It was in that moment he knew he’d made the right decision to come. While traveling with Mia, driving all the way from Twin Rivers, he’d wondered if she’d be happy to see him there after he’d basically abandoned her. He was her choreographer, and he’d left her to do the final preparations on her own.
What a chump.
Yet, there she was taking up the first position and preparing to make every person in this room fall hopelessly in love.
Like he had.
The music began, but Lillian didn’t move. It took Jack a moment to realize the song they’d practiced her solo dance to wasn’t the one playing over the speakers. His chest tightened.
“Jack.” Mia elbowed him. Hard. “Jack, she’s playing your song.”
His song. His song with Lillian. The one they’d done their duet to.
Lillian’s eyes found his as if she was waiting for something.
“What is she doing?” he hissed. “She’s messing up her competition.”
Mia shoved him forward. “Maybe she’s just saying there’s something more important than a competition. Go.”
His feet moved, but he wasn’t aware of his steps until he reached the side of the stage.
Lillian walked forward as the crowd waited for her to start dancing, to show them why she should win. She bent down, a shy smile coming to her lips. “Hey.”
Jack glanced at the audience before looking back to her. “What are you doing?”
“I want you to dance with me.”
“What?” His eyes widened. “No, this is your day.”
She shook her head, her eyes imploring him to listen to her. Reaching one hand down, she repeated herself. “Dance with me.”
Not taking his eyes from hers, Jack did the only thing he could. He took her hand and climbed the steps until he was right in front of her. “Are you sure?”
She only smiled in answer before turning away from him and jogging to the side of the stage to speak to someone.
When she returned, she took up her beginning stance. Jack kicked off his shoes, leaving them at the side of the stage. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, not exactly a dancer’s apparel, but in that moment, he didn’t care.
The music started again, and Jack stepped up behind Lillian, resting his hands on her waist.
As they moved into the first steps, his body knew what to do like he’d been dancing with Lillian his entire life.
When they’d started dancing together, they hadn’t fit. Her classical roots weren’t a match for his modern style, but still, they’d created a dance where they could both thrive.
Lillian had been right. They could create a world for themselves, one without the expectations thrust onto her or the limitations on him. Their dance was proof of that.
He lifted Lillian, and she smiled down at him. If the adrenaline didn’t have his heart pounding it his chest, it may have stopped altogether.
He’d once thought Lillian was a beautiful portrait, one to be admired but never touched. He was the janitor of the ballet studio she dominated, the place where she could have had anything.
And she’d wanted him.
He knew now beauty wasn’t something to watch, to admire without ever truly looking deep. It was a thing to be understood, cherished. Because most beauty went deeper than the surface people saw.
Some beauty could steal your heart.
When they’d recorded this dance for his video, Lillian represented hate, and Jack was love, two sides pulled apart by life.
Now, each move held a different meaning. Each time they fell apart in the dance, the steps put them back together. They were love, not hate, in all its messy parts. Breaking up. Making up. Holding each other together as the world told them they weren’t meant to be.
The music faded as Jack held Lillian, their breath mingling, and their chests heaving.
There was a beat of silence before the audience jumped to their feet with thunderous applause. Jack had never let most people see his dancing, hiding it from his peers, but standing up here felt right.
“Jack.” Lillian tugged on his hand. “Earth to Jack.” She grinned when he finally turned to her. “We have to get off the stage.”
He let her pull him off the stage to where a group of girls stood, knowing smiles on their faces.
“No boy troubles, huh?” One of them smirked.
“Sorry, talk to you guys later,” Lillian called as she pulled him past them. “There’s something I need to do.” She led him away from the others and past the contestants bustling backstage.
“What do you have to do?”
Lillian opened a door and pushed him inside. A small, dark storage room surrounded them. She shut the door, closing them off from all light.
“This,” she whispered, drawing him close. “I have to do this.” Her lips found his in the dark, and he responded immediately, pulling her closer.
He backed up until he hit a set of metal shelves. His hands settled on her hips as she took what she wanted from him.
And what did she want? He hadn’t known it until he saw Mia’s video in class, until Lillian confessed her feelings. This girl he never thought he’d deserve wanted everything, every part of him.
He emptied himself, letting it all flow into that kiss, that moment.
“I can’t believe we just did that,” she whispered against his lips. “That dance…”
He skimmed a hand over her cheek, her jaw. “Why did you change your dance last minute?”
“Because I wanted you on that stage with me. Jack, I’m so sorry for everything. My mother. Landon. That stupid ball. I shouldn’t have brought you there.”
“No,” he stopped her. “I wanted to be there for you. I was stupid.”
“I was stupid.”
“Can we just agree we both went completely nuts, and we’re both sorry?”
She nodded, pulling him in for another kiss.
A knock on the storage room door had them pulling apart. Lillian yanked the door open, flooding the room with light. The three girls they’d passed earlier stared in at them, smirks firmly in place.
“Sorry to interrupt,” one of them said. “I mean, we’re really sorry.” She laughed.
One of the others punched her arm. “What Jenna means to say, Lil, is that your mom is looking for you, and we thought it would be best if we found you first.”
The first girl tried and failed to suppress her laughter. “Imagine that dragon lady finding you here.”
Jack rubbed a hand across his face, but the soft smile on Lillian’s lips eased his nerves. She was comfortable here with these girls that looked and acted nothing like her.
“Um…” Lilian laughed. “So, this is Jack. He’s my, um, choreographer.”
“Some choreographer.” The brunette wiggled her eyebrows.
“Jack, meet Rose, Layne, and Jenna.” She turned back to the girls. “You said my mom is looking for me?”
Rose nodded. “She’s with the competition director. Neither of them look too happy.”
Lillian’s shoulders deflated. “Okay, I’ll see you guys later.” She pulled Jack away from them. “Mom is probably watching the other competitors to see who I’m up against. Even if she didn’t want me to be here, she expects me to win.”
Sure enough, they found Mrs. Preston with another lady at the side of the stage. A girl performed a standard classical ballet routine as they watched.
It was like Mrs. Preston could sense Lillian’s presence. She turned. “Oh, darling.” She frowned, noticing Lillian’s hand in Jack’s. “You really shouldn’t have changed your dance.”
The other woman turned to them, a tight smile on her face. “Lillian, I am sorry, but I’m afraid we have to disqualify you.”
Lillian’s shoulders tensed.
“What?” Jack shook his head. “You can’t do that.”
The woman stepped toward them. “We have strict rules in this competition. Lillian registered to perform in the singles competition but she danced a duet. I’m afraid
we can’t allow her routine to qualify for the competition.”
Mrs. Preston crossed her arms, her hard eyes focused on Jack.
“I am sorry, better luck next year.” The woman issued one more smile before walking away.
“Lillian Preston, not only did you insist on this silly competition, but you got yourself disqualified with that stunt.”
“Mom—”
“It’s finished, Lillian.” She straightened. “But you will have your auditions soon, so we do not need to worry about this odd little mishap.” She eyed Jack with a frown.
“No.” Lillian squeezed Jack’s hand tighter as if drawing strength. “Mom, I’m tired of you trying to decide my future. I love to dance, I want to dance, but it is not all I want.”
Her mom started to speak, but Lillian cut her off.
“I want a normal college experience. I want to hang out with friends and go to parties and eat things that have so many calories no one in their right mind should eat them. But I don’t want to be in my right mind all the time. I want the chance to act stupid and be young.” She sucked in a deep breath. “And I never want my boyfriend to question his place in my life.”
Jack smiled at the boyfriend title, but the nerves refused to cease as he waited for Mrs. Preston’s reaction.
The woman closed her eyes for a brief moment and when she opened them, they had a glassy quality Jack was sure he imagined. “You do not wish to join a company? Everything we’ve worked for, Lillian? I…”
Lillian’s boldness faded away, leaving behind the girl who had lived her life trying to make her mother proud. She rushed forward to take her mother’s hand. “I don’t want to let you down, Mom. But if I joined a company right now, I think I’d be letting myself down.”
“All these years, I have pushed you to be the best because it’s what I thought you wanted. You have so much more talent than I ever did. You could go all the way.”
“Do you want to know why I’m so sure about not wanting dance to be my entire life?”
She nodded.
Lillian looked out to the stage where the ballerina was finishing her final spins. “Because I was just disqualified from the competition I’ve spent the last months training for, and I am more proud of myself, of my dancing, than I have ever been.”
Her mom reached out to cup her cheek. “I assume you will go back to Ohio with this boy?”
Apparently, the conversation was over.
“His name is Jack, Mom. And yes, I’ll go anywhere with him.”
“Jack.” She nodded and stepped back, dropping her hand. Her eyes met his for one moment. “Okay.” With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Jack wrapped an arm around Lillian’s waist and pulled her to his side.
Her eyes followed her mom. “That was her blessing.”
“What?” He hadn’t heard her give her blessing at all.
Lillian’s lips tipped up into a smile. “She is stubborn, but she knows when she has lost.” She tipped her head back to look up at him. “Whatever else I think about her, I know my mom loves me. She’ll come around.”
Jack leaned down, fitting his lips to Lillian’s.
Clapping came from nearby followed by a couple of hoots. Jack turned his eyes on Lillian’s three friends. She hid her face in his shirt and laughed.
A tech shushed them, but the girls ignored him.
“That was a total Diva move.” The brunette said it like it was a good thing. They must have heard everything Lillian said to her mom.
The girl on the right—he’d never keep their names straight—grinned. “For the record, it’s crap you were disqualified. You two stole the show out there.”
Lillian looked up at Jack, her eyes sparkling. “Totally worth it.”
By the time the competition ended, Jack was ready to get in his Jeep with Lillian at his side and drive home. She had a hotel room for the night, but they were anxious to get on the road.
They walked into the lobby. The crowd mingled around dancers and other artists. It was a huge competition with people from all over the country. Lillian waved goodbye to her friends before they headed for the doors.
“Lillian Preston?” A middle-aged man wearing jeans and a navy blue sport coat approached.
“That’s me.” Lillian looked to Jack in question, but he only shrugged.
The man stuck out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Lillian took it, confusion creasing her brow.
“I’m Michael Fleischmann, an admission counselor for Oberlin College. Do you know of it?”
“Yes. I mean, yes, sir, of course.” Lillian stumbled over her words. “It’s… well, it’s a great school for dance.”
He smiled. “We fill a number of spots later in the year, reserving them for dancers we find during the competition season. I would love to talk to you about scholarship opportunities.”
Lillian’s entire body froze. Jack had never been more proud of anyone. This was what she’d wanted. A chance at a college experience, one that allowed her to dance.
And yet, Lillian frowned. “Sir, I have a few options I’m going to consider, but I come from a wealthy family, and as much as my mom would rather I go a different route, I have no doubt she will help me. A scholarship would be an honor, but not one that should go to me.” Her eyes shifted to Jack.
What was she doing? This was her chance.
“I’d like you to meet Jack Butler. He not only performed just as well as me today, but he choreographed that dance from start to finish.”
Mr. Fleischman’s eyes widened, and his lips parted into a smile. “A student choreographed this dance? I must say, your work was brilliant. Jack, did she say?” He reached to shake Jack’s hand.
“Yeah, uh, yes, sir.” Everything was happening so fast.
“Well, Jack, Oberlin is one of the premier schools for choreographers, the top in the region. Do you think you’d be interested in driving out to take a look?” He held out a card. “Give me a call. Really, I hope you do. I’m very impressed with both of you.” He turned to walk away, but stopped and glanced back over his shoulder. “And don’t let this girl get away.”
“I don’t plan on it, sir.”
When they were alone again, Jack wrapped his arms around Lillian. “I love you.” They were the only words adequate for how he felt in that moment. The girl in his arms was incredible in every way.
She looked up at him. “I love you, Jack Butler.”
As he led her outside to meet Mia for the drive home, he glanced down at the card in his hands. Opportunities hadn’t come often for Jack. He’d never considered that he could go to college, that he could pursue the one thing he’d ever wanted to do in life.
But that was the thing about love. It created all kinds of possibilities.
Jack stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. In the distance, he caught sight of Mia leaning up against his car.
Slipping the admission guy’s card into his pocket, he framed Lillian’s face and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips.
“What was that for?” she whispered.
“Everything.” When he kissed her, he wasn’t only kissing Lillian Preston.
He kissed the determined ballerina he’d first met.
The stubborn girl he hadn’t been able to forget.
He kissed the debutant.
He kissed his partner.
And he kissed the brave girl who went after what she wanted.
All the different parts of her fit together to create the girl who’d changed his life.
“So, Lillian Preston.” He hooked her arm through his. “You’ve conquered the competition world. What are you going to do next?”
A grin stretched across her face. “I have no idea.” She leaned into him. “And nothing has ever felt so good.”
Epilogue: Lillian
Three Years Later
“Lillian, can you stay behind for a moment?” Professor Jenkins gave her a stern look as her classmates filed out of
the lecture hall.
“Of course.” Lillian hefted her messenger bag over her shoulder, approaching his desk with dread. “Is there something wrong, Professor?” She hoped she hadn’t screwed up her last paper on the history of American Ballet. History of dance was her favorite class, and she really wanted to impress Professor Jenkins.
“No, nothing is wrong with your grade.” He gave her a rare smile. “You’ve taken several of my classes since you’ve been at Oberlin. Though I didn’t realize you were such a skilled ballerina until I saw your recital last weekend. You are quite talented.” He frowned.
“Is that a… bad thing?” She gave a nervous laugh. Professor Jenkins intimidated her. He was a renowned former dancer and only taught the most advanced students in his graduate level dance workshops—and he was a brilliant history of dance teacher.
“I just wonder why you’re here and not in New York at Julliard or a principal ballerina of a Ballet Company. You are that talented.”
“I know.” Lillian blushed, hating the way that sounded. “I wanted the real college experience. I love to dance. It’s in my blood, and I know I could go all the way, but I learned a long time ago, the best way to make me hate dancing is to do it competitively. I don’t need to be a famous ballerina to still have dance in my life. I just want it to be on my own terms. And I happen to love history. It’s my major. I hope to teach someday. Maybe even history of dance. And I’d like to open my own studio one day and teach those who have the desire and talent to dance professionally.”
“It’s refreshing to see someone your age that knows what she wants,” Professor Jenkins said, folding his arms across his chest. “Will you be pursuing a Master’s Degree?”
“Yes, sir. I want to be able to teach at the college level.”
“Very good to know.” He nodded as if deciding on something right then. “I need a teaching assistant, one I can rely on for years to come. I don’t normally offer such a position to an undergraduate, but you have the skills I’m looking for. You’re an academic, and you write intelligent, well thought out papers, but you’re also a talented dancer, and I have need of both skills.”
Kissing the Debutant (The Dangers of Dating a Diva Book 3) Page 17