Page 173 of Bridesmaid By Chance
“I can bow,” I say defensively.
“Ehhh,” Sloane says, not helping my case.
“Everyone, take a quick five while I have a conversation,” Mary Beth says while moving away from her lectern.
I help up Sloane and attempt to help some other dancers, but they ignore me, sticking their noses up. Uh, I think they’re failing to remember that everyone starts from somewhere and that at one point in their lives, they weren’t these dancers with magical footwork.
It wouldn’t hurt them to remember that.
Mary Beth ushers me and Sloane off to the side and turns her back to the group as she speaks. “You are not taking this seriously.”
“Yes, I am.”
“You are not. I can see it in your eyes that you think this is ridiculous,” she accuses.
“Uh, I think it’s ridiculous that we’re not afforded any mistakes.”
“This is not for beginners.”
“This…” I pause and then turn toward Sloane. “What class is this?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. The Wimbachs signed us up. Although I seem to be picking it up just fine.”
“You are quite lovely probably, given the experience Sheridan told me about,” Mary Beth says to Sloane. “Hudson, on the other hand, you might need to sit out.”
“I’m not sitting out. Just give me a second to learn and it will be fine.”
Being bad at something, not what I enjoy.
If she would just give me a goddamn second, I can get ahold of this.
Mary Beth steps in closer and whispers, “The dancers are getting irritated.”
“Yeah, I can sense that,” I whisper back. “And as someone who is the CEO of a company, the people beneath you feed off your energy. So maybe instead of being irritated and hostile toward me, you encourage everyone around us to put on a freaking smile and help a guy dance with his wife.”
From the corner of my eye, I can see Sloane smile. “It would mean so much to me if everyone cut Hudson some slack.”
“This class is really for you, Sloane. He’s not the one dancing in the wedding.”
“Do you not believe in allowing couples to experience joy together?” I ask. “We’re keeping the romance alive over here. I know I’m not involved in the wedding, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to learn with my wife. You don’t know us. Maybe this is something we want to do alone in our home when we get back to the States. Ever think about that?”
“Will you?” she asks.
“Yeah, my shoes with the buckles and my white tights are being shipped right now.”
Her eyes narrow and her chin lifts. “This is not a joke.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Can you please just offer us some grace here? I know that Archie and Sheridan are probably forking out good money for this, meaning, I’m sure you’re going to want a positive review.”
Her eyes narrow further. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m asking you for patience,” I say, growing impatient myself.
“Fine.” She turns away from us and claps her hands. “Everyone, we’re going to start from the beginning and cover some of the basic steps. Our esteemed Hudson would like to keep the romance alive with his young wife. From the top.”
Everyone groans and offers me looks of pure annoyance and hatred.
Grumbling under my breath, I say, “She is not getting a good review.”
