Page 82 of Whatever It Takes
"Good call." He wraps his arms around me, pulling me tight to him. After he kisses me senseless, he says, "I still can't believe this is our life."
I know what he means. It's been a year since Five Boroughs Ballet Company released me from my contract. A year ago, I couldn't imagine a life without ballet.
I certainly didn't think I would ever be happy.
Yet this is more than I'd ever hoped for.
Kori and Mol haven't left for LA yet, though it's still in the works. I'm teaching at their studio, working around rehearsals forHonor Code, which Kori is of course choreographing. Brilliantly, I might add.
For the record, Josh didn't cast me because I was sleeping with him. Henderson was the one to make that decision. Mostly because Tabitha said to him, in no uncertain terms, and I quote, "If you let that badass ballerina slip through your hands one more time, I'll make you wish you'd never met me."
I'm so glad Henderson is able to live the drama-free life he's always dreamed about. For the record, that quote went in the book too.
Additionally, I would like to meme “badass ballerina.”
I run my hands up Josh's arms, feeling his firm muscles underneath his black button-down shirt. "Have I ever told you how I love when you roll up your sleeves to show your forearms?" In reality, I love his sleeveless T-shirts even more, but he has to look professional while playing the piano in the pit.
Also, it's March in Upstate New York, so it's a balmy thirty-four degrees with an ice-cold rain out there. Once summer hits though, I'm confiscating all of his sleeved shirts.
He sits casually in the chair while I go about finishing my pre-show routine. I lean over the dressing table, applying my lipstick. I can feel his eyes on me. "What?" I smooth my hand over the backside of the pencil skirt I'm wearing for the opening number when I'm playing prim and proper Dawn.
"I wish my parents could be here to see this."
I turn to look at him. "They are. I'm sure of it." I walk over to him and sit down on his lap. I kiss him sweetly on the lips. "I shouldn't be kissing you. I already applied my lipstick. My routine is all messed up."
He kisses me again. "See? I knew all along you were a rule breaker."
"Rules like this are the best to break."
"There you go, using that 'b' word again."
"Break?" I feign innocence.
Josh kisses me lightly on the nose. "You know the one."
Best. The word that once hung like a weight around my neck—around my soul—now provides a buoyance to my life. One I didn't know even existed.
"It's hard not to use it. Not when I'm performing in thebestshow at thebesttheater with thebestsongs, and I get to come home to thebestboyfriend who's thebestlover I've ever had." I accentuate eachbestwith a small kiss.
But it's true. When this all started, I didn't know who I was, let alone the best me. Josh and The Edison have helped the true Leslie shine through. I stand up, taking Josh's hand to lead him out to the pit.
My first love, my last love, my best love. We're going to succeed.
Whatever it takes.
The End
