving wolves. And when Max picked me up and spun me around after his first taste of my cake, I felt my heart open up just a little bit more.

  Chapter 27

  I feel like I fell down the damn rabbit hole. Maybe she’d had a nice dream or some shit because the woman who came back from her nap was a completely different person to the one who’d driven back from the island.

  Between the supermarket run and the baking I wasn’t sure what the fuck to think. And that kiss before I left the kitchen just now, a kiss that she initiated, only left me more confused. Happy, delighted, but confused as all hell all the same.

  “What’s up with her?” I whispered the question to Travis as soon as we hit the upstairs gym. She had me so spooked I was still whispering even though I knew she couldn’t hear us.

  “Here’s a tip. When she’s mad she cooks like an angel, when she’s happy she bakes like a queen. Keep those two things straight and you’ll be just fine.”

  “Damn, I’m gonna gain weight.” I removed some of the weights from the bar as he laid back on the bench to lift.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because she’s always going to be happy.” Can’t ever fucking win.

  I worked through my sets after spotting him without feeling a thing, because my mind was filled with her and what had brought about the change.

  She was still in the kitchen when we headed back downstairs, and swear to fuck I think she was singing. I sniffed my sweaty arms debating if I should go to her or get cleaned up first. Of course she won, she always will.

  I peeped around the doorway and she was puttering around the kitchen with a bowl in her hand mixing something with a wooden spoon, singing at the top of her lungs.

  I couldn’t resist. Seeing her this happy made me all kinds of fucked up. I walked into the room and she looked up in surprise as I walked over and took her face in my hands.

  I caught her lips and laid one on her with the bowl between us. “I like seeing you like this.” I left her and hit the shower.

  The surprises didn’t end there. All evening and into the night she was the most relaxed I’d ever seen her. When I pulled her onto my lap to watch TV she didn’t complain, but made herself comfortable, even turned her face up for a kiss before turning back to the screen.

  And later when I took her to bed after she started to fade, it was she who held me back and wouldn’t let me leave. It was she who pulled my head down to hers for our nightly kiss.

  I ended up covering her on the bed as the kiss got hotter. By the time I moved off of her, my dick had gone beyond just being hard and my damn eyes were crossed. But as hot as her innocent kisses were that night, I knew she still wasn’t ready.

  Besides, when I take her the first time I don’t want any witnesses to what I’m going to do to her. I have no doubt that once I get inside her shit’s going to get wild.

  I didn’t want to leave her though, didn’t want to wake up the next day to a change, so I laid in bed next to her with her head on my chest until she fell asleep. I’d planned on leaving as soon as she passed out, but found myself reluctant to let her go.

  Her weight on my chest felt right, being that close to her felt like it was meant to be. I must’ve smelt her hair and kissed her temple a hundred times as I listened to her easy breathing in sleep.

  I let myself relax and realized I’d been tensed up all night waiting for the other shoe to drop. Travis said goodnight from the doorway a little while later and closed the door before heading off to bed.

  His show of trust in me was just one more reason for me not to fuck up. I don’t know anyone who, knowing their histo
ry, would do that shit lightly.

  I tried getting out of her bed a little while later when I was sure she was down for the night, but she made a complaining sound in her throat and held onto me. I was really starting to eat up these little shows of affection.

  It was morning the next time I opened my eyes but this time unlike the last, she was still asleep. I laid there taking in the feel of her in my arms, ignoring the raging hard on that pushed against the shorts I’d slept in.

  I rolled to the side putting her beneath me and kissed her awake. The kiss was soft and sweet and when I pressed my hard cock into her she opened her thighs invitingly, not quite fully awake.

  I dry fucked her until I reached the point where I was going to embarrass myself before pulling back. “Good morning.” I placed little nibbling kisses around her lips and was rewarded with the feel of her hands as they moved over my back.

  Fuck, I could wake up like this every day for the rest of my life and that would do me.

  “You slept here?” Her eyes were clear and bright as she smiled up at me. I thought my heart was going to explode at that smile.

  I nodded my answer and lowered my head for one last kiss before climbing out of her bed. “You have dance today right, and then that’s it?” She rolled over and hugged the pillow I’d just left.

  “Yes, I have to get up soon.” She sniffed my scent from the pillow before looking back at me with an impish grin. The fuck is going on? I wasn’t exactly wary when I backed out of her room, but it was close.

  All morning I tried to get a bead on just what the hell was going on in her head. While she’d been in the shower I’d made a quick call to mom who had no answer as to why the sudden change, and I wasn’t about to ask Anna for fear of things going back to the way they were before.

  I decided to just watch her and enjoy the peace for now. My biggest surprise came when she actually brought up using the dance floor at the club for her school as Tony drove her to school that morning.

  “If the offer still stands I’d love to use the space, but only if you let me pay you something. With that much space I can take the kids I had to reject before. I can probably offer more classes, I’ll have to rearrange my schedule. It would mean you losing a waitress though.”