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Their relationship is difficult, more than complicated, but the two of them were on the right track. Until now. She hasn’t told him about us, I know that. I sincerely hope that we haven’t ruined everything again by making him have to find out this way instead.

Lia steps past me and grabs him, pulling him farther into the room with a jerk.

“Close the door,” she tells the petite girl behind him.

Her gaze is less concerned than his, more curious. She closes the door with a soft, rather final click that is barely audible over the music yet still feels very loud. She reaches for Jase’s hand after Lia lets go of him, a reassuring gesture and a silent I’m with you.

An awkward silence falls between us, and no one knows what to say. Least of all me.

Jase and his girlfriend saw us kissing. It could have been worse, much worse. If someone else had caught us, for example. But still, it shouldn’t have happened at all. We weren’t being careful. We lost control, forgot who and where we are, and it doesn’t matter that we have a plan. None of what happened in the last few minutes should have happened.

“It’s not what you think,” Lia finally breaks the silence between us.

Jase’s eyebrows shoot up. “It isn’t? I think you’re messing around with our teacher.”

Lia blushes bright red. “Yes, well, that’s . . . true. But not . . . It’s not only that.”

“Oh, really? It sure looks that way. What exactly is going on?” Jase looks at me, his gaze piercing me, anger blazing in his eyes along with something strangely familiar. He wants to protect her.

My heart skips a beat. It’s a completely inappropriate moment to feel joy, but it’s there nonetheless. I’m happy because Lia is obviously important enough to her brother that he wants to protect her. Even if I’m the reason he feels that way.

She realizes it at the same moment I do. “Phoenix and I . . . We . . . we’re together,” she explains hastily.

Her words send a tingling shiver of warmth through my body.

Jase groans. “Are you serious?”

She just nods.

“You’re together? Really together?”

Another nod.

“Do you even know what . . . God, Lia. What are you doing? You could get into real trouble if this gets out. He. Is. Your. Teacher.” He emphasizes every single word as if it weren’t perfectly obvious.

“We know.” I step behind Lia and put a hand on her back. She instinctively leans against me. “That’s why we want to tell Pearson.”

“You want to do what?” Jase’s girlfriend says. She sounds horrified and stunned at the same time. And a little impressed.

“We want to talk to Pearson and tell him the truth,” I repeat simply. That’s the plan. We asked each other if we wanted to go through with this, and that’s the answer. We have to, but above all, we want to.

“Have you lost your minds?” Jase laughs.

Lia shakes her head. “No. It’s the only option we have.”

His gaze fixes on me, and I automatically straighten my shoulders. “He’ll throw you out on your ear.”

I shrug. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Not maybe. I’m pretty sure of it.”

“Almost certainly, but still maybe.”

He rolls his eyes in annoyance at my answer. “You don’t care?”

“Of course I care.” I really do care. I like this job. I like the school, and I like teaching. I like passing on my knowledge, and I like watching the dancers implement my corrections, seeing them improve from lesson to lesson until they’re finally ready to take the stage. I like all of that. But I love Lia. “But it would be worth it.”

Lia turns her head toward me, her eyes shining, a smile playing on her lips. A smile that fades as Jase continues.