Selena’s voice rang through his ears. He pushed Banjo off him then shut the curtain on his top bunk to avoid her.
“No, I already told you, Mom.” Selena said. “I’m not going to Blackpool. I don’t have a partner. Dima and I are done and he won’t even consider dancing with me.”
Bret didn’t even feel bad. She should’ve been honest with Bret about the miscarriage before she decided to reunite with him. And it had been her choice to tell Dima that they would never get back together. She knew by hurting Dima’s ego that she risked the chance that he would end their partnership.
“Oh, good God, Mom… I told you that Bret broke up with me. It’s over. You know why!”
Lord, I don’t want to listen to this. He grabbed his pillow, then jumped out of bed, hoping that Selena would get off the phone when she saw him.
She looked up at him, her hair still wrapped in curlers, but to Bret’s dismay, she didn’t hang up the phone.
Bret sat at the small table.
Somehow, Selena didn’t get as far away from Bret as humanly possible in this sardine can on wheels, like she’d been doing. Instead, she got up and marched over to the coffee pot.
“Mom, I’ll never find another partner like Dima. Just leave me alone, will you? Bye.” Selena went to fill her coffee mug, but Bret snatched the pot from her hand.
“Mature, Bret.”
“What? I just wanted a cup. Would you like a one?”
“Sure, I take it—”
“Cream. With one teaspoon of sugar. I know.” He filled their mugs, handed Selena hers, then sat down beside her.
Just as she took a sip, the bus went over a bump and the coffee sloshed all over them, staining Selena’s top. “Aw. My new jammies!”
“Kip!” Bret yelled at the driver. “Be careful!”
“Sorry, guys,” he shouted over his shoulder. “I just got a radio from Xavier’s bus. We’re pulling over at the rest stop.”
Selena scowled. “Again?”
Bret shrugged. Even though each bus had a fully functional toilet, they’d received the riot act before they left in a sheet entitled Rules of the Road. First rule: #1 only! No Paper! No exceptions! EVER!
They pulled into the gas station. Xavier’s luxury bus crept up behind them.
“Coming with?” Bret asked. Not that he expected her to. Selena probably wouldn’t want the public to see her not looking flawless.
“No. I’d probably get kidnapped.”
“Yeah, because there are Dancing under the Stars stalkers hiding in every gas station in Mississippi.”
She laughed and waved him out. “Just go. They’ll have to be happy with just you.”
She was so high maintenance. He was glad they broke up. He slipped on sandals and walked outside in a tee shirt and jeans. He didn’t care. The tabloids were still after him in Los Angeles, but there were no paparazzi in Mississippi. He hit the bathroom first before the mad rush. When he was done, he walked into the convenience store, where he bought a Men’s Fitness magazine, a Rocky Road candy bar, a Slim Jim, and a coke. Life was good.
Selena waited for Bret by the bus door. She didn’t look happy.
“Can I help you with something? Do you want me to buy you a mask so you can go into the convenience store?”
She was not amused. “Bret, can’t we just talk about it. You keep avoiding me. If you would just listen.”
Here we go again. “No, Selena. I already told you. I’m done. I’m going to finish this show and then you never have to see me again.”
She tried to touch him but he flinched.
“Dammit, Selena, don’t do this to me again. We would never work. This is for the best.” He crossed his arms and avoided her gaze.
The driver honked but Selena didn’t give up. “We can talk about it at lunch. I think we’re stopping at Cracker Barrel. I’m gonna get me some eggs, bacon, biscuits, and cheese grits. Yummy.” She ran back on the bus and left him standing outside.
He did not want to sit with Selena at lunch. He had to talk to her, now. Booking it back on the bus he found Selena sitting at the table. She looked up at him and smiled. “I hate being on the road,” she said. “Remember the time we went on that road trip with Dima and Carrie to Mexico?”
At least she had changed the subject. “Yes. We went dancing at the club on that wrecked ship in Ensenada, and Dima was mad because they didn’t play ‘Be My Lover.’”
“We got so drunk—I fell down the stairs in the hotel, do you remember that? And then we had lobster in Puerto Nuevo.” She pulled up her pajama bottoms and showed Bret her calf. “I still have that scar on my leg from the fall. Sun Shimmer won’t even cover it up.”
Bret couldn’t believe what he was about to do. Get it over with, Devil Dawg. “So. Let’s talk.”
She started undoing one of her rollers. “I know I screwed up, but …”
Yeah, Bret knew at the time she felt like she had no other options. But it didn’t matter. He couldn’t forgive her.
“It’s just that,” she continued, “Bret, I love you. I know what I did was wrong. But who knows how it would’ve turned out. If I hadn’t miscarried, I’m sure I would’ve showed up at your graduation with a cute baby bump and I probably would’ve married you and moved on base. I was just so confused, and my mom was pressuring me. I’m so sorry. But we have another chance. We can move on.”
Bret unwrapped his Slim Jim and took a bite. Selena grimaced. He studied the Slim Jim for a second. Okay, it did look like what Banjo did on her shoes—but still, Selena probably couldn’t remember how good this treat tasted. “Selena, look, …” he took a deep breath. Here goes. “Just forget about it, okay? It’s in the past. And I don’t regret getting back together with you. But we both know this will never work. We’re too different.”
The curler she was unrolling dropped into her coffee. She pushed the mug aside. “You’re wrong. We’re meant to be together.”
“I’m totally serious. I’m going back to the Marines. You still want to compete. You left me after three short months in boot camp. What’s going to happen when I’m deployed for nine months? You don’t think you will get lonely and leave me again? You’d never be happy being my wife.” I won’t give her another chance. “Please. Let’s just move on.”
Selena stood up and curlers went flying everywhere. “Bret, please. I love you. You’re wrong. I’ve changed. I just want to start a family with you. I’m older—I’d be fine by myself for nine months. Just give me another chance.” She touched the nape of his neck and he almost choked on the Slim Jim.
“No, Selena. I’m sorry.”
She paused and looked at him.
Bret knew the look. “What do you want?”
She spoke slowly. “The thing is … well, I need favor.”
“Spit it out.”
“Will you be my date to Xavier’s Zoot Suit Party?” She nodded her head, like she was plotting something. “I can’t show up alone.”
Bret looked her straight in the eye. “Well I’m not going to walk the red carpet with you or anything, but maybe I’ll show up. If you’re lucky, I’ll save you a dance. A dance between friends.”
She laughed. “Friends, okay. I can live with that.” She smiled, curtsied, poured her self a new cup of coffee and refilled his coffee mug with the grace of a waitress at Cracker Barrel and Bret realized just how much he missed his girl.
Chapter Twenty-Four
They did it!
Xavier and Selena were one of the final five couples on this season of Dancing under the Stars. God, they could actually win this thing!
The other four couples in the quarterfinal were Dima and Laura, Vika and Asher, Jenny and Dion, and Bret and Robyn. They all had to perform three dances the following week: a freestyle, their favorite dance from the season, and a group paso doble. Today they were all meeting at the studio to practice their group paso. It wouldn’t be easy. Paso was the man’s dance and Xavier would really need to work hard to outshine Dima and Bret.
Dima acted all calm and collected when he was questioned about his and Selena’s relationship during the release party for the Dancing under the Stars video game. He simply said that yes, he and Selena hadn’t been involved for three years and that they were just friends and former partners. He was even nice enough to deny the rumors that Selena had cheated with Bret or that Selena had ever had a miscarriage. Selena was glad the press believed Dima. It was just too bad that he was still too immature to still dance with her. That was the only thing they fought about now. Dima swore he would never again compete with Selena professionally.
She still hadn’t figured out who leaked the miscarriage story to the press. Dima denied it completely and she had calmed down and realized that Jenny would never betray her like that. Maybe Dima had told a student or someone and she sold the story. It didn’t matter anyway—her secret was out and her relationship with Bret was over for good.
In the studio, Selena turned on some Shakira and warmed up. It was kind of nice having this place all to herself. Shakira’s voice vibrated through Selena’s body and she just let herself go. That was what she loved, being free and just dancing for herself.
“Great moves, Sel.”
She spun to the door behind her. Xavier had arrived with his four-person entourage plus Robyn and Bret. They were all standing in front of her, staring at the sweat glistening on her body.
“You still game for choreographing my tour?” he said. “It’s gonna be slammin’.” His people dispersed around the room, like the secret service. They watched Xavier’s every move, just in case he needed anything.
She grabbed her towel and wiped herself down. “Absolutely. It’s my dream job.” And what was stopping her, now that she lost Bret and couldn’t compete with Dima?
Vika and Asher strolled in, holding hands. Two seconds behind them were Dima and Laura, who couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Selena knew nothing was going on with Vika and Asher—Vika wasn’t stupid enough to cheat on Benny. She wasn’t sure about Dima and Laura, though. God, was Selena the only professional on this entire show never to hook up with her celebrity? It was so inappropriate. But she knew Dima was just trying to make her jealous.
“Let’s get this party started, people,” Selena said.
Laura pranced to the center of the floor with Dima, Vika and Asher following. Bret and Robyn stood next to Vika. Bret gave Selena a cool look. Maybe he was really done with her. She knew in her heart that they were meant to be together, but she was starting to doubt if he would ever forgive her. They only had three weeks left together and then she might never see him again.
“So, Selena, where do you want the celebrity men to start?” Vika asked.
Was God’s gift to dancing asking for her help? “Why do you assume I’m choreographing them? You’re the two-time reigning Dancing under the Stars champion.”
She fluffed out her hair. “True. But it’s paso doble. Benny always does my pasos, and unfortunately he’s tied up with training your precious Elizabeth right now. Dima said he doesn’t want to do it, and God knows I’m not going to let Jenny choreograph our paso. We don’t want to get laughed off a stage. This is Dancing under the Stars, not Stumbling around the Stars.”
Normally, Selena would’ve told off Vika and defended Jenny. But this time she laughed. Vika had a point. Jenny was a brilliant Standard dancer but barely survived choreographing the Latin dances.
None of that stopped Jenny from reacting, though. Dion slapped his hand over his eyes as she went off. “Listen, Vika, I did make it to the finale last season. Selena didn’t help me with every dance.”
“She’s right – just every Latin dance.” Did Selena just say that out loud?
Jenny got in her face. “Fine. Just to show you both that I can choreograph Latin, I’m going to make the solo part for my paso doble all by myself.”
Disaster. “Now’s not the time to prove . . .”
Jenny covered Selena’s mouth with her hands. “I don’t need your help, Sel. I can do it alone.”
“Okay, fine,” Selena said. “But I’m going to do the group part. Only because I’m going to win this thing and I don’t want either of you screwing up my victory with your choreography.” She poked Xavier in the abs then waved them all over. “Xavier, Dion, Asher, Dima, and Bret—get behind me. You’ll totally love the paso. It’s the man’s dance. You’re bullfighters and we are your capes. This is a dance of aggression. Most important thing is to stand up, strong and tall. Chests out, shoulders back. And when you step forward, you are using a heel lead like in the Standard dances. ¿Comprende?”
None of them said a word. They looked scared. Oh, boy… “Jen, go grab them some sheets in the back room to use as practice capes, will you?”
Jen ran off, without pausing to question Selena. Hey there, kinda fun being in charge….
Selena went through some basic steps and the celebrity men practiced walking. The Latin guitarist, the Nascar racer, and the reality star strutted across the floor. Sounded like the beginning of a joke. “Why don’t you gentleman take your shirts off so I can make sure your shoulders are down?” Xavier, Asher, and Dion obediently got undressed. This was fun. The guys were very masculine and looked totally hot doing this dance. Bret gave her a dirty look. Hell, Selena was single—there was no harm in looking.
Xavier strutted by Selena for the fourth time, his butt finally tucked tight and firm. He leaned over and whispered into her ear. “You’re so great at this, Sel. You have to do my tour.” Yes, she did. This was a total blast. It was what she was meant to do. Bret could say what he wanted about Dancing under the Stars, but Selena never would’ve realized how much she loved choreographing if she hadn’t done this show. Since neither having a family or nor competing was in her immediate future, maybe she could be happy choreographing concert tours.
“Attack it, Bret! Come on!” Selena harped since he seemed to hold back. She knew what he was capable of on this dance. She cut off Robyn, and then Selena and Bret faced off across the floor. “Pretend it’s me this time. You’re the matador and I’m your bull. Slay me!” Bret shot eyeball daggers at her. He crossed the floor, his chest erect, his feet stabbing toward her. Selena just teased him with her skirt, beckoning him closer. “Now we’re talking. Good job.” All the tension in this room was working great for this dance.
Two hours later, they had finished with all the group moves. “That’s good for now. Finish up your solos and I’ll put everything together tomorrow,” Selena said.
Vika and Asher didn’t even break; they just launched right into their solo routine. She was a Latin champ, so her paso would be fine. Bret and Robyn started fine-tuning their paso. Xavier was great at the flamenco, no worries there, either. Jenny was the one Selena was worried about. Out of the corner of Selena’s eye, she spotted Jenny sitting at a side table, studying Walter Laird’s encyclopedia of dance steps, Technique of Latin Dancing. Dion was in the center of the floor trying to copy Xavier’s steps.
“Awesome, Xavier. Do that again and keep your frame. I’ll be right back.” Selena took a deep breath then headed over to Jenny, stopping momentarily to adjust Dion’s back. “You gotta arch it out, Big Boy. There, that’s it.” She pinched his abs and moved on.
Selena slipped into the chair opposite Jenny. “So . . . need help?”
Jenny didn’t even look up from her book. “No. I was looking up the name of a step. I’m fine.”
“Oh.” Selena didn’t even know the names of half the steps because she learned them in Russian. She
sat there a minute, watching as Jenny flipped to the next page then flipped back again. Tiny creases appeared on Jenny’s forehead, the kind she got when she was just about to throw something. Selena just hoped it wasn’t that book … at her.
“Alright, Jen. Enough. I’m sorry, okay?”
Jenny closed the book and laid it flat, her hands on top, but she still didn’t look at Selena. “I never meant to insult you. Really I didn’t. I’m just stressed out about Bret. You know I don’t mind helping you out. ” Selena reached over, then hesitated—afraid Jen would pull away—before resting her hands on Jenny’s.
Jenny let them stay.
“And I’m sorry I asked if you told the tabloids about my miscarriage. Hell, you’d rip your own tongue out before you’d do that, I know. I just didn’t know who leaked it. Still don’t. And now Bret and I are over. There’s nothing private in the dance world. Ever.”
Jenny finally looked up at Selena, the creases gone from her forehead. “I can’t believe you thought I would sell you out! After all we’ve been through. And calling me out today about my Latin dancing in front of everyone is a bitchy thing to do.”
“It was.” Selena nodded her head.
“Friends don’t do that to friends.”
“They don’t.” Selena put on her most solemn face and shook her head side to side.
Jenny pointed a finger at her. “Selena Maria Marcil. Are you ever going to accuse me of leaking secrets again?”
Jenny was so dramatic. Selena hadn’t actually accused her. She’d just asked. Not worth the fight, though. “Never. I swear.” Selena crossed her heart and spit into her palm like every good Catholic schoolgirl knew to do. She stuck out her hand to shake.
Jenny shoved her hand away. “That’s disgusting! Fine. You’re forgiven.” She finally smiled the old Jenny smile and gave her a big hug. “And thank God for it already—Elizabeth needs saving and that’s going to take both of us. She has her eye on dancing with Jared. She swears she’s not flirting with Benny, but I don’t know what to believe.”
Love Waltzes In (Dancing Under The Stars) Page 15