He arches a brow. “What was that?”
“I’ll be good.” I might as well be a puddle.
He kisses my cheek, then releases his gentle hold on my jaw. “I’ll message you later. Have a good morning, kitten.”
“You, too.”
He scoops up Parsnip and passes him to me. “I’ll see myself out.” He disappears down the hall. The door clicks shut a fewseconds later. I glance at the clock. I’m already running behind for dance practice.
“Shit. I don’t even have time to handle the fucking pinging in my panties.”
I message my group to let them know I’ll be a few minutes late and rush to get ready.
There’s nothing that can be done about my frazzled state as I sprint across campus to the dance studio. Except when I arrive, my troupe isn’t in the studio warming up. Instead, they’re huddled in a group with their phones in their hands.
“Is the studio double-booked again?” It’s happened before.
Charles looks up from his phone. He gives me a questioning once-over. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Just had a hard time getting out the door.” I’m usually more put together, but it isn’t every day that the man of my dreams shows up asking to date me and turns me into a puddle with one kiss.
“Some idiot pulled the fire alarm last night, and the studio flooded. We’re trying to rebook, but I think the code is going to your phone because you booked it in the first place,” he explains.
“Oh crap, how bad is the damage?” I pull my phone out of my pocket and find the message with the code.
“One of the maintenance guys said they have to replace the entire floor,” Arya replies.
“How long will that take?” I input the booking reference code and frown. “All the studios on campus are coming up red.”
“How is that possible?” Charles groans. “We just got the email a few minutes ago.”
“I can check the yoga studio in my apartment complex.” I pull up the booking link. Unfortunately, I’m not the only person with this idea. I secure us an evening spot today and book where I can for the rest of the week, but now we’re short on practice sessions.
“We’ll have to find somewhere off campus.” Arya fiddles with the end of her braid. “I hope it’s not too expensive.”
Arya is here on a full scholarship and had to take out loans to afford room and board. Charles is in a similar position.
If I’d been on time, they would have had the code, and maybe we wouldn’t be scrambling. But I have connections. The Terror office has a gym and a yoga studio. It’s not convenient, but it could be an option. “Let me see what I can do.”
CHAPTER 17
FLIP
“You all right, man? You seem preoccupied.” Tristan passes me the puck during warm-ups.
I glance around, checking for privacy with our whole team out here on the ice. Everyone is focused on their own drills, though. “It’s about Tally.”
Tristan fumbles the puck.
I snag it and pass it back.
He arches a brow in silent question.
It takes me a few seconds to work up the nerve to spit it the fuck out. Telling Dred and talking to Tally is not the same as asking her dad for permission or telling my teammates. “I want to date her.”
“Bea has been waiting for this for fucking ever. The gloating will be next-level.”
My sister’s name is Beatrix, and he’s the only one who shortens it that way. The rest of us call her Rix.
