All In

by Marta Brown

  “Thanks. It’s a special blend we make in-house.”

  “And up there? Is that like a library?” I ask, not sure if the books are for customers to enjoy while here or if they’re for sale.

  “Feel free to sit and read, or buy. Both are cool,” she says, picking up her own tattered book from off the counter. “And let me know if you need anything else, kay?”

  I head up the winding staircase and I’m reminded of the lighthouse and the last time Ashley and I were there together. The night she told me about her grandfather reading to her as a child and how that inspired her to dance. Maybe I’ll luck out and they’ll have a copy of it. Her birthday is soon, and it’s kind of a fitting gift considering why we’re in Boston in the first place. I chew on my straw trying to remember the name of the book. It had something to do with dancing and princesses, but I can’t think of the exact title.

  I glance around at the other people scattered throughout the shop then over the railing at the barista who just helped me. The music is playing pretty loudly, definitely not your typical book store, so I clear my throat hoping I’m not about to make an ass out of myself by yelling down to her.

  “Umm…excuse me?” I say just loud enough for her to hear me over the music.

  “Yeah?” she calls back even louder and not fazed at all. Whew.

  “Do you have a book about princesses…who dance? I think there’s a bunch of them, like ten or something.” I shrug, as two girls across the balcony laugh, but I don’t care. It’s for my girl.

  She smiles. “You mean The Twelve Dancing Princesses?”

  “Yes. That’s it,” I say, relieved she knows what book I’m talking about.

  “Yeah, we do. It’s an old imprint from the twenties if I remember right. In pretty good shape.” She scans the shelves rolling the piercing in her cheek between her thumb and pointer finger before gesturing to the bookshelf on my right. “That bookshelf is mostly folklore and fantasy so it should be in there.”

  “Thanks.” I nod, hoping she’s right.

  I browse the shelves until I find it tucked between a copy of The Hobbit and Animal Farm. The spine is worn, but the pages are in good condition. I hope it looks like the one her grandfather used to read to her, but either way I think she’ll love it.

  Not wanting to be late, I skim a few more shelves then head down stairs to pay. A small carrousel of cards sits next to the check out and I find a card covered in pink balloons. Perfect. I slip the book and card into a plain brown paper sack and stick it under the front seat of my car for safe keeping before heading back into the studio.

  I’m definitely not late. It’s nearly two hours later when the door to the auditorium creeks open and Ashley steps out in her leotard and tights, her face bright pink and glowing.

  “How’d it go?” I ask, jumping up from the cold stone floor. I reach out to wrap her in my arms, but she hops backwards and out of my grasp.

  “Noooo, I’m all sweaty.” She giggles. “You might want to wait until I take a shower.”

  “Come here, you.” I grab her around the waist and lift her up into my arms, her whole body vibrating from the inside out with happiness. “Now tell me, how’d it go?” I ask again, kissing her smiling cheek.

  “It was amazing.” She loops her arms around my neck and gives me a chaste kiss. “And you are amazing for doing this for me,” she whispers against my mouth before kissing me again, more deeply.

  Reluctantly, I set her down when another dancer comes out of the auditorium doors, startling us from our own little world.

  I take her hand and pull her to a set of chairs that are tucked into a corner away from the auditorium so we won’t be interrupted again. “So?”

  She looks at me with a smile so sweet and happy that it crinkles her eyes and makes me want to see that smile for the rest of my life. “Well, it’s all kind of a blur.”

  “I want to hear about every second,” I say. “No matter how small the detail.”

  “You sure?” she asks.

  I settle back in my chair. I’m not going anywhere. “Everything.”

  “Lane, it was so exciting, and scary, and… and…amazing,” she says with a sigh, falling back into her chair looking exhausted and relieved and happier than I’ve ever seen her. “It was the longest two minutes of my life.”

  Two minutes?

  “But, you were in there for almost three hours.”

  “I know! After I did my solo they asked me to stay, with a handful of other dancers who had auditioned earlier, and they taught us a choreographed number. That’s what took so long,” she explains. “The solo I did was two minutes long, but it felt like a lifetime since I had to make it up on the spot.”

  That was my fault. The website said to come prepared with a two minute solo, I just figured she’d have one she already knew. Oops.

  “Baby, I’m so sorry.”

  “No. I’m glad I had no idea you planned the audition. Instead of over thinking what I should do and trying to make sure I did everything perfect, I just danced. I let myself feel the music and then poured myself out on that stage, thinking about you.”

  I lean forward and put my finger under her chin, lifting her lips to mine. “I am so proud of you,” I say, staring into Ashley’s eyes, in total awe of my girl.

  “Thank you, baby,” she replies as I brush a curl from her face. She leans into my hand and kisses my palm before looking up at me through her lashes. “I never could have done this without you,” she whispers.

  I stand up and give her a quick kiss on the forehead, her sincerity overwhelming me to the point that I have to swallow down a growing lump in my throat.

  “Now about this shower…” I say with a flirtatious wink, trying to get a hold of my emotions before they get the best of me in the middle of this dance company’s studio.

  I’m rewarded with a slap to my arm and a bright pink blush that floods Ashley’s cheeks. Man I love this girl.

  Chapter 22

  Ashley

  Rays of soft sunlight flutter in through the curtains waking me gently from my deep sleep. I stretch my sore muscles as I roll over and glance at the clock. On the pillow next to me is a small piece of paper folded neatly in half. I sit up and yawn, causing the blanket I’m under to pool around my waist as I pick up the note.

  Wanted to let you sleep in.

  Ran to get us breakfast.

  Be back soon.

  Love,

  L

  “So sweet,” I swoon out loud, falling back into the feathery pillows, a smile on my face and Lane’s note clutched in my hand.

  I’d practically fallen into a heap last night after taking a shower and devouring the cheeseburger Lane ordered for me from room service, so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. The last thing I remember was curling up in Lane’s arms and hearing his heart beat through his soft white tee-shirt.

  I’m crawling back in bed after a quick trip to the restroom when the door clicks and opens. Lane peeks his head in through the crack, then gives me a heart stopping smile when he sees I’m awake. He pushes the door open with his foot, his hands full with two coffees and a white paper bag.

  “Morning,” he says, setting the coffees down on the table by the window then coming over and kissing me hello.

  I kiss him back, thankful I brushed my teeth already.

  “Hi,” I reply with a smile before I’m hit with the scent of fresh baked pastries. “Yum, that smells so good.” I nod toward the bag.

  “For you,” he says, opening it and letting me peer inside.

  “You didn’t have to do this.” I pull out a glaze donut and lick my lips as my mouth begins to water.

  Lane eyes my lips “You didn’t have to do that.”

  I take a quick bite of the sugary treat then lick my lips again, eliciting a soft growl from Lane. “Oh, you mean that?” I taunt.

  “Exactly,” he says, taking the donut from my hand and dropping it back in the bag on the bedside table.

  I fall ba
ckwards giggling as Lane crawls onto the bed, puts a hand on each side of my head and hovers his body over mine, the donuts all but forgotten. I lick my lips, this time unconsciously, waiting while he lowers his body agonizingly slow until it’s pressed against mine, our lips finding one another easily.

  “Sweet,” he says, flicking his tongue out and running it across my lips, his voice husky and his eyes so full of fire it makes me shiver.

  Deepening our kiss, our hands move hungrily over one another’s bodies until the soft rays of the morning sun have become the bright beams of early afternoon light.

  My lips feel sore in the best kind of way, and I’m fairly certain my hair must look like a crow’s nest as Lane and I catch our breaths.

  “As much as I want to stay in bed and kiss you all day long, we do have some sights to see,” Lane says reluctantly, but still continuing to kiss down my neck. I’m not convinced he really plans to leave the room, which I’m totally okay with.

  “Do we have to?” I protest, arching into him still breathless, but joking. Kind of.

  Lane rolls over and rubs his hand down his face, fighting a war with himself that makes me smile because I know how he feels. He takes a few deep breaths then jumps up, walks to the window and throws open the curtains letting the almost blinding sun into the room. “Okay. Up.”

  “Fine,” I huff with a smile. “Give me thirty minutes.” I hop off the bed, grab my bag and pad barefoot into the bathroom to get ready.

  I spray on the candy scented body splash Lane loves, do a quick turnaround in the mirror, then step out of the bathroom dressed in a pair of white jean shorts, a blue and white striped top and my red flip flops, my hair down and curly.

  Lane’s eyes roam my body. “You look very patriotic…and really good…”

  “Don’t start that or we’ll never get out of here,” I tease. “So, where are we going?” I’m curious what he has planned that’s so important we had to stop kissing.

  “Well, I kinda wanted to walk the community college campus if that’s where I’ll be spending the next year.”

  Of course.

  I feel my smile fall at the mention of the community college. I can’t help but be sad at the idea of us being separated in the fall.

  “Baby, don’t worry,” Lane says, cupping my face in his hands. “You’re gonna get the spot with the dance company, and we’ll be together all year.”

  I’m doubtful, with all the amazing talent I saw that I’ll get a spot in the company, but I’m not going to give up trying, not anymore and I’m definitely not going to ruin our day. “You’re right. Next year will be great,” I say cheerily, putting a smile back on Lane’s face and hope in both our hearts. “Let’s go check out the campus, and maybe we’ll find some cute apartments nearby for me.”

  …

  The campus is beautiful. Dozens of red brick buildings covered in deep green ivy pepper the quaint property and a small central courtyard, filled with summer students milling about is lined with cherry blossom trees and walking paths.

  “Do you love it?” I ask Lane as we walk off campus and back onto the busy city street, our hands entwined.

  He takes a deep breath followed by an even deeper sigh before answering.

  “It’s great…I guess. It’s just not Yale,” he says, looking down at his feet. “I worked so hard to get in, and now because of one stupid mistake and circumstances beyond my control I feel like all my hard work was for nothing.”

  I give his hand a gentle squeeze. “Don’t give up just yet. We still have the Yale meet and greet to see if something can be done,” I offer, hoping I’m not setting Lane up for another disappointment.

  He nods giving me a smile, but I can tell it’s forced. “Let’s not worry about that today,” he says, trying to change the subject and both of our moods. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “There cannot possibly be any more surprises.”

  “Just one more,” Lane says with a twinkle in his eye, putting Yale and his lost scholarship behind him, even if temporarily, and I know he’s doing it for me.

  An hour later, and at least a half dozen stops along the way so I can browse the shops, we arrive at Esplanade Park on the water’s edge. Red, white, and blue banners and flags hang everywhere my eyes can see, and a huge stage that resembles a clam shell with stars dangling from the ceiling rises up in front of us.

  “We’re going to the Boston Pops?” I hop on my toes and tug at Lane’s arm like a child.

  “See, Andrew wasn’t lying when he told your parents what you would be doing,” Lane says with a mischievous smile, making me laugh.

  The fireworks are spectacular. Lane and I watch them burst above us, his arms wrapped tightly around my body, as we sway to the accompanying music.

  We fight the crowds out of the park and make it back to our hotel fairly quickly. My feet are tired, and my shoulders are sunburned, but I’m happy. Happier than I have ever been, and I know it’s because of Lane.

  We step into our room to find housekeeping has been there. The curtains have been drawn closed, and the bed is made up with tiny chocolates resting on each of our pillows. A small lamp in the corner casts a warm glow throughout the room, and unlike last night when I was so exhausted it barely dawned on me Lane and I were sharing a hotel room, tonight every fiber in my being is well aware of that fact. Alone. All night.

  I stand in the middle of the room awkwardly while Lane pulls out his wallet and sets it on the dresser along with our room key, perfectly at ease.

  “Ummmm…” I say, fidgeting with my hands, not sure what to do with them as Lane walks over and stands right in front of me. “I guess we should… go to bed?”

  Lane’s eyes brighten. “If you insist,” he says in that charmingly flirty way only he can pull off.

  I know exactly what to do with my hands now. I pull back and swat at his arm, giggling. He captures my hand before it makes contact and pulls me close until our bodies are pressed against one another. My laughter fades when I see the way he’s looking at me with such reverence it takes my breath away.

  “I love when you laugh like that,” he says softly, tightening his arm around my waist, pressing us even closer. He brushes his thumb across my cheek as I lift up on my tip toes kissing his neck, his jaw, his cheek and finally his lips.

  “I just love you,” I whisper.

  Lane’s lips crash down against mine as he lifts me up and buries his hands in my hair. My arms and legs wrap around his body as he walks us backwards until the back of his knees hits the edge of the bed. Laying us down, our kisses are unrestrained like never before. “I love you so much, Lane,” I breathe.

  “I love you too,” he says over and over as he kisses me again and again while we make love until the first ribbons of pink and purple light from the rising sun start to flitter in through the muted cream curtains.

  Chapter 23

  Lane

  On our drive back to the ferry dock to meet Andrew, I can’t stop stealing quick looks at Ashley. She’s dangling her feet out the car window as her hair blows in the wind and a carefree smile plays on her lips.

  I can barely concentrate on the road thinking about the way Ashley felt in my arms last night. Her sun kissed shoulders, long legs, and soft lips flash behind my eyes. This girl has me tied up in knots, and I love it. Noticing I can’t take my eyes off her, Ashley pulls her legs in, leans over and whispers in my ear. “I love you.”

  Her words, just like last night, ignite a fire in me. I want nothing more than to pull the car over and kiss her, hard. “You’re gonna have to stop telling me that, otherwise I might not take you home at all. Keep you all to myself. Forever.”

  “Well, if that’s the case…” she says, twisting her body and tucking her feet under so she’s perched on her knees. “I,” she says, coming closer and brushing her nose along my jaw. “Love,” she whispers, nuzzling her lips against my ear lobe. “You,” she breathes quietly before fully assaulting my neck with her mouth.

  Th
at’s it.

  I whip the car over to the side of the old country road we’re on, throw the gear shift into neutral, and pull the emergency brake. I un-click Ashley’s seatbelt lightning fast and pull her onto my lap. Her tanned legs straddle me as I bury my hands deep in her hair and return her advances kiss for kiss. Each of us pushing and pulling and wanting and taking every bit the other is giving.

  “I. Need. Air.” Ashley pulls away from my mouth, her back pressed against the steering wheel. I shift slightly and take a few long deep breaths myself. Dusk is setting on the quiet tree lined road and the only things I hear are the sounds of crickets in the distance and Ashley and my heavy breathing.

  I watch Ashley, her eyes closed and her chest heaving, and I wonder if oxygen is really all that necessary. I want to kiss her again. I reach up, wrap my hand behind her neck and slowly draw her to me.

  “I could stay with you like this all night long,” I whisper against her lips, savoring every second we have left of our trip.

  Her eyes flutter open then go wide with panic. “It’s dark,” Ashley says, rolling her body off mine abruptly, and putting back on her seat belt. “Lane, we’re going to miss the ferry.”

  Crap. No more kissing for me.

  …

  “Cutting it pretty close there, sis,” Andrew says when we meet him on the main deck of the ferry, ours the very last car to arrive.

  “Um, we had some overheating issues…took awhile to cool it down,” Ashley says, giving me a sly smile.

  I wink at my girl. “She’s right. It was super hot.”

  “All right, that’s enough lover boy. That’s my sister you’re drooling all over,” Andrew says with mock disgust in his voice, but a genuine smile on his face.

  I pull Ashley into my arms and lean us against the railing. “So, how was your trip?” I ask Andrew.

  “Let’s just say it got pretty crazy. So, obviously it was awesome,” he says with a mischievous grin. “Oh and I think I own a bed and breakfast in upstate New York. Betting got deep at the private poker table.”