Breaking Away (Assassins, #5)(14)

Reese shook her head. “Actually no, she is not. I have amazing dancers. Even though Kelsey has beautiful technique, she doesn’t have a good attitude.”

Mrs. Writhenmen’s chest puffed up, and Reese prepared herself for the lashing.

“You are getting rid of her because she doesn’t have a good attitude? She is confident, knows what she wants! She is the best damn dancer you’ll ever see!”

“Again,” Reese said calmly, “that is your opinion, but what matters is what I want since this is my studio. Here is a reimbursement for half the month, and I wish Kelsey the best in her future dancing endeavors.”

Kelsey wouldn’t make it anywhere, not with that shitty attitude. Maybe being kicked out of this studio would straighten her out, but Reese highly doubted it.

Mrs. Writhenmen looked from the check up to Reese before her face became red with anger.

Shit, please be done, please just walk out, and leave me the f*ck alone. I really don’t want to cuss you out, lady.

She snatched the check and stood up. Reese thought she was going to leave quietly, but then Mrs. Writhenmen turned with pure hatred in her eyes.

“You are making a mistake.”

Reese shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t feel the same.”

She shook her head as she held Reese’s gaze. “You are nothing but a cold-hearted bitch. I’m not surprised you didn’t make it in New York because you wouldn’t know talent if it bit you in that fat ass of yours.”

When the door slammed shut, Reese shook her head. Her heart was beating in overtime, and her hands were shaking.

“Actually, you’re wrong again. I did make it. I just chose to come home because I couldn’t be in the same city with my ex. Plus, my ass isn’t as big as yours, you stupid, stuck-up bitch.”

It felt good to say it, but it didn’t make her feel better. No one knew that she had come home because of Kevin but family. When people asked why she didn’t stay in New York, she always said that she was homesick. She would tell the story of how she always wanted to own her own studio and teach young minds. It was a bunch of bullshit, but it got people off her back. Now that she was two years into the studio, she did believe that this was her calling, but she still missed the stage and lights.

Leaning back in her chair, she let out a breath before shaking her head.

“Well, that went awesome.”

Pulling into Harper’s driveway, Reese took in a calming breath. She didn’t want to come over here or do anything for that matter, she just wanted to go home. Mrs. Writhenmen’s words played over and over in her head, and it was driving her crazy. She wasn’t cold, she was actually nice to the kids, and tried to be to Kelsey, but that little girl needed a good slap across the face and a kick in the bottom. Two things Reese couldn’t do without a lawsuit on her hands. The fact that she had called Reese cold wasn’t what was bothering her… it was the fact she brought up New York. Reese tried very hard to forget that city and the man that was there, but it seemed that she never could. She wished she wasn’t so weak, but for some reason, she was when it came to Kevin and the Big Apple. It was a place of lost dreams.

Blah.

Shaking her head, she got out the car and made her way into the house without knocking. Ally came barreling down the hallway, jumping into Reese’s arms and covering her with kisses.

“Reese Pieces!”

Reese smiled. Leave it to Ally to make everything better.

“Hey pumpkin, how are you?”

“Good! I’m watching Lue’s lues! Wanna watch?”

Hmm, she wasn’t sure what she was agreeing to watch, but soon she was on the couch, watching a blue dog run across the screen. Ally apparently loved it, but Reese was on the fence on it. The only reason she was still there was because Ally was feeding her apples and peanut butter.

“Hey, I didn’t know you were here.”

Reese looked up at Harper and smiled.

“We’re watching Lue’s lues,” Reese said, pointing to the TV.

“I see that, but if you would have told me you were here, I could have left.”

Reese shrugged her shoulders.

“That’s true, but I got distracted by Ally, apples, peanut butter, and—”

“Lue’s lues!” Ally declared with her arms in the air.

Reese nodded as Harper rolled her eyes.

“You’re silly, Ally bug.”

Ally shot her a big grin before she was sucked back into the wonderful world of a blue dog. Reese looked up at Harper as she popped an apple in her mouth.

“Where you heading off to?” she asked.

“Sadie has a doctor’s appointment, and I get to go!”

Reese smiled before saying, “Cool school. Have fun!”

“Oh, I will,” she replied, starting for the door. “Oh! Poop! I totally forgot… I have a houseguest.”

“Houseguest?” Reese asked skeptically.

“Yeah, her name is Claire. She is Phillip Anderson’s niece. He has custody of her now, and when he is on the road for the games, she stays with me.”

Reese raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“Because she’s had a tough life, and Phillip is trying to give her stability.”

“So you just volunteered to take some kid?” Reese asked.