by AJ Alexander
“Remember that sometimes life gives us a do-over. I would hate for you to pass up this chance and regret it for the rest of your life.”
“I won’t regret it.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself. “Look, I have a class to teach. Are you staying or heading back to check on Audrey?”
“I have to head back, but think about what I said, Seli.”
“Not you too,” I groan. “My name is Selina. Seli was the lost little girl who left Dixie Point with nothing but a dream.”
Bristol wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a side hug. “But who said you couldn’t be both?”
She flashes me a small smile before waddling out the door.
I don’t know what it is about Dixie Point, but no matter how many times I try to escape, somehow, I always come right back to where I started.
“You ladies ready to go?” Vance says cheerfully as he leans against the doorframe of our dance space.
He’s changed out of the clothes he was wearing earlier, and his hair is damp from a recent shower. Instead of his normal attire of dusty work boots and a tan Carhart jacket, he’s wearing an almost new button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows and dark jeans fitted perfectly to his muscular legs.
“Of course. We just need to change first,” Love responds.
She grabs Jade’s hand and pulls her toward the changing room at the front of the studio, leaving Vance and I alone.
“Didn’t your mama teach you not to stare?” he chuckles.
I drop my head to my chest. Nothing like ogling a man to make things awkward. To maintain some of my dignity, I ramble off ideas for what we can do with the girls, trying to look anywhere but at Vance.
Vance steps into my line of sight, causing me to stop my rambling and look into his eyes. “Change of plans. Connor texted me and asked if I would drop Jade and Love off at the house. Something about things with Audrey not going as planned.”
Figures that this would turn into something more complicated. “No problem. I could use the extra time to work on my pirouettes.”
“Oh, no. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily. You promised me a date.”
“Why are you pushing the issue so much?” I respond, snarkier than I meant to.
Vance stalks toward me.
“I just want to spend time with you, Selina,” he says with nothing but anguish in his voice. “I miss you.”
My breath catches in my throat as I straighten my back, unwilling to give in. “It’s been over fifteen years, Vance. Surely, you don’t expect things to just go back to the way they were?”
I back up slightly, eager to get away from him.
“You’re the one that ran away, Seli. Forgetting about me and everyone else in this town.” He continues to stalk toward me with passion in his eyes.
“I never forgot about you,” I whisper as I back closer to the wall. “I tried. God knows I tried. That’s why I had to leave, Vance. If I’d met you that night, I would have agreed to anything you wanted, but I wanted my dream more.”
Vance’s hand cups the side of my face, and I lean into it, relishing in the feel of his calloused hands as they caress my skin.
“I never wanted to stand in the way of your dreams. I just wanted to be a part of them,” he murmurs.
“What if everything goes to shit?” I breathe.
“What if it doesn’t?” he retorts, leaning his forehead against mine.
“I don’t plan on staying,” I whisper.
He needs to know that even if something happens between us, it won’t be forever. I can’t let that happen, or everything I’ve worked for will go down the drain.
“Seli,” he whispers into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Don’t call me that,” I push slightly on his chest, trying to get him to release me.
But he pulls me closer, brushing his lips against mine.
Unable to control the feelings swirling in my body, I lean forward, pressing my lips softly against his. Both of us moan as he pushes me harder into the wall and devours my mouth. He dominates our kiss, nipping and sucking my lip between his before thrusting his tongue into my mouth.
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me. Nothing but pure, unadulterated desire courses through my veins. Without warning, he grips my ass, pulling my leotard tightly against my swollen nub as he lifts me off my feet and pins me against the mirror.
“Do you feel that? How much I want you? Need you?” he growls.
I wrap my legs around his waist, and he thrusts his cock into me, sending shock waves of pleasure through my entire body as the seam of his jeans grinds into my drenched center.
“More, more, more,” I chant as I use my arms to glide my pussy up and down his shaft.
Suddenly, there is a knock at the door, and we both freeze.
“We’re ready,” one of the girls whispers before scurrying back out of the room.
I bury my head in his chest, and his smell envelopes me. He smells like the air after a spring rain, exactly the way I remember. A fresh, clean smell that has forever been associated with him.
“I hope we haven’t scarred her for life,” Vance says, giving me a small peck on the lips and lowering me back to the floor.
“I’m sorry.” I hang my head in shame as I step to the side. “I don’t know what came over me.”
Distance. Distance is what I need right now. And a chance to clear my head. If I’m not careful, I could lose myself in him once again, forgetting about everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Maybe he’s what you’ve always wanted.
No. I shake that thought out of my head. The things Vance and I shared are in the past, and that’s where they should stay.
But then Bristol’s words from earlier filter through my mind.
I’ve never believed in fate or any of that nonsense, but maybe my injury happened for a reason. Maybe I got hurt to ensure that I would find my way home to Vance again. Is that even possible?
“I wouldn’t mind something coming over you again, but first, let’s get these girls home.” Vance runs the tips of his fingers down my arm before grasping my hand, bringing me back to the present.
Shocked by the intimacy of the moment, I pull my hand free from his grasp.
“This isn’t a good idea,” I say once again, trying to ensure that both of us understand what is at stake if we go down this path again. “I’ll change, and then we can take the girls home.”
I step around him and head for the door.
Vance reaches out and grasps my hand. “I just want to spend time with you. For once, just let the chips fall where they may. We can worry about everything else later.”
The vulnerability in his voice is enough to break my heart all over again. I barely survived leaving him once. I don’t know if I could do it again.
I sigh as I take his hand, not wanting to resist any longer. “Okay.”
Chapter Three
Vance
It takes about ten minutes for Selina to change into a painted-on pair of jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. The golden skin of her right shoulder calls to me as the tips of her hair brushes against it, taunting me, begging me to thread my fingers through it and pull her head back, taking her mouth once again and claiming it as my own.
My mouth waters as I look over and see the peaks of her nipples poking through the fabric of her shirt. Looks like our little rendezvous in the rehearsal room at the studio affected her just as much as me. I can’t say I regret kissing her. In fact, the only thing I regret is us getting interrupted.
“Vance has been going on and on about finally getting a date with you, Ms. Selina,” Love chimes in from the backseat as Jade giggles.
“Yeah, Uncle Vance, you seem a little insistent on her going out with you. Is there a particular reason?” Jade questions, then whispers something into her friend’s ear.
“Vance and I used to date before I went o
ff to school.” Selina gives both girls a smile through the rear-view mirror.
“We did more than just date,” I mumble, hoping that no one hears my complaint.
I need to change the subject. Now.
“How did your last doctor’s appointment go?” I ask the first question that pops into my head.
“How did you know I went to the doctor?” Selina raises her eyebrow in my direction.
“It’s not a secret that you’ve been getting your injury checked out, Seli.”
“In other words, from my mother,” she sighs.
I shrug my shoulders in response.
“I’ve regained full range of motion. My physical therapist says I should only need a few more sessions and I’ll be back to full strength.”
“Great,” I mumble, trying to fake enthusiasm, but failing miserably.
“That’s great, Ms. Selina! You’ll be back to dancing across the stages of New York in no time!” Jade exclaims.
Love nods her head, and bright smiles break out over all three ladies’ faces.
I grip the steering wheel tightly as I try to process my feelings on her recovery. On one hand, I’m elated that Selina will be able to dance again because I know that’s what she wants. But on the other hand, I know that means she’ll most likely leave town again. She always said she wasn’t planning on staying, even as recently as tonight.
She knew what was happening before even agreeing to go on a date with me. That has to be why she was so hesitant to agree. She’s probably afraid that if she gets involved with me again, I’ll ask her to give up on her dreams. I need to make sure that she understands I don’t want to keep her here like a caged bird. I want to take this journey with her, no matter where it leads.
“Are you planning on leaving us?” Love says, asking the one question I’ve been dying to know since I found out she arrived back in town.
“We never know what the future holds, sweetie,” Selina whispers, glancing at me quickly before turning her attention to the scenery passing by.
“Time to change the subject,” Love mumbles, turning toward Jade. “Hey, how much do you want to bet my mom is at your house?”
“That’s not a safe bet.” Jade rolls her eyes, then meets my gaze in the rear-view mirror. “What do you think, Uncle Vance? Are Audrey and my dad together?”
“I don’t know,” I pretend to think, knowing the girls want nothing more than to be partners in crime forever. “Maybe. Maybe not. We can’t tell the future. But I know your dad is head over heels for Audrey.”
“I bet you a hundred bucks she’s at my house.” Jade winks at Love quickly before turning her attention back to me.
“You’re on,” I respond as we pull into Connor and Jade’s driveway.
“Hold on. You need to text Connor before we head inside.” Love leans forward between the seats, a huge smile covering her face. “I got a text from Bristol. She said to tell you to text Connor before we go into the house.”
Both girls giggle as they put their heads together and begin whispering to each other.
“I think you just got hustled.” Selina smiles at me as I pull out my phone and shoot him a text.
“It’s worth it,” I chuckle. “I don’t think these girls would survive walking in on their parents getting busy in the living room.”
I wait a few minutes for a response, but when one doesn’t come, I open my truck door and climb out.
“That was more than enough time for them to get presentable,” I announce as everyone else begins climbing out. I stride toward the front door, knocking loudly before swinging it open. “Honey, we’re home!”
We all file into the house, stopping dead in our tracks when we find Connor and Audrey embracing on the couch.
“We’re going to be sisters!” both girls squeal, bouncing up and down a few times before throwing their arms around their parents.
“You owe us a hundred bucks.” Love holds out her hand in my direction.
“Why?” Connor asks as he plants kisses on both girls' cheeks. “Tell me you three didn’t bet on whether Audrey and I would get together.”
I chuckle. “We sure did. I owe them a hundred bucks, and Selina and I are going on a proper date. I call that a win for me.”
Selina slaps me in the back of the head before heading right back out the door.
“I’ll leave y’all to it. It’s time to get my girl,” I say before quickly heading out the door, pulling it shut behind me.
I quickly jog to my truck and climb in.
“Now, let’s get this party started,” I say as I pull out of the driveway and head further into the neighborhood.
“I thought you were taking me to dinner?” Selina questions with confusion written on her face.
“No. I said, ‘Have dinner with me.’ You assumed I was taking you to a restaurant.” I smirk as I turn left onto my street. “We’re going to my place.”
“You own a house. Here?”
“Yes,” is the only answer I give her as I pull into the driveway.
Realization suddenly dawns on her face.
“You bought it,” she says reverently as she stares at the house.
The old plantation house sits a few yards away from the river. It was built in the late eighteen-hundreds, and the town always wanted to use it as a museum, but with it being so close to the river and outside the center of town, there weren't many people coming to visit other than a few classes of schoolchildren once a year.
When the original owners died, their kids wanted to sell it, but had a hard time finding takers. I promised Selina that once we graduated, I would get a job and buy it for her. I’m sure she never took me seriously, but it was fun to plan for our future.
Once she was gone, I needed something to keep my mind off losing her. And this place was a piece of her, of the life we planned on living together, so I thought it would help me through the pain. When Connor suggested fixing up the place, I jumped at the chance and haven’t looked back since.
“Of course I did. This is the house we planned to grow old in.” I reach over and squeeze her hand. “It was a little worse than we thought when I bought it, but Connor and I got it all fixed up.”
I release her hand before opening my door and jogging around to open hers.
“My lady.” I bow, making a sweeping motion toward the front of the house.
Large wooden pillars stand tall, framing the front porch that runs the entire length of the house. Intricate scrollwork decorates the upper railings of the second-floor patio. Light illuminates the window, casting a warm glow on Selina’s skin as I open the door.
Her mouth drops in shock as the door swings open, revealing the high ceilings and the circular chandelier that Connor and I refurbished a few months ago. Every detail is accurate to her exact specification of what she dreamed this room would look like once we lived here.
“How did you remember all of this?” Selina says in wonder as she looks around the entryway of her dreams.
“I remember almost everything you ever said to me, Seli.” I step closer, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. “But I had a little help. You remember the journal you used to keep?”
She thinks for a few moments before nodding her head.
“You left it at home when you left, and your mom would look through it to help answer any questions I had about wall color or furniture style. Anything that you may have written down so I could make this into your dream home.”
“Your weekly phone calls.” She turns around quickly, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. “Thank you, Vance.”
I bury my nose in her hair, and the smell of lavender and honey overloads my senses. “I had to make sure it was here for you when you came home.”
She takes a step back and gives me a bright smile before threading her fingers through mine.
“Show me the rest of the house,” she says in excitement, bouncing back and forth on the balls of her feet.
I chuckle softly, pulling her toward the
back door. “I’ll do one better.”
We quickly head through the kitchen, not bothering to stop and turn on a light before I pull one of the doors open. She gasps in surprise when she sees that I renovated the sunroom, turning it into an outdoor living space, complete with comfortable seating and a small dining area. It’s the perfect place to entertain friends and family on a cool summer day or just spending a lazy Sunday afternoon snuggling with a good book. But what catches her attention is the additions I’ve made to the dock.
“Finding the same wood to match the deck was hard, but we managed,” I mumble as she inches toward the door. “I added a small overhang, just enough to cover the swings with a little space for others to fit. I wanted to make sure you could enjoy it, no matter what the weather was like.”
Selina flies out the door, making a beeline for the porch swing that brought her back to the past. This swing holds so much history for us. Our first kiss, the first time we said “I love you,” and many other firsts for the both of us happened on this swing. There was no way I wasn’t putting it in this house. It’s a part of our love story, one that I never want to forget.
A single tear cascades down her cheek as she runs her hand along the wooden back of the swing. “When I came home and didn’t see this swing on my parents’ front porch, I was heartbroken. I always imagined it being here at this house, and now it is.”
“I have so many good memories sitting on that swing. I couldn’t imagine being in anyone else’s possession but mine.” I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her tightly to me. “Your parents gave it to me as a housewarming gift when I moved in. We always hoped you would come home one day and share this place with me.”
Selina steps out of my embrace and sighs. “Vance, I’m leaving. I told you that. It’s only a matter of time before I get the call for an audition.”
“Seli, I love you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you on the playground in third grade. When will you understand that you’re it for me?”
