by AJ Alexander
Seaside Do Over
Dixie Pointe #2
AJ Alexander
Copyright © 2021 by AJ Alexander. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.
Cover Design: Pop Kitty Designs
To the Ones who stuck around, because without you, this would never have been written.
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Playlist
My reader group has spoken! They have been nagging me to make playlist for my books for months now but it wasn’t until I started writing Seaside Do Over that I finally took the plunge. I have to say I had a blast and if this is something you would want to see in the future let me know!
Here are the songs that inspired my while writing Seaside Do Over. I did place them in order so if you want to listen to them as you read, be my guest!
Listen here on Spotify
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue
About the Author
Prologue
Six Months Ago
"I never thought I would find myself here, of all places," I mumble as I look around my old dance studio.
"Things don't always work out how we plan," Ms. Cassandra responds as she leads me from room to room. "I haven't been able to keep up with things the last couple of months, but with a little sprucing up, I think it will be good as new."
I scan the room, searching for the place I used to call my own. The once vibrant blue walls are now dingy with paint peeling in different places. The shiny wooden floors are now covered in gouges and scuff marks, no doubt from the hours of dancing that have taken place on them. The room, once filled with mini ballerinas ready to dance across the stage, is now nothing but a dreary reminder of dreams lost.
"When your mother told me you were back in town, I knew what I wanted to do with the space…" She pauses. "I’m not getting any younger, you know. And with my son …” Her voice trails off, and my heart breaks for her.
Ms. Cassandra has been the only dance teacher in Dixie Point since the studio opened when I was five years old. My mom originally signed me up for classes to help me get ready to go to school and make some friends. What she didn’t know was that those classes would ignite a fire in my heart for dance that still burns to this day.
Ms. Cassandra treated everyone who walked through these doors like family, giving all of us a place to belong, to call our own. Sadly, her son died in a car accident a few months ago, leaving his wife and young daughter alone. I never thought I would see the day that Barre Studio would close its doors, but her family needs her.
"I need the space to train," I respond, still unsure of what my future as a ballerina will be.
I had spent years training and finally landed the position of my dream with the New York City Ballet. I’ve danced with some of the best dancers in the world before finally landing the role of my dreams as Princess Odette in Swan Lake. It was two weeks until opening night and we had a rehearsal. Everything was going great until I made the last leap, coming down wrong and snapping my Achilles tendon.
That one mistake ended everything in a blink of an eye.
I had surgery, and now it’s time to start the long process of rehab. The doctors expect it to take about six months to a year for me to heal but gave no guarantees that I could ever dance professionally again. I’ve known dancers who had lesser injuries, and they never completely recovered. Their turns weren't as tight and their leaps weren't as carefree as before. The fear of another injury always lingered in the back of their mind. People would talk about how they lost their edge, and everyone knew what that meant: the beginning of the end.
The company gave me a leave of absence for a year to get back into shape, and at that point, we would test whether or not I could come back. Since I’m in my mid-thirties, my career was close to ending anyway, but that was my chance to be center stage for the first time. Chances like that don't come along often, and I’ll be damned if I let my dreams come crumbling down.
“It would mean the world to me if you’d take over the studio.” Ms. Cassandra grips my hand, giving it a small squeeze. “This isn't what either of us wanted in life, but it’s the hand life has dealt us.”
I pull my hand from her grasp, heading toward the wooden bar attached to the wall. As I run my fingers across the rough wood, memories of the many hours of rehearsals for different programs run through my mind. This old dance studio was my home away from home, my escape from the dull existence that Dixie Point had in store for me if I stayed.
“I’ll take it,” I say.
She wraps me in her arms, giving me a tight squeeze. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to let this place go.” She pulls back from our embrace with a smile. “Connor Bennett is on his way here to give you an estimate on the few repairs that are needed.”
I open my mouth to protest, but she cuts me off.
“Don’t you worry. I’ll deduct the cost of the repairs from the sale price of the studio.”
I give her a tight smile, unable to process everything. I just bought a dance studio in my hometown of Dixie Point, which would be a shock to anyone.
However, my biggest concern is Connor Bennett.
Well, not him specifically. We were never close in my younger years. Really, it's his best friend that I’m worried about. Vance Kirkland is the one person I have no desire to see now that I’m back in town.
Even as a teenager, Vance was everything I never knew I needed in life. His tall, muscular build, wavy, dark brown hair, and soulful brown eyes that pierced my soul should have been enough. I knew that my happiness meant more to him than his own life, but I didn’t know how to tell him no. All he had to do was flash me a smile, and all my resolve would dissolve.
If I had stayed here, we would have had the life that everyone wanted: a big family, a white picket fence, the whole nine yards. But I wouldn’t have been happy. I always believed I was destined for something greater than this small town in Alabama, and when I was accepted into Juilliard, I knew I had to leave or I would suffocate.
I tried to explain how I was feeling to everyone around me, including Vance, but he was so focused on making plans for our future that he never asked me what I wanted. He just assumed I would be okay with staying here with him forever, but I wanted more.
Just as I’m about to open my mouth and make an excuse to hightail it out of there, the bell over the door chimes.
“Well, as I live and breathe. If it isn’t Selina Grymes,” Connor’s voice echoes through the studio.
“Shit,” I mutter before turning around and plastering on a fake smile. “It’s so good to see you, Connor.”
Connor looks exactly like he did when we graduated from high school, just with a little gray sprinkled throughout his hair. Chiseled jaw and arms the size of my head, more than likely from throwing lumber around all day. Being part-owner of the local construction company, Connor has his fair share of business.
“We both know you don’t mean that, Seli.” He
wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a one-armed hug.
I cringe slightly at my old nickname. Ever since I was little, everyone in town has called me Seli. I hated it, but there was no stopping them.
“I hate people calling me that,” I grumble, stepping out of his embrace.
We stand there awkwardly for a few moments before Ms. Cassandra breaks the silence.
“Connor already has a list of the repairs I figured you would want done before the sale goes through, but if there is anything else you want, just let him know.” She heads toward the desk, grabbing a set of keys. “Here are the keys. Come and go as you please. This place is yours now.”
“But we haven’t finished any of the paperwork yet…” My voice trails off as she scurries out the door.
“Don’t worry about it. We all know you’re good for it. Besides, it’s time for her to pick up Piper from preschool,” Connor reassures me as he pulls a piece of paper out of the folder he’s holding. “This is the list of repairs Ms. Cassandra gave me, but if there is anything else you want, let me know.”
He waits patiently while I look over the list.
“Can we refinish the floors? They’re a little worse for the wear,” I ask as I hand the list back to him.
He squats down and runs his hand across the floors before standing to his full height. “I don’t see that being a problem, but you will have to close the studio for a weekend to get them refinished. Everything else on the list, we can get knocked out at the same time.”
We take a few minutes to walk around the studio, and Connor explains to me how they plan to renovate it. The list isn’t long, but it is going to be a lot of work, although I know that Connor will get it all done.
“How’s the little one doing? Jade is her name, right?” I question as we make it back to the front.
“Yeah. Jade is fifteen now. She’s actually been a student here for the past few years.”
Connor’s face lights up as he speaks of his daughter. His wife died when Jade was born, so I’m sure having someone like Ms. Cassandra in her life has helped her immensely. I hope I can be that person for her now.
“I’m sure you’re doing an amazing job. I can’t wait to meet her.”
I smile as Connor opens the front door, letting me step through first. I start to walk toward my car before stopping and asking Connor the only question I’m not sure I want the answer to.
“Does he know I’m here?”
“Not yet, but you know how news travels.” Connor runs his hand through his thick, black locks before pinning me in place with his stare. “He never really got over you, Seli.”
“I’m sure he’s been fine without me. Plenty of fish in the sea. Isn’t that how the saying goes?” I giggle nervously.
“Maybe for you…” Connor's voice trails off, then he sighs. “It was nice seeing you, Selina. Someone will be here on Saturday to get started on the work.”
“Someone? I thought you would do the work.”
“I try not to work on the weekend if I can help it. We have a dependable crew of guys that can get the job done. Either Vance or I will probably stop in during the day to make sure everything is going okay.” He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet. “Here’s our card. Just call the office or my cell if you have questions.”
I take the card from his outstretched hand with a smile. “It was good to see you, Connor. I really mean that.”
“It was good to see you too, Seli.” He smiles before turning and heading to his truck.
As I walk to my car, I try to imagine what it will be like to see Vance again for the first time since I left. My heart broke the night I left Dixie Point without a word, but it was easier for both of us if I didn’t meet him at the dock that night. I would have promised him anything that night. All he had to do was ask. I would have given anything to be the woman he wanted, the woman that was meant for the future he had painted for us, but sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to.
Sometimes the past is best left in the past. I came home to get back into shape and then get back to New York. I left Dixie Point with a dream, and I’ll be damned if I let Vance Kirkland or anyone else stand in my way of achieving it.
VANCE
I’ve spent most of my day working on paperwork, trying to finish our quarterly taxes before the deadline next month. I lean back in my chair, glancing at the window at the guys as they head out for the day. I always wanted to be the owner of my own construction company, because working with my hand has always been something I’ve been good at.
“Hey, man,” I say to my best friend as he walks into the office. “How was your afternoon with Ms. Cassandra? Did she find a buyer for the studio?”
Silence fills the room as I look up from the paperwork on my desk and notice the serious look on his face. Immediately pushing my chair back from the desk, I stand and make my way toward Connor.
“Is Jade alright? Your parents?” I ask, placing both my hands on his shoulders to get his attention. “Whatever it is, man, you’ll get through it. We’ll get through it together, like always.”
“My family’s fine. It’s you I’m worried about right now.” He steps to the side, heading for his desk.
I wait patiently as he takes off his jacket and sets his tool belt and keys on the desk.
“Why are you worried about me?” I respond nervously as I reach up and grip the back of my neck. “The most stressful thing I’ve done all day is work on our quarterly taxes.”
“Why don’t you have a seat?” His gruff voice is laced with sympathy as he pulls out the chair in front of his desk for me to sit.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up straight as a sense of impending doom over comes me. I don’t know what has Connor so riled up, but whatever it is, it's obviously serious.
“You’re freaking me out, man,” I chuckle as I sit in the chair in front of his desk. “Rip it off like a Band-Aid and just tell me.”
I grip the arm of the chair so tight that my knuckles start to turn white from the pressure.
“Selina’s back.”
That small phrase feels like a punch in the gut as I buckle over and rest my arms on my knees.
“Fuck!” I shout, dropping my head into my hands.
Of all the things I thought Connor was going to tell me, that wasn’t one of them.
I haven’t seen or heard from my high school girlfriend since she left the day before graduation without a word or second glance. Hell, if it wasn’t for her mother, I wouldn’t have known she left in the first place. She headed off to her fancy school to become a ballerina without a care in the world for anyone else’s feelings.
We spent nights rocking on the old porch swing at her parents’ house, making plans for the future. Sure, we were young, but I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that we were meant to be together.
“Does she look happy?” I question, wanting to know everything about her life since she left town all those years ago.
“She looks good, but the light she once had in her eyes has dimmed.” Connor leans against his desk. “She plans to take over the dance studio from Ms. Cassandra. I was giving her an estimate on some repairs she wants to make before she starts teaching classes.”
“How long is she in town?” I mumble as I lift my head and stare at my friend.
He pulls out his own chair and pauses, probably attempting to gauge my reaction to the news. “I don’t know.”
A sense of longing fills me as I stand quickly, knocking the chair to the ground. Turning quickly to my desk, I grab my keys and head for the door.
“I have to go,” I say over my shoulder as the door slams behind me.
A few of the guys try to get my attention, but I’m focused on one thing: seeing Selina.
I climb into my truck and speed over to the dance studio, pulling quickly into a parking spot.
As I take the key out of the ignition, I freeze as I catch a glimpse of her locking up the studio. My ches
t aches with a longing I haven’t felt in years. Gone is the tall, skinny girl I once knew, replaced by a stunning woman. She has on a fitted red top with her long, black hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. The perfectly round globes of her ass are covered in tight-fitting jeans, just begging for me to smack them. Images of my handprint on her bronze skin filter through my mind, sending a surge of pleasure directly to my cock.
“Down, boy,” I mumble to myself as my eyes travel down her body.
Unable to stay away any longer, I get out of the truck and step around to the front.
“Hi,” I say loud enough for her to hear.
The last thing I want to do is scare her. She just got back to town. I don’t want to send her running for the hills again.
She spins around, and her eyes widen in surprise when she sees me.
“Hi.” Her breathy voice caresses my skin, pulling me closer to her.
I take a step forward, but she holds up her hand, halting my movements.
“How have you been?” I question.
I want to know every bit of information she is willing to give me about our time apart. I’ve gotten bits and pieces of information from her parents during our weekly phone calls, but I want to know everything.
“Fine,” she responds as she begins to twirl her keys around her finger, a telltale sign of her nerves.
I reach up and rub the back of my neck. “Can I get at least something more than one-word answers from you?”
“Yes,” she responds as her cheeks pink in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. This is a lot harder than I imagined it would be.”
