Page 140

“What?”

“You do remember who my coach is, right?”

I grin, the image of Elena popping in my mind in an instant. “Of course. Hard to forget the way she always called you Solnyshko.”

“Well, to Elena, every problem has the same solution.” She sets the bottle down.

“More ballet?”

“More ballet.”

I laugh. “Sounds terrifying.”

“It was, but not anymore. I love this routine. Plié, arabesque, pirouettes. They bring me joy, especially when I land them right.” She stretches her arms above her head, surveying the empty room. “Anyway, I’m done.”

“Done done?” I tease.

“Done done.”

The studio is empty. I didn’t pass a single person on my way up here.

“Have you been here alone?”

“Yeah. I’m closing tonight.”

I take a step closer. “Need help?”

“With what?” She raises an eyebrow, resting her hands on her hips.

I wave a hand vaguely. “With whatever people do when they close dance studios.”

Her laugh echoes through the room. “And do you have any experience? Doing whatever people do when they close dance studios?”

“I’ll just follow your lead,” I tease. There’s no way she’ll kick me out, so she might as well put me to work.

She leads me through putting away equipment; though it’s a mundane task, it feels like one of those moments I’ll remember forever, the ordinary kind that ends up turning into a favorite memory.

All because I’m with her.

Eventually, Isla picks up her bag, instructing me to turn off the lights. One by one, I flip the switches, plunging the room into semi darkness.

When I turn around, she’s standing a few feet away, close enough that I can see the faint smile playing on her lips, lit by the lights coming in through the windows.

Suddenly, helping her close feels like the best idea I’ve had all week.

I step closer and snake my arm around her waist, pulling her against my chest. “Hi there.”

“Hi,” she murmurs. “What’s got you grinning like that?”

“My gorgeous girlfriend.” I lower my face to hers. “Because she’s in my arms. And because I just came up with the best idea.”

“Care to share it with me?”

I curl my fingers around the strap of her bag and slide it off her shoulder. Our lips are just a hairbreadth away, her sweet scent enveloping me. Resisting the urge to kiss her, I turn my head a little, my mouth now at her ear, and say, “I want you.”

A shaky breath escapes her lips. “Michael…”

“There’s no pressure.” I brush my fingers over her cheek. “Only if you want this too.”