Bulletproof

by Melissa Pearl

  “I know. You must miss her all the time.”

  “I do.” Isabella’s face crested with pain. “And that’s why I can’t keep using my job as an excuse to ignore this.” She raised her arms and pointed around the studio. “This place used to thrive, but then she got sick and I was away at college, dancing and carving out my future.” She shrugged. “Then she died and there was no one to keep it going. I was too heartbroken to even think about coming in here. I couldn’t believe she left it all to me.” Isabella gazed around the old space, a nostalgic smile cresting over her lips. “But it’s time. I guess I’ve just been waiting for the right person to help me.”

  “And you think I’m it?”

  “I know you’re it.” She scratched the top of her head. “You’re talented, passionate, organized, you have a degree in business that has gone to total waste. You’re intelligent, confident and I think that you, and only you, can take this place and turn it into a great little school.”

  “You want me to run a dance school?”

  She looked me straight in the eye, a little smirk playing on her lips. “You betchya.”

  “I’m—I’ve never done anything like that.”

  “Me neither, but you’ve got what it takes, Morgan. Come on, can you honestly say your current job is fulfilling?”

  I pressed my lips together and looked to the floor.

  “This could be amazing! We’ll clean it up and get it ready to go. We can hire an extra teacher and just start with a few after-school jazz classes. There are two studios.” She pointed across the hall. “And the performing arts schools are busting with students who want to teach and get more experience. We can totally get something going. We could have little concerts for the parents to attend. It’d be great. I’ve got all these ideas, but I just don’t have the time or know-how to actually make them happen. I need you, Morgan. I need your help.”

  I looked across the space, scratching my arm and trying to think it through.

  “Oh yeah, and there’s a little apartment studio-type thing upstairs, so you could live here too, if you wanted. Free of charge.”

  My nose twitched as I stepped to the barre, running my fingers along it. “Would there be a wage?”

  “Of course. Grandma left me a little nest egg to go with the studio, so there’s enough to pay a small wage, and then as soon as this place is making a profit we can increase it. The place is freehold, so it’s not like we have mortgage repayments to deal with.”

  “How long’s it been sitting empty like this?”

  “About five years. Mom’s been trying to convince me to sell it, but I just can’t do it. I need to keep Grandma’s legacy going, you know?”

  “Yeah, that’s cool.” I leaned against the barre, a quiver of excitement whistling through me. I could do this. I knew I could. It’d be hard, and I’d feel like I was drowning until I got my head around everything, but I could do it.

  And the best part was...I actually wanted to.

  “Okay.” I nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  “Really?” Isabella jumped to her tiptoes and let out a squeal before running toward me for a hug. “Thank you!” She stepped back, holding me at arm’s length. “You are not going to regret this.”

  I grinned with her and nodded. “You know what, I don’t think I am.”

  She let out another squeal, and I pulled her in for another hug.

  It felt good.

  Like I was doing something right for me.

  The tendril of calm whispering through my soul pulsed a loud beat, reminding me that it was still there and ready to grow.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  SEAN

  It had been four days since my chat with Mama, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I rested my feet on the glass coffee table and pressed my head back into the black leather couch. When I first moved into my place, the silence was a gift. No screaming grandkids tearing around the furniture, no brothers debating whatever topic was hot, no sisters squabbling or squealing over their latest news. I’d relished the peace, the calm.

  But now...

  It was unnerving. After working such long hours, I would have thought a day at home on my own would refresh me, recharge my batteries, but it was just plain suffocating, and there was only so much screen time I could stomach.

  Pop had rung me last night, to check in, but filming hadn’t been going well and I couldn’t chat. Since my big ‘fess up, I knew they were both worried about me. I should have been popping down for lunch, but I couldn’t move.

  I was tired, down to my core. Good sleep was a thing of the past, my restless mind unable to switch off.

  I gazed at the contract sitting on the glass near my feet. I still hadn’t signed it. I hadn’t even read the whole thing through; every time I started, the restlessness grew to an insane itch.

  My eyes had skimmed the amount they were offering me, and it was near double what they’d paid me this season.

  But was that enough to re-sign?

  In the back of my head, I’d been assuming that I’d finish out the season and figure out what I really wanted to do. I could win Morgan back over the summer break and...then what?

  The decisions were now on my doorstep, and I couldn’t decide what to do. In my gut, I knew I had to go one way or the other and live with the fallout.

  So it came down to the simple question...what could I live without?

  The doorbell rang.

  Part of me wanted to ignore it, but Lisa had told us our scripts would be arriving by courier today, and I needed to get on with learning my lines.

  We would be starting rehearsals for the last episode soon.

  Jumping up, I placed my beer down next to that wretched contract and vaulted over the couch.

  A courier stood at the door, envelope in hand.

  “Sign here.”

  I grabbed the pen and mangled my name over the screen. It was impossible to write on those things.

  “Thanks.” I nodded.

  The courier gave me a shy, flirtatious smile, her cheeks blooming with color. I forced a grin before shutting the door.

  Heading back to the living room, I tapped the envelope on my fingers, feeling a CD within it. That’d be the songs we had to learn. Ripping it open, I emptied it onto the dining room table, putting the CD on to play while I read over the script.

  With the remote in one hand and the script in the other, I sat down and started reading.

  Sasha was back, returning after her stint on the road. She and Harley meet up in the hallway at school, and the second he sees her, he knows...he can’t live without her anymore.

  I swallowed, the text on the page going blurry.

  Blinking, I cleared my throat and forced myself to keep reading, pausing to play the songs. There was a pretty awesome all-cast number in the middle that I was sure Isabella would have fun choreographing.

  I paused the CD and kept flicking through the pages, my face bunching into a frown as I neared the end of the script.

  HARLEY: The truth is, Sash, I don’t care what it costs me. I don’t want to live without you anymore.

  SASHA: You could lose everything. You love this job.

  HARLEY: I love you more. This place without you is cold and lonely, and I’d rather not be here at all if I know you’re with someone else. We should be together. You know it. I know it.

  SASHA: But it’ll be a fight.

  HARLEY: It’s love, baby. That’s always worth fighting for.

  Harley sings Fight For You.

  With my heartbeat on hold, I pressed play and “Fight For You” by Jason Derulo began to play. I closed my eyes as the lyrics washed over me, soaking into my skin. I could imagine the kind of dance Isabella would have planned for us. The difference was, the only person I could picture in my arms was Morgan.

  Squeezing my eyes tight, I gripped the script in my hand, the pages creasing before I threw them into the air.

  They showered down around me, floating onto the furniture
and over the floor.

  Shit!

  I was a fool.

  I was a coward...and that stopped right now, because my karaoke girl was worth fighting for.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  MORGAN

  I propped the mop against the wall and stood back to survey our progress. The floor was looking pretty damn good. I wanted it to shine more, but it would once Cole had brought back the wax.

  I glanced at my watch, calculating how long it might take him. He should be back within the next 20 minutes, and I’d get to work on it right away. By tonight, this studio would be ready to go. I’d start on the next one tomorrow.

  It had been a really long week, but the music had blasted the whole time, making cleaning up this place a pleasure.

  I wanted it open-able by the end of the month. Isabella had already had a few sign-ups. We were starting out small, but with a little word of mouth, we’d grow.

  She’d asked me to teach the first children’s class that came in, which I nervously agreed to. As soon as Superstar finished filming in a couple of weeks, we would open up high school and adult classes. We were starting with jazz and hip hop, but hoping to branch into some of the old-school stuff eventually and offer up swing and ballroom dancing. I just had to track down some teachers. Our brainstorming session last week had been huge and totally inspiring. I had a feeling we’d be booming in no time.

  I grinned.

  Folding my arms, I watched my two minions cleaning the mirrors. It was a massive job. Ella was up on a chair, trying to reach the top. I’d have to get that later. She was such a shorty. I chuckled, walking over to help her.

  Jody was down on her knees, her belly resting on her thighs as she sprayed and wiped. Brushing her hand over her forehead, she flicked some stray tendrils off her face.

  She was looking tired today.

  The baby was due in four weeks, and she was getting to that awkward waddling stage. She looked amazing if you asked me, but she would vehemently deny it when I called her beautiful.

  Thankfully, she was healthy. The baby was growing fine, and the only thing Jody was really suffering from pregnancy-wise was heartburn.

  She used the barre to lift herself up and pressed the side of her tummy with a frown.

  “Baby kicking?” I asked.

  “Baby freaking break dancing. The kid won’t stop.” She shook her head, but I noticed a small smile graze her lips. She wanted to be grumpy and bitter, but she actually had a light glow about her.

  Not that I’d tell her that. When it came to her situation, it was better not to say anything.

  I reached out to take the cloth off her but stopped when Ella squealed, “I love this song!”

  She jumped down from her chair and slid over to the stereo, pumping up the volume and shimmering back over the floor as Beyoncé belted out “Single Ladies”.

  I threw my head back with a laugh and pulled Jody over to join her.

  The three of us lined up in the mirror and copied Beyoncé’s moves, singing along as we went. Jody, in spite of her shape, was awesome, dancing like the natural talent she was.

  The music flowed over me, electrifying my muscles as I gave into it.

  When the song came to a finish, we held our poses for a beat and then looked at each other in the mirror and all started laughing. I wrapped my arm around my bestie and kissed the top of her head, and then glanced over at Jody.

  Her smile dropped away as her face bunched with a frown.

  “You okay?” I moved around Ella and placed my hand on Jody’s back as she bent forward and winced.

  “Yeah, just pains.”

  Rubbing circles over her back, I murmured my sympathies.

  “I’m gonna go lie down. My body is so not cut out for those types of moves anymore.”

  I stepped back with a smile. “It will be again. Not long to go now.”

  “You’ve seen my ass, right? It’s the size of Mother Russia.” She put on a Russian accent, flicking her hands in the air. “I can’t ever imagine having a perky butt again, let alone dancing like some sexy young thing.”

  Ella and I both giggled.

  “It will happen.” Ella kissed her cheek and guided her toward the door. “Go lie down, Fatty.” She winked.

  Jody tried to throw her an evil glare but broke into a tired smile as she backed out of the room. I turned the music down and heard her clomping up the last few stairs. Cole had pulled a mattress up there for me a few nights ago. It was supposedly for me, but Jody had used it twice already.

  I frowned.

  “She’s okay. She’s just pregnant and tired.” Ella gave me a sympathetic smile.

  “Yeah, I know. I just hate that she’s in this position.”

  “Me too, but she’ll get through this.”

  “I hope she can make the right decision when the time comes.”

  “The adoption thing?”

  I nodded. “We’ve managed to fill in most of the paperwork, but I haven’t submitted it yet. I must get onto that.” I made a mental note to call the agency and make sure I had everything in order before sending it all in.

  “You’re worried she’ll regret giving it up?”

  “No, I’m worried she’ll keep it and then regret it...fourteen years later.” I raised my eyebrows.

  “She’s not your mom and she has us. There’s a big difference, Morgan. Your mom had no one, except your dad and a very judgmental mother-in-law.”

  I frowned.

  “Come on, you have to admit that Grandma Deb has changed a lot over the years. She must have been a total battleaxe when your mom was first on the scene.”

  I had to give in with a small nod. It was true. Grandma Deb had grown in her old age, wisdom making her softer side bloom.

  “Jody is surrounded by support. We’re not going to let her down.”

  “No, we’re not.” I crossed my arms and straightened my back, more determined than ever to protect my kid sister. “I just wish I could have protected her from this.”

  Ella shrugged. “It was Jody’s choice. You can’t control what happens to her. Just like she can’t control what that douche bag decided to do.” Ella frowned. “Too worried about his career to fight for his kid? Seriously!”

  That familiar wave of sadness washed over me as I thought of Sean’s stance on his career. I dropped my gaze to the floor. Ella must have noticed, because I saw her grimace out of the corner of my eye.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I wish we could make people do what we want them to. Life would be so much easier.”

  “I guess.” I shrugged. “But then it wouldn’t mean anything, would it?”

  Ella tipped her head, her eyes searching my face.

  I flicked my hands in the air. “If the father of Jody’s kid ever did man-up and arrive on her doorstep, she’d need to know it was because he really wanted to be there, not because she was making him.”

  It didn’t take a genius to figure out that I was actually talking about Sean.

  I recrossed my arms. “Sometimes people do things that hurt you, but you just have to let it go and move forward. You can’t let other people’s actions own you.” I replayed the words in my head, vowing to say them with more confidence next time, to speak them until I believed them with my whole being.

  “I don’t know what it is about you.” Ella’s lips tipped with a grin. “I thought at first it was this studio and the chance to do a job you’ll no doubt love, but something else is going on. You were strong before. No, wait; you were tough, now you’re strong. I don’t know if I’m explaining that very well, but...” Her head tipped to the side, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me. “What happened to you last week? You know, before you quit your job.”

  A smile flashed across my face, but I quickly swallowed it down. “Maybe I’ll tell you about it some time.”

  Ella’s face crested with worry. “You’re still my bulletproof lady though, right? Nothing’s gonna beat you?”

  My smile reappeared,
the calm within me blossoming, reminding me it wasn’t going anywhere. “Ella, by the time I work my way through all this, I’m gonna be freaking titanium.”

  I winked at her perplexed expression and then jumped as the music changed.

  “Oh! I’ve been working on a dance for this. Thought it might be fun to do with the kids.”

  I ran into the center of the room and beckoned Ella to my side, holding my position until the beat kicked in.

  Britt Nicole started singing “Ready or Not”, and my limbs moved in quick, sharp moves that were crisp, clear, and strong. Ella copied me, grinning as the words pumped out of the speakers. I had kept the steps simple so the kids could pick it up quickly. I watched us move in the mirror, a smile pulling my cheeks wide. The song was all about shining a light, and that’s how I felt as I spun and moved across the floor.

  I was a beacon, and I wanted the young dancers to feel that way too. I wanted them to know that oblivion and darkness were not things to strive for. They needed to shine and capture every moment.

  The song had a quick finish, and we held our poses for a second, out of breath and grinning like monkeys.

  A slow clap started in the doorway, and we spun to see Cole smiling at us, his blue eyes aimed at his girl. “I think that’s about the sexiest thing I’ve seen all day.”

  Ella put her hands on her hips. “Sexier than me getting out of bed this morning? I am highly offended.”

  Her sweet giggle turned into a hearty laugh as he raced toward her and scooped her into a hug. She wrapped her legs around his middle and smiled at me over his shoulder. He spun her around and planted kisses on her neck, which just made her giggle more.

  She pulled back and rested her arms on his shoulders, gazing down at him with a look that could only be described as pure love.

  I told myself to turn away and let them have their private moment, but I couldn’t. As their lips met for a kiss that said it all, a pain shot through my chest, an aching throb that continued to haunt me...no matter how far down the forgive my mother road I traveled.