Piper gave him a sad smile. “It sounds like Lola Ramirez is not the dancer for you.”
Steps sounded behind him, and he whipped around to see a dark ponytail swishing as Lola ran across the ballroom and out the door.
“Please tell me she didn’t just hear us.”
Piper put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Drew.”
Lola Ramirez is not the dancer for you.
But she was. Drew just hadn’t gotten a chance to tell Piper he didn’t care about those rough edges or missed steps. Not when something about her was so compelling, drawing him in and refusing to let go.
He had to find her. Again.
He barely heard Piper call after him as he rushed past the remaining dancers out into the lobby. His dad tried to follow him, but he picked up speed, sprinting out into the parking lot. She wasn’t here. His eyes scanned the cars, looking for the girl he couldn’t get out of his head.
The one no one else seemed to think was good enough.
A string of curses left his mouth as he ran to his car and yanked the door open. Think. Where would Lola have gone?
He didn’t know where she lived and had no desire to face his brother right now, so there was only one other place he knew to check. The clock read four PM as he sped away from the resort. He couldn’t let Lola go so easily.
There was only one girl he wanted to dance with.
He pulled up to the studio and shut off his car, giving himself a minute to get his breathing under control.
When he was ready, he stepped out and squared his shoulders. Drew Stone danced on stage in front of thousands of people. He could face a single girl.
If she’d talk to him.
As he walked inside, two kids almost knocked into him, veering away at the last minute. Chaos reigned in the studio that had been so quiet the day before. Kids of all ages ran around playing games while Lauren and a few other adults called after them and passed out juice boxes.
This was the program Lola fought for him not to cancel, the kind of program that wouldn’t exist if this studio closed.
He searched the reception area, but Lola wasn’t there.
Wading through the mass of kids who gaped at him, he peered into the first studio and stopped. Lola still had her purse on her shoulder—she’d arrived only moments before him—as she bent down to look a young girl in the eyes and smiled. Drew stepped in, noticing a few teenagers on the other side of the room who were staring at him.
“Miss Lola,” one of them called. “Why is Drew Stone here?”
Recognition clicked in the gazes of the other teens, and Drew prepared himself for a bombardment of fans that never came. Instead, they only gawked.
Lola’s entire body stiffened as she rose, her eyes meeting his. “That’s a good question.”
“What, no Spanish this time?” Hearing her even yell that one word at him before did something to him. He wanted to hear it again.
She crossed her arms. “Only if you make me mad. Have you come to make me mad?”
“No.” He stepped toward her, very aware of their audience. “I want you to dance with me.”
“What?” She laughed and stepped by him. “Not a chance. I shouldn’t have even come today.”
He followed her out into the hall where she helped a young boy open his cheese crackers before turning her attention back to Drew.
“Look, I’m sorry I wasted your time. I’m not the girl you’re looking for.” She shrugged. “But I wish you luck. I really do.”
“One dance. Please?”
She shook her head. “Your assistant was right. I don’t have what it takes. It’s better you know that now. I am a dance instructor, not a dancer.”
“Cop out.”
“What?” She stopped moving.
“All I hear are excuses. Why are you so afraid to try?”
“I’m not afraid.” She crossed her arms, lifting her chin.
“Really? Then, why won’t you dance with me?”
Her lips pursed as she studied him.
Drew’s heart hammered against his ribs. He needed her to say yes. She might not be able to dance with him any better than she had with Nolan, but he had to know. “One dance.” He stepped closer. “One dance, and then, I’ll leave you alone. If you decide not to join the tour, I’ll walk away and never look back.”
“Do you promise?” she breathed.
A smile slid across his face because he knew, in that moment, he’d won.
12
Lola
Why did she agree to this?
Lola repeated everything Drew’s assistant said about her in her head.
Lola Ramirez is not the dancer for you.
Because Lola was not a dancer. That was what everyone told her, right? She loved to dance, that was never in question, but did dance love her?
She scrolled through her phone for one of Drew’s songs, but he closed his hand over hers. “We’re not going to dance to one of mine. This won’t be choreographed, just two people dancing together.”
Her breath caught in her throat as she led him into an empty studio, the only one not being used for the kids’ program. A few days ago, she’d sat watching Drew on stage and knowing that he’d forever be a stranger, a man to idolize for his dancing.
And now?
He wasn’t what she’d expected. There was a cocky air about him, a surety. He didn’t care what anyone else thought. He trusted his own eyes, his own feelings. And that had led him to Lola.
For some reason unknown to her.
Lola had never been special, never the one chosen. She spent her life in love with a guy who dated half of Gulf City. Her mom never chose to be around, her dad didn’t stay past her first birthday.
Yet, here she stood in front of someone beloved by millions of fans around the world, and he was looking at her.
If only it could last. “What do you want me to play?”
“Fate by Fate. Don’t tell Ben, but it’s my favorite song.”
She shook her head as she found it on Spotify. When would Lola Ramirez ever speak to Ben Evans? It was ridiculous.
She hit play, and the music came through the recessed speakers in the ceiling.
Drew held out a hand. “Come here.”
She set her palm against his, letting him tug her closer. He dipped his head so his breath grazed her ear. “Don’t be nervous, Lola. Just dance.” His other hand came up to rest on her lower back, and his hips swayed, carrying hers with them.
Lola felt every point of connection, everywhere their bodies touched.
“Come on, Lola.” He grinned. “Show me what you’ve got.” He whirled her away from him before pulling her back.
As the music played, Lola grew bold, pressing herself tighter against Drew, running a hand down his arm. She broke away from him to go through a series of solo steps, and he mirrored each move, only a beat behind her.
She grinned over at him, and he smiled back. He twirled her toward him, and she laughed as they collided.
Drew dipped his head so their eyes connected as they moved, the intensity amplifying.
Dancing with Drew felt like lighting a match to everything she’d thought she wanted and watching it burn. It changed something fundamental inside her, shaking her foundation.
It was exciting and so dang hot she worried she’d combust.
When Drew touched her, she didn’t want it to end.
But that was the thing. She’d spent so long in love with the Stone brother who wanted everyone but her. If she did this, if she went on tour with Drew and spent her nights dancing with him on stage, she’d fall in love with him.
Irreconcilably in love.
Because love was in the dance steps. Connection was why she craved it. Connection with the earth, with herself.
And now… with Drew.
She couldn’t let herself spend another ten years pining after someone else.
And that was why, even though she wanted this with all her heart, she still had to tell Drew
no.
As soon as the music ended, Lola wanted to leave. Scratch that, she knew she needed to. Yet, something held her in place. Drew’s eyes didn’t leave her face as his chest heaved. He kept his arm around her, pulling her against him so their ragged breathing moved in sync.
“I…” she whispered, unable to get another word out.
“Lola.” His low voice vibrated through her. “I need…”
“What do you need?” She hated the weakness in her own voice.
“You,” he breathed. “That was… you didn’t dance like that with Nolan.”
She swallowed. “He didn’t dance like that with me.” It was true. Nolan was a good dancer, but he didn’t hold on to her the way Drew had. There’d been no connection, no sense that they were in it together.
“They need to see that.” His lips curved up. “Everyone needs to see it. I knew you could do it.”
Those words. Gah! Those words. She wanted to hold them close and never let them go. No one had ever had such faith in her before, and Drew was still a near stranger. His head dipped and their foreheads pressed together.
Closer and closer still.
His eyes told her he wanted to kiss her, and her heart kicked up a notch. There was no more fangirl left in her. It was only Lola standing here in front of Drew.
And yet… “I can’t.” His lips hovered inches in front of hers. “I’m sorry.” She pushed at his chest. “I can’t.”
As she broke away, he ran a hand through his sweaty hair, pulling on the ends. “That’s… good. It’s good.” He sucked in a breath. “I have a rule. I don’t get involved with anyone on the tour.”
He didn’t understand. She shook her head. “No, I mean I can’t come with you.” Rule or not, he’d wanted to kiss her, and she wanted to live in that moment.
But moments like that didn’t belong in her reality.
His eyes widened. “Of course you can.”
“I’m sorry.” She turned toward the door. “You promised you’d leave me alone if I said no. You should go.”
“Lola, I don’t understand.”
She glanced back over her shoulder. “I know. I’m not the girl who gets the rock tour, Drew. Go find someone who is meant to be there.”
She didn’t hear anything else he said because she walked into the hall and disappeared into Lauren’s office, shutting the door behind her.
Tears built in her eyes before pouring down her cheeks as she hiccupped a sob and sank into the chair at the desk. She’d given up her one chance to get out of Gulf City, her one chance to break free of the girl she’d always been.
But maybe saying no was breaking free.
“I don’t love Asher Stone.” Not anymore. His ties on her had lessened, and she refused to fall for his brother. She skimmed her bottom lip with her finger, remembering the feel of Drew’s breath as they skirted the line.
She wiped the tears from her face but more replaced them. A knock sounded on the door, and she didn’t answer, assuming it was Drew. He couldn’t see her like this.
But when the door opened, only Lauren walked in. “Oh, honey.”
Spanish words fell from Lola’s lips as they did whenever she got upset or mad and sometimes when she was happy. It was like the emotion pulled everything from her that her mom wanted to see. Maybe it was because she couldn’t form the words any other way.
Lauren rubbed a hand over Lola’s head. “Lo, I can’t understand you. What happened?”
Lola wiped her face again. “I might have done something very stupid.”
“Does it have to do with a very attractive rock star who just walked out?”
Lola sniffed and nodded. “I can’t go on tour, Lauren. That’s not my life.” She didn’t explain the fact that she didn’t trust her heart not to get itself broken or that the thought of leaving home physically hurt and she wished it didn’t.
Would Asher speak to her again if she left with his brother? Was that a bad thing?
What about her mom? She’d be all alone.
Lauren didn’t try to convince her she was wrong. She only let her cry. When her tears dried, Lola straightened her shoulders, determined not to dwell on her decision. It was done. Drew wouldn’t come back around. “You should get back to the kids, Lauren. I’m going to head home.”
Lauren gave her a smile before opening the door and leaving Lola to gather herself.
She didn’t turn on any music on the drive home, letting the silence become the salt in her wound, a self-inflicted wound.
By the time she pulled up outside her house, she was ready to crawl into bed with a plate of whatever her mom had left for dinner.
She walked inside and dropped her purse near the front door, trying to sniff out whatever her mom had made, but the familiar scents weren’t there.
Instead, her mom was. “Mama? What are you doing here?” Fridays were her longer days.
Her mom smiled. “I thought I needed a break.” She cupped Lola’s cheek. “You look tired, Mija. Come. I ordered us Chinese food.”
“Chinese food?” She laughed. Her mom never ordered out, always preferring to cook everything they ate. But, sure enough, white cartons littered the table. “You order for an army, Mama?”
Her mom handed her a plate. “Si. The army of Lola Ramirez.” She pointed a fork at the boxes. “I know how much you like to eat. Did I not get enough?”
Lola kissed her mom on the cheek. “No, this is perfect.” She missed her mom when she wasn’t there, but understood why she worked so much. It didn’t mean she liked it.
Sitting at the table across from her mom felt surreal. Normally, she ate dinner at the kitchen counter with Asher or in her bed watching Netflix or doing homework. Not for the first time, she wondered what their lives would have been like if her father had stuck around. Would they have been more of a family?
She hated that thought because her mom tried, but sometimes it wasn’t enough.
“You’re quiet tonight, Lola.” Her mom’s soft Spanish words held an undercurrent of worry.
Lola answered her in English. “I tried something today, Mama. Something exciting, something that scared me.” Terrified, more like.
Her mom smiled. “You were always brave, Mija.”
Lola shook her head as she tried to hold the tears back. “I failed.” For anyone else, it might have been considered a success. Hundreds of dancers auditioned today, and Drew only wanted her. But still, she hadn’t been able to make herself take the leap. Her mom called her brave, but she felt like a coward.
Her mom reached across the table and took her hand. “You are only a failure if you do not try.”
She didn’t get it. Lola auditioned, sure, but she could have changed her life, she could have chased her dream. In that, she didn’t try.
But maybe, just maybe saying no had been the brave thing. Giving up an opportunity in order to prevent future damage to herself. If she was going to hurt no matter what, she’d rather it be because of the dancing and not Drew.
She pictured him standing before her, so close, too close. If he hadn’t tried to kiss her, would she have taken the position?
She changed the subject, asking her mom about her day instead and trying to push Drew to the back of her mind.
It almost worked until later when she checked her phone for the first time all afternoon to find messages from Nora.
Nora: Good luck.
Nora: How did it go?
Nora: Call me, please.
Nora: You said no?!
Nora: I need to know you’re okay.
Nora: Lo…
She didn’t know if she was relieved or disappointed to see nothing from Drew. He promised he’d leave her alone, and she couldn’t help but worry he was a man who kept his word.
13
Drew
“Eat something.” Noah slid a plate of fruit toward Drew.
Drew sighed and popped a strawberry in his mouth. They sat on the balcony of the Beach Club resort with plates of food in front of th
em. Jo chowed on a giant stack of pancakes. She caught the others staring at her. “My alien wanted them.” She shrugged. “Are you guys judging a baby? That’s wrong, dudes.”
Drew laughed. At least she found humor in her pregnancy now.
Ben and Dax had left early that morning to head back to L.A.
This afternoon was supposed to be callbacks for the dancers, and Drew dreaded it. He wished he could just tell Piper to pick someone.
“Do you know why she said no?” Jo asked, sticking a forkful of pancakes in her mouth.
“No! That’s the issue. When we danced…” He leaned back in his chair and sighed. “I don’t know if you two can really understand. You’re not dancers, but… the only woman I’ve ever had a connection with while dancing is Leah. I never expected to find that again. I thought I’d just have to work with a random dancer who knew the steps. But Lola…” Man, Lola. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. About the way her lips curved into a secretive smile as she danced, how perfectly her steps aligned with his. They hadn’t even needed choreography to be in sync with each other.
Jo swallowed and shrugged. “Then, how do we make her say yes?”
“We can’t.”
She pointed her fork at him, syrup dripping off the end. “Drew Stone, I’ll be leaving you in two months. I won’t do it if I think you’re just going to be going through the motions the rest of this tour.”
“You’re not dying, Joey.”
“No,” she huffed. “Worse. I’m growing an alien inside me right now, and the least you can do is grow some balls.”
Noah laughed before hiding it behind his coffee mug. “Listen to her, bro.”
“You guys don’t get it. I promised her I’d leave her alone.”
“Ah, I see. Drew Stone doesn’t break his promises.”
The guys made fun of him for it, but he held promises as sacred. If he said he was going to do something, be somewhere, he meant it. Sometimes, it was as simple as showing up on time. Others, it meant hiding his sister’s secrets.
Love is a Dance Step (Rockstars Anonymous) Page 9
