by Piper Rayne
I lean back in the chair and rest my ankle on my knee. This is going to be a long conversation. I resist the urge to check my watch for fear of being rude. “Yes, you’ve done an amazing job.”
“And when you came to me and asked to be an apprentice, I was thrilled. Mrs. Murphy and I not being blessed with our own kids, I knew one day I would have to make the tough decision about selling the practice. And I know we’ve talked about you buying a small stake, taking over day-to-day operations, and eventually buying out my share.”
“Yes. I’m still very on board with that.” I’ve never wavered.
“Things have changed though. You’re getting married.”
“To Brigette. I’m assuming she could stay on staff as well?” He’s never had a problem with us before. Hell, the staff here had a cake to celebrate our engagement the day we announced it to them, so I’m not sure where he’s coming from.
“Brigette is from France,” he says as though I’m not aware.
“Yes, sir.”
He opens his mouth as though to say something, then closes it before he says, “Are you sure she’s not going to want to go back someday? What if she becomes homesick or wants a practice in a bigger city? You know being a veterinarian in a small town is very different than in a big city?”
“As far as I know, she wants to stay in Lake Starlight. She wants to make her life here.”
He raises his eyebrows as though he’s not so sure.
“Dr. Murphy, I assure you, if we go through with the plan of me taking over Four Paws, it’s in good hands with me.”
He straightens some papers on his desk. “That article Lori was just showing me says…”
“Says what? What could it possibly say?” My voice is louder than I’d like. Dr. Murphy doesn’t respond when someone is argumentative, but this is pissing me off.
“It says what everyone in this town believes.”
“Which is?” I clench my jaw.
He glances up from his papers. “That you’re torn between two women. That Juno Bailey will always be your first love and Brigette is a replacement.”
I shake my head.
“From my experience, with love triangles, sooner or later the one most affected flees just to get away from the situation. I’m not sure if Brigette reads that stupid gossip blog or not and I’d normally disregard it, but I’ve seen you with Juno. I’ve had a front row seat to your friendship all these years.”
“Yeah, friendship,” I say.
He raises his gray eyebrows once again. “From the picture on Buzz Wheel, I’d say you might need to reevaluate that again. Now.” He holds up his hand. “I’m not saying that the deal is off the table. All I’m asking is that you think this through again. If you were marrying Juno, I’d have no concerns. Everyone knows she’s not like her sisters Phoenix and Sedona. She’s a lifer. But with Brigette, I’m not so sure she’ll want to stick around. Especially if she has to put up with the constant rumors about your feelings for Juno.”
“Dr.—”
“I don’t want an answer right now. Discuss it with your fiancée. All I’m saying is I don’t want to hand down the business to someone who will sell it off to someone else who will then sell to yet another person. I’d close it before I allowed it to be passed around.”
I blink in surprise, never having heard him talk like that before. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to prove this to you?” I crack my neck back and forth, my gaze straying to the window.
Harley’s out there in the park with the kids and Rome’s coming from Terra and Mare, walking over to join them. Phoebe runs to her dad, and he swings her around, her smile so wide I can see it from here. He wraps one arm around Harley, presses a kiss to her lips, then rubs her belly even though she’s not showing yet. I’d be lying if I said my heart didn’t pinch watching them.
“I’m a Lake Starlight lifer. I promise you,” I say.
“Make sure Brigette is on the same page as you. And if you love her, I suggest closing that door to Juno, because speaking as a man who’s been married for over fifty years, there can only be one number one woman in your life.”
I nod. “So once I marry Brigette, we’ll talk about me taking over Four Paws?”
“Yes, I’ll have a conversation with her that should put me at ease if what you say is correct and she sees Lake Starlight as her new home. Then you and I will talk. After the wedding, of course. You have enough stress right now getting ready for the big day.”
“Thanks, sir.” I glance at my watch. “I’ve got to get to my first appointment of the day.”
I’m at the door when he calls my name.
“Yes?” I turn and face him.
“Listen to your heart. That’s the advice I was given a long time ago, and I promise you, your heart doesn’t lie. It never leads you where you shouldn’t go.”
If he only knew that my heart has led me straight into heartache since I was thirteen.
“Thank you.” I nod in appreciation and open the door just as Hillary is escorting my first client, Mrs. Lopez, and her cat, Alesander, to room two.
Knowing I have a few minutes, I pull out my phone to look at the text Lori sent me. Lake Starlight Buzz Wheel’s glowing header hits me front and center.
* * *
Three to Tango?
* * *
Rumor has it that Juno’s date had an allergic reaction and somehow Colton Stone and his fiancée were the ones who drove them to the hospital. A source overheard Brigette asking Juno Bailey about her relationship with Colton. How close are they? Apparently, Juno claimed once again that they’re just friends—not news to any of us. But the juiciest piece of information is that she said there have been times that the lines blurred between them. She assured the very jittery bride that if something were going to happen, it would have already, which apparently calmed Brigette down. We’re also hearing that Juno will be attending dance lessons with the happy couple. Whose partner will she be?
This picture was taken when Juno’s date finally emerged from the emergency room, recovered from his allergic reaction. As you can see, Juno and Colton are still side by side and it’s Brigette’s hand on Juno’s date’s arm. And where is Colton’s arm? On the small of Juno’s back. Tell me again that these two are just friends. I’m not buying it, and if I were Brigette, I’d get the hell out of Lake Starlight. Or maybe hit it with Juno’s date, who she seems so fond of.
Colton Stone is due to wed in only three weeks… maybe we should open a pool to bet on whether it will actually happen.
* * *
I scan the photo. I can’t deny that my hand is on Juno, but I’ve always been like that with her. Plus, I felt like after Brigette was so forceful about getting Juno’s number and going to the dance studio, I wanted to convey to her that I was sorry. My guilt is always right under the surface since my engagement.
I pocket my phone as Brigette walks by me into exam room three without saying a word. I guess I have my answer as to what was wrong with her this morning.
I have no time to talk to Brigette all day until we’re walking across the square to Tap Your Feet Dance Studio.
“Hey.” I stop her before we cross the street. “I think we should talk.”
“What about?”
“I’m pretty sure you saw Buzz Wheel.”
Her smile drops. “I did, but it’s fine. It’s just gossip.”
I want to talk this out, but she appears fine with ignoring the blinking neon elephant between us. “I still think we should talk.”
She looks over my shoulder, her arm raised. “Later. They’re here.”
“Who?”
I turn and my eyes narrow. Juno and Jason are walking down the sidewalk toward us.
“I thought this was a no-go?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“I got a hold of both of them earlier. I thought you’d be happy that your best friend could make it today.” A toddler could hear the sarcasm in Brigette’s tone.
As Juno and Jason approach,
the question begs to be answered. For whose benefit did she invite them: hers or mine?
Twelve
Juno
* * *
Entering the dance studio above Sweet Suga Things, it’s clear this was a bad idea. The only one comfortable one of us is Brigette, who is overly enthusiastic about the four of us double dating. I’m surprised Jason even agreed to go out with me again, but he’s been nothing but courteous since he picked me up.
“Oh hi, Juno, how is everyone?” Mrs. Johnson asks when she spots me. “I saw Liam and Savannah the other day out on a walk. Liam said it was his first day back at work and he didn’t want to leave them, so he convinced Savannah to bring the little one to visit.” She chuckles.
“Yeah, I haven’t had nearly the time I’d like to see the new babies.” Which is true. Phoenix called me today, and I signed up for a shift on Thursday afternoon with Savannah. Phoenix said she might just knock Savannah out if she has to go over there again and be lectured on how to keep the changing area organized.
“They’re only young once. Now, Mr. Johnson said you two were in and picked out Colton’s suit already?” Yeah, Mrs. Johnson is Mr. Johnson’s wife. She’s only directing her attention to Colton and myself, which leaves Brigette and Jason to stand idly by like outsiders.
“I did,” Colton says.
“And I heard Juno got a little gushy?” She touches my arm. “Now you see why we all cry when your brothers and sisters marry. When you’ve known someone and watched them grow, it’s emotional.”
I side-glance at Colton, who rocks back on his heels.
“I just made fun of his Oreo braces from when we were kids.” I direct my response to Brigette, who gives me a small smile that barely lifts the corners of her lips. “Honestly, it wasn’t like that, and my grandma—”
“Are you ready for us, Mrs. Johnson?” Brigette interrupts.
My shoulders fall. She’s obviously upset, and I can’t blame her. I saw the Buzz Wheel article Saturday night.
“Oh yes. You’re a taskmaster, huh?” Mrs. Johnson pinches Brigette playfully, but Brigette stares at the spot on her arm. “That’s a good quality, Colton.”
Mrs. Johnson waves us into the studio that’s lined with windows that face the square. The hardwood floors are shiny and polished, and there are benches along the interior wall—which look like a really good spot to lie down.
“You’re all my early birds, so I’ll put on some music and you can get those hips warmed up while we wait for the others.”
“Great,” I say without enthusiasm. If physical education teachers could fail a student for their lack of rhythm, I would’ve failed square dancing.
She turns on Frank Sinatra’s, “Fly Me to the Moon” and Jason holds out his arms to me.
“I should preface this by saying that I’m more of a sidestep kind of dancer.”
He laughs and wraps one arm around my waist while securing my hand in his. His form is rigid, so I try to do the same. “Just let me lead.”
He steps forward—right on my toe because I guess I was supposed to step back.
“Sorry.” I stare down at his feet.
“It’s just a square,” he says.
I follow him, feeling like a robot and stepping on his foot when we’re supposed to go back. The last time I apologized so much was when I threw up in Liam’s classic car my junior year, after I got wasted at a party.
“Now.” He releases my waist, puts his finger under my chin, and brings up my face. “Your eyes stay on me. This is where the connection happens.”
“Okay. Man, you’re really good at this. Where did you learn?” Just as I think I can hold a conversation while dancing in a square, I mess up and my ankle twists.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I stand up straighter to get back up on that horse, when really, I just want to leave. I’m not getting married. I don’t have to dance at their wedding if I choose not to. Why did I agree to this? Oh yeah, because if Brigette is important to Colton, then she needs to be important to me, which means I need to do things like this to try to build a relationship with her.
“I’m a nerd and took ballroom dancing as a college credit,” he confesses with a shy smile.
“Easy A?”
He chuckles. “Nope. The instructor made sure there wasn’t anything easy about it. To pass the class, we had to partner up and do an actual dance contest.”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah, but she said I had hips for salsa. Whatever that means.”
I glance down between us and see that as we step, his hips sway a little with each move. As if he’s a chained up dog who wants to run free.
Meanwhile, Colton and Brigette dance next to us. Brigette seems to be doing okay while Colton silently counts with his mouth open.
“There you go,” Brigette says. “You’re kind of getting it, but more flair.”
Colton tries, but he looks as if he’s got ants in his pants. I laugh, causing him to look over at me and step on Brigette’s toes.
“Damn it, can’t you two be serious?” She unhooks herself from him and grabs her toe.
“Sorry,” I say.
Two more couples come in. Mrs. Johnson says hello to them then comes over to us and puts her hands on my hips.
“More movement, Juno. Loosen up.” Mrs. Johnson smacks my one hip as if it’s fallen asleep. “There you go.”
I feel no difference, but she leaves us alone, which I’m thankful for. Jason spins me, and I face Colton and Brigette.
“That was a nice move,” I say to Jason, who smiles.
“Oh, I think we have a few dancers in the house,” Mrs. Johnson calls. “I’m going to have you dance around with one another.”
“I thought this was a party, let’s dance!” Denver yells, entering the room with a red-faced Cleo.
I dislodge from Jason and cross my arms. You’ve got to kidding me.
“Who is that?” Jason asks.
“Um…”
“Denver Bailey, you do not enter a ballroom like that,” Mrs. Johnson says.
“It’s from Footloose.” He waits for her to show any recognition of the famous final line, but it never comes.
“I do not care. This is a ballroom.” She takes his hand and leads him to the middle of the dance floor. “It is not to be knee in crotch and grinding.”
Everyone laughs. I think she has her movies mixed up.
“All you had to do was ask, Mrs. Johnson.” Denver brings her close and acts as if he’s going to grind her.
She hits him but looks at Cleo, who’s standing near the wall. “How are you ever going to marry this guy?”
“I guess I’m special because it takes a special girl to see his beauty.” Cleo walks over and smacks him playfully, before taking the spot of Mrs. Johnson. Now Denver really does put his leg between her legs and grinds.
“Your cousin?” Jason asks.
I twist my lips into an apologetic expression. “Brother.”
“Another one?”
“Yeah, but the last one you’d have to meet would be Austin and he’s super chill.”
“Just to be safe, let’s dance on the other side of the room.”
I laugh, thinking he’s joking, but Jason really does spin me until we’re in the opposite corner.
“Juno!” Denver yells, somehow dancing toward me.
“What on Earth are you two doing here?” I ask.
“Dance lessons for our wedding. Gotta start early. Plus, we needed to get out of the house. Everyone’s babies are ruining our social life.” Cleo laughs.
“I’ll put a baby in you,” Denver says. “Let’s ditch this class and go home and try until we’re successful.”
Cleo smacks him on the shoulder. “One hour. You promised.”
Denver acts like a scorned puppy but his smirk is anything but.
“Let’s switch partners. You have to be able to adapt when you dance. Allow the leader to lead you, then we’ll start in on some steps.”
Mrs. Johnson comes around and pushes the couples apart.
I end up with Denver. Great. Colton is with Cleo, and Brigette and Jason are together. Immediately there’s a visible difference in dancing capabilities between the couples. Jason and Brigette whizz around the dance floor as though they should be the instructors of the class, Brigette’s skirt whooshing around her thin legs. I share a look with Colton. Yeah, we’re the losers here.
“I didn’t sign up to dance with my sister,” Denver tells Mrs. Johnson, grabbing Cleo’s hand and twirling her into his arms. “Sorry, sis.”
That leaves me with Colton. We gravitate to the window, watching the other couples. The two other middle-aged couples seem comfortable swapping, which makes me wonder if they swap partners for more than just dancing.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Mrs. Johnson comes over and positions Colton and me into the classic dancing position. She puts his hand on my hip and locks our other hands together. “We’re going to make you two dancers yet.”
“It’s just one dance. I can make it work,” Colton argues, and she slaps his arm. “Firm. Strong.” His eyes gravitate to Brigette and Jason, who are floating across the room.
“We’re obviously the misfits of the group,” I say.
“Not misfits. Just get out of that head of yours.” Mrs. Johnson taps her finger to my temple. “Listen to the beat of the music. Let it be your guide. Get lost in your partner. It’s not always about the perfect steps.” She puts one hand on Colton’s back and one on my mine, pushing us closer. “It’s about enjoyment and passion. And whatever other emotions it pulls from you.”
She leaves us to check on another couple. Colton steps much like Jason did but not nearly as smoothly. But I’m fine with that because I don’t care as much if I step on Colton’s toes.
“We’ve done this before,” Colton softly says.
“What? Prom? We only danced to fast songs,” I say.