Page 109 of Two-Step
I do.
I think I suck. And, call me selfish, but I like having Beau’s good opinion.
If I go through with this, I won’t be able to look him in the face either.
My reflection crumbles, and I start crying all over again.
Fuck, Iris, pull yourself together.
Stop crying. Wash your face. Get out there and tell Jonathan—
Mica’s frantic barking breaks through my mental checklist. It’s different. Not his one-and-donesomeone’s herebark. I dash my knuckles under my eyes and head toward the hall. I hear Mica snarl and—
“Whoa, boy!”
I freeze. Someone’s in the house. That’s not my director’s voice. My heart thumps. It sounds like...
“Beau?”
I step into the hallway and find my wide-eyed dance instructor filling the open doorway. He’s dripping wet, taking me in as if he’s as surprised to find himself in my house as I am.
And I’m stunned. Mouth hanging open. Eyes bugging. Staring at the man like I’ve summoned him with my thoughts.
Then he holds up his hands and steps back behind the threshold. As soon as he moves, I notice the key sticking out of the door’s lock. “I’m so sorry. I should have knocked.”
I sniffle, try to compose myself. “W-what are you doing here?”
Beau’s gaze narrows on me. “I’m here to help,” he says quickly, sounding distracted. “Why are you crying?”
My lungs empty on a wet exhale. I can’t speak. All I know is I’m so glad to see him. “I—” I try to say something.I’m in trouble. I’m trapped. I don’t know what to do.But I can only manage a sob.
I watch Beau’s face harden. He closes the distance between us, and then I’m in his arms. I bury my face against his chest, the rain on his jacket mixes with my tears. He pulls me tight against him, and I feel him whisper into my hair.
“It’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe.”
He feels so good. He feelssogood. I hug him tight, his presence overwhelming everything else for one peaceful moment.
He holds me, running a hand down my back. “What’s wrong?”
I let the comfort sink in, but then I breathe deep and exhale. As glad as I am to see him, Beau’s unexpected arrival doesn’t solve my problems.
I pull back enough to look up at him, but I don’t step out of his embrace. He’ll let me go soon enough. I make myself say it. “I’m a coward.”
A notch forms between his brows. “You look frightened. That doesn’t make you a coward. It’s smart to be afraid of a hurri—”
I shake my head. “It’s not that. I’m about to do something terrible because… because…” I can’t even make myself say it. I’m so ashamed.
A gust of wind blows rain under the porch and through the open door. Without taking his eyes off me, Beau reaches back and throws the door closed behind him. It rattles its frame, muffling the sound of the storm outside.
His arms settle around me again. One brow arches, and his dark eyes glint. “You’re about to do something terrible?”
I inhale. “Yes.”
His gaze narrows. “To someone else?”
“Yes.” Shame weighs me down like a two-ton garbage truck.
Beau shakes his head, the corners of his mouth turning up just a fraction. “I don’t believe you. I don’t think you’re capable of intentionally doing something terrible to someone else.”
