“Do you know who?” he asked, curious in spite of himself.
She shook her head. “This footage will air during commercials and before we dance in every episode, so it’s important to film something good.”
“Like what?” He followed her as she strode down the hallway at a fast clip.
“It has to look like you’re having fun, like you want to be here.”She shot him a sidelong glance. “Voters respond to enthusiasm. If they get the impression that you think you’re too good forThe Dance Off,they’ll send your ass home.”
“Wait a second.” Stone stopped walking and took her by the elbow. For once, they weren’t mic’d, and there were no producers or cameras hovering around them.
“Look,” he started, not knowing exactly what he was going to say. “Do I feel silly about all this? Yeah.” He gestured at his hair—styled into smooth waves—and his sparkly vest. “But I have a good reason to be here, and I can tell this is important to you, so I won’t fuck it up.”
Her lips flattened and she crossed her arms. “That’s the best you’ve got?”
He shrugged. “For now? Yeah, it is.”
She sucked her teeth and started walking again. “I guess it’ll have to do. Come on.”
Blowing out a breath, Stone rushed after her. He could have handled that a lot better. He’d meant to convey that he was willing to try his best, but it had come out all wrong. Instead, he would just have to show her, and in doing so, reveal a little more about himself than he’d intended.
“You know, I wasn’t completely honest before,” he said as they approached the film set. Cameras, lights, and people surrounded a mini version of a dance floor and stage. Another costumed couple stood in the middle of it, talking.
Gina cut her eyes to him. “No?”
“I do have some dance experience.”
“Oh yeah?” Interest sparked in her eyes, and she slowed down. “What kind?”
“Breakdancing.”
“No!” Her mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding? Show me.”
“What, here?” Stone raised a hand to run it through his hair, then dropped it before he could mess up the careful style.
“Yeah. I wanna see your moves.” A playful note had returned to her voice, and he was glad for it.
He rested his hands on his hips and surveyed the space around them, assessing whether it would be enough room for him to move around. He’d feel terrible if he knocked over the cameras or took out the lights.
Gina flashed him a teasing grin. “Do you need me to beat box or something?”
He raised his eyebrows, more relaxed now that she was back to her old self. “Can you?”
Her shrug was sheepish. “No. My singing lessons don’t cover that particular skill.”
He wanted to ask her more about that, but she moved out of his way and said, “Come on, show me what you’ve got.”
“It’s been a while. I used to do this in high school, and I was a lot skinnier then.”
Her nose scrunched in confusion. “I thought you were living in the outback or whatever.”
Crap. “High school age, I mean.”
“Excuses, excuses.” She nodded at the open space before them and clapped out a beat. “Do it.”
A fire ignited in him at her words. This wasn’t the time to examine the impulse, but he wanted to impress her. Starting with some basic toprocking, Stone crossed his arms and stepped side to side before dropping down into a six-step. Whoever had made his outfit was a damn genius, because it had the perfect amount of give to account for his moves.
Others gathered to watch, so Stone stuck a handstand freeze—and didn’t fall on his face, hallelujah—and followed it up with a suicide spin into a standing position.
A small crowd had formed around him. They broke into applause and cheers when he finished, but Gina drew all his attention. She bounced on her toes, clapping her hands and laughing full out. The pure joy on her face struck him like a blow. He fought to catch his breath when she rushed forward and threw her arms around his waist in a hug.
