Eight

I gawked at him for a few seconds, unsure if I had heard him correctly.

“Can I go to it if it’s after my game?”

He wasn’t kidding.

“You…want to go?”

He shrugged. “Why not? I’d love to see you dance, I’m sure it’s awesome. What kind of dance competition?”

“It starts a few minutes after your game ends, I don’t think you’ll be able to make it in time.” I wanted to think of any excuse for him not to go. That was the last thing I wanted him to see.

Knowing about the competition was one fear, seeing me dance was a whole other level of terror I didn’t want to experience with Ace Huxley. I could only imagine what he would’ve done to me back in high school if he had ever seen me dance.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a passion I could afford at the time, and now it is the passion that helps me afford everything.

“I have my car, if it isn’t too far, I’m sure I can drive there right after. If you let me go, that is.” He smiled, and for the first time, it didn’t touch his eyes.

He was acting as if