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Susan checked her reflection for the fiftieth time in the last few seconds. She’d fought the impulse to dress like she did while working for her father, left the suit and skirt hanging in the closet she shared with Andrew, and opted for nice jeans and a T-shirt instead. The goal was to walk the line between being respectful and not bowing to her father’s whims before she walked through the restaurant door.
She steeled herself and headed into Kandace’s living room. The woman was a saint for letting them crash at her house, but Andrew would close on his soon. They’d only been back from their road trip a couple of days, so Susan hadn’t imposed for too long. Lucas and Andrew were playing a card game. She loved that they were warming up to each other, and the way it made Andrew smile.
She watched for a few moments, letting the normalcy of the scene chase away her apprehension. When the nervous twitching moved back in, she straightened. “We should get going.” They didn’t have to be there for an hour, but she didn’t want to be late. That, and there was no way she could sit still anymore.
Andrew didn’t question it. He took her hand as they walked to her car. He’ offered to drive, and she said yes, but the car was symbolic to her. Her father probably wouldn’t see it, but she liked what it meant—that she didn’t owe him anything.
As they headed up the canyon, her stomach tied itself into more and more knots, while she replayed snippets of her last conversation with the man—the things he said, how close she came to giving up her dream. Bile rose in her throat, carried on memories of him sabotaging the job she wanted. One she earned.
They walked into the restaurant, and though they were twenty minutes early, her father already waited at a table. He scowled when he saw Andrew.
Susan was more grateful than she thought possible for the reassuring arm Andrew wrapped around her waist as they approached the table. “Dad.” She didn’t bother to fake a smile. “You already know my boyfriend.” She liked the way that tasted, rolling off her tongue.
Her father gestured to the chairs across from him. “When you said, we’ll be there, I thought you meant yourself and Melissa.”
“If you want to break bread with Mercy, I won’t be your buffer zone.” She sat when Andrew held out her chair, then he took the spot next to her. “We can’t stay long, but it looks like you weren’t waiting for us anyway.” She hid her wince at the passive-aggressive comment. If she was going to do this, she had to be direct. Part of her wished Andrew would step in. Take control of the conversation, rather than offer his support through a string of subtle touches and hand squeezes. She was grateful he kept quiet, though. If he spoke up, she wouldn’t find the resolution she needed.
“How have you been?” Dad asked.
“Fine. I start teaching next week.” It felt good to say that.
“May I ask where?”
“No.”
A flicker of surprise crossed her father’s face, before returning to normal. He cleared his throat. “I’ll cut to the point and hope that alleviates some of this unneeded tension. The last time we spoke, a lot of things came out that shouldn’t have.”
She didn’t like his phrasing. He left his comments open to misinterpretation. She’d let slide the implication that he was sorry he got caught, not that he felt that way to begin with. She’d prefer that they find some kind of tentative middle ground and work from there’. He was her dad, and she loved him despite everything. “I’m listening.”
“I missed having you there for Christmas, and so did your brothers and sister.”
That explained the Christmas afternoon message, but not the several-day lag till he emailed her. There was no reason to call him on the lie about her siblings.
“Funny, how it wasn’t hard to find her when you put some effort into it,” Andrew said.
She struggled to hide her grateful smile, especially when Dad scowled.
Andrew shrugged.
Her dad kept his attention on her. “I want you there for future holidays. What will it take, to make amends? I haven’t stopped your school payments yet. I have your car when you’re ready to take it back. Your phone needs an upgrade, though. We’ll get you a new one.”
“An apology would be a nice start.” She swallowed her resentment at the realization he thought he could buy resolution. Bribe her to forget.
“I’m sorry you’re not in our lives.”
She gritted her teeth. “An apology for the cruel things you said.”
“You mean the truth? Honesty isn’t always pretty, hon. You’re young, and you’re rebelling. In five years or two, you’ll thank me for saving you from the stupidity of youth.”
*
ANDREW GROWLED AT THE string of thinly veiled insults and condescension. It took more restraint than he thought he had not to leap into the conversation.
Susan said, “You’re right. I will.”
Andrew clenched his jaw until it throbbed.
“So you’ll stop all of this ridiculousness?” Dean asked.
Andrew couldn’t sit through this. He opened his mouth, but Susan squeezed his knee. She met his gaze, and he bit back his scathing words.
She turned back to her father. “I will.” The quaver was gone from her voice. The timidness that moved in the moment they walked into the restaurant was replaced with a thread of strength. “As of right now, I’m done pretending that I’m willing to rearrange my life for your approval. That you expect me to? That’s some serious bullshit right there.”
“Susan—”
“I don’t want to sever ties.” She cut Dean off. “You’re welcome to be a part of my life, but only under my terms. Accepting—not tolerating, not making snide, back-handed comments—my career path and the man I love. That’s all part of the me package.”
Andrew couldn’t hide his smug smile.
“You’re being ridiculous,” Dean said.
“Do you think so?” There was no hesitation in Susan’s words.
“I do.”
Susan stood, and Andrew was happy to join her. “Goodbye, Daddy. You know to find me if you grow up.”
“Susan”—Dean’s voice held a sharp edge—“if you walk out that door, you’ll never touch my family again. Not my money and not my name. How long will the novelty of a rich, sleazy boyfriend make up for that?”
Andrew intertwined his fingers with hers and looked at Dean. “For as long as she’ll have me.” He hoped that was forever. Each time he looked at Susan, his love, admiration, and respect for her grew more.
He felt the tremor running through her as they walked away. He couldn’t imagine how hard this was for her, but he was grateful she took this stand, rather than surrender herself to someone else’s will.
* * * *
ONE MONTH LATER
Susan cycled through her stretches, to keep her muscles warm and limber. Around her, nearly two hundred other dancers did the same. The scents of makeup, sweat, and canvas felt natural, combined with the bright lights and polished floor.
It felt odd, filling out the application using the last name she’d had all her life. Rice didn’t belong to her anymore, but she needed a replacement before she could ask people to call her anything else. She tried out Rowe, on Mercy’s suggestion, but it didn’t feel like it belonged to Susan.
She smiled and chatted with the people she recognized. Introduced herself to those who were new. Did everything she could, to distract herself from the nervousness churning inside.
The stress never left, regardless of the number of auditions she attended. It felt different this time, though. The gazes on her weren’t as unnerving. Her biggest fear was how good the women around her were, and that was some hard-core competition.
Three dancers stepped to the front of the room, and a hush descended. It was an eerie kind of reverence. Susan paid attention to their every word. It didn’t matter how many times she’d heard the this is how it works speech; she didn’t want to miss anything.
The basics were simple. Each of the women up front would explain the dance she was looking to fill. The auditioning dancers would pick the one they were interested in, and the room would split into three groups. Once Susan made her choice, she and seventy-five or so others would learn the basics of their performance, and then show the evaluator, as a group.
Susan chose, and for the first time since she started attending try-outs, she ensured she was in the front row. The next few hours were a test of endurance and skill. She memorized the moves, let the music bleed into her until she knew the beat without hearing it, and flowed through the choreography.
She narrowed her focus, until the only things in her world were the vast parquet floor and the steps she needed to execute. She forced herself not to care who was watching.
Then, like that, it was over.
“Thank you, everyone, for attending. We’ll be in touch with each of you within the next few days.”
Like a switch had been flipped, the chatter burst back full-volume—girls talking about how they did, which moves were hardest, and Oh my God, I hope I get this.
She joined in, unable to wipe the smile from her face. This was normal too. After freezing the expression on during the audition, it would take time for her cheeks to relax. However, today it would stick around longer. She did well. There was no doubt. It might not be enough, but she’d never given a better performance.
She grabbed her bag, plucked her cell phone from it, and sent Andrew a text. I’m done. Lunch? Not that she’d be able to eat right away. The nerves clenching her stomach would calm as the day wore on.
His response didn’t take long. Duh? How’d it go?
Hurry and get here, and I’ll tell you.
They were settling into a routine she loved. Andrew worked from home and had an open-door-at-the-house, knock-first-for-the-office policy with Lucas, who spent about half his afternoons there.
Susan kept busy with school—both teaching and attending. She was pretty sure the goofy grin she wore around Andrew would never fade.
We’re outside. Where are you? he asked.
Yup. There was that grin. Most of the girls exited through the back and side doors, heading toward the parking. Susan took a guess and headed for the front of the building instead.
“Susan, do you have a minute?” Grace’s familiar voice halted her.
Susan spun to face the director. Echoes of their last conversation tapped in her head. She blocked them out. She understood Grace’s reasons for not offering her the job, but that didn’t mean she liked them. There was also a risk she’d run into the same wall here, but she hoped to avoid it. “Sure. What can I do for you?”
“I saw part of your try-out. You’re amazing,” Grace said. “I’ll be honest. I don’t see dancers make this kind of turn-around very often.”
“Thank you. I have a fantastic teacher.”
Grace raised her brows. “Oh? Someone in the industry? Anyone I’d know?”
Susan swallowed a laugh. “In an industry, and if you’ve heard of him, you probably wouldn’t admit it in polite company.”
“Okay... The thing is there’s still the issue we discussed last time.”
“With Mr. Rice. Of course.” Susan kept her tone pleasant, despite the curses streaming inside. “I was hoping you could make this decision based on my skill, rather than his checkbook.”
“That’s not quite fair.”
Susan wasn’t interested in turning this into a guilt-trip. She expected her father’s money might come up and had a response. “Not to either of us. How about this? If you think I’m qualified—if his donation is the only thing holding you back—I’ll raise whatever financial support he pulls if he makes good on his threat. Put me on the phones. Plant me in the middle of pledge drives. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Andrew had offered to make up any donation needed. Susan told him the company could use the funding if he wanted to support them, but she wouldn’t use it as leverage. She refused to bribe her way into a job—even one she’d been blackmailed out of.
Susan tried not to hold her breath while Grace chewed the inside of her cheek, her brow furrowed.
“You’re right. I need to get input from everyone who led the auditions today, but I want you here. If you don’t hear from me by the end of the week, call me,” Grace said.
“I will. Thank you.” Susan held back a squeal. It was too early to celebrate, but that didn’t stop the party from kicking off in her brain. They said their goodbyes, and Grace disappeared back into the recesses of the building.
Despite the ample lighting in the studio, when Susan pushed outside, the glare of sun on concrete and snow made her blink several times until she adjusted.
“Hey, sexy. I was worried you changed your mind.” A pair of arms wrapped around her waist, and Andrew kissed the back of her neck.
She leaned into him. “No you weren’t. I bet you were too busy enjoying the view.”
“Nope. Kept my eyes closed the entire time. Made it hard to walk, but I have a good guide.”
“Hello.” Lucas waved. He stood a few feet away.
Susan returned the gesture. “In that case, I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”
Andrew squeezed her tight, before letting to go grab her hand. “You can make it up to me later.”
Lucas stuck his fingers in his ears. “It’s rude to talk about sex stuff. LALALALALA.”
Susan laughed, and Andrew rolled his eyes before tugging Lucas’s arms down. “We’re behaving,” Andrew said. “How’d it go?”
Susan related the conversation, not able to keep the anticipation from her voice. “I think I’m in. I hope I am.”
“Never doubted you for a second.” Andrew kissed her.
Lucas screwed up his face, then pulled at Susan’s free hand. “Come on.” He almost dragged her down the street. “We’re going for ice cream.”
She wasn’t used to seeing this level of enthusiasm from him. Who was she to argue?
When they got to the ice-cream store, Lucas rushed to the counter. “One scoop of mint chocolate chip in a cone, please.” He turned and looked at them. “Hurry.”
“What’s up with the enthusiasm?” Susan asked.
Andrew shrugged. “Ice cream. Who needs a better reason?”
“Got it.” She studied him. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the scene. She placed her order, watching Lucas fidget the whole time.
He claimed them a table but sat at the edge of his seat, ignoring the sweet in his hand.
Andrew sat next to him and nudged him. “Hey. Calm down. You can go.”
Lucas sat straighter and looked at Susan. “I know you’re hesitating about changing your last name, and I get that, because you’ve had the old one for a long time.”
She fought a smirk at the scripted language so very unlike the boy.
He was doing a good job of reciting the words. He went on. “The thing is we have a perfectly good last name, if you’d like to use it.”
Andrew slipped him a twenty-dollar bill. “Perfect.”
Lucas’s meaning spread through her, carried on a warm glow, and she couldn’t fight her grin. She looked at Lucas. “Did he bribe you to propose to me?”
Lucas nodded and dove into his ice cream.
“Women love children and perverts. Isn’t that how the saying goes?” Andrew said.
Susan laughed. “It’s children and dogs.”
“That’s what I said.” He slid from his chair and dropped to one knee in front of her. “Here’s the serious bit, in case you were wondering. I love you dearly and completely, Susan. I want you in my life until we’re old and gray and then some, but only if Lucas is okay with it. Lucky me, that worked out. So, most honest-to-God genuine and sincere thing I’ve ever said—I want to marry you, if you’ll have me. Will you be my wife?”
She leaned forward and kissed him, memorizing everything about the moment. The soft crush of his lips on hers. The texture of his tongue. The fine lines on his face under her fingertips, and the intoxicating sound of his low growl when he kissed back. Chatter in the background, squeals and laughter mingling with the scent of dozens of flavors of ice cream.
She sealed it all into a living image in her mind, and pulled back to look Andrew in the eye. There were few things she ever remembered wanting this much, and he’d helped her find all of them. “Yes. From now until forever, yes.”
THE END
~*~
If you’d like to read Justin’s story, check out The Nerds and The CEO. Antonio wants Justin, Justin wants Emily, and Emily wouldn’t mind all of the above. Giving in will cost them everything.
Keep reading for a free sneak peek of Chapter 1.
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