Breaking Away (Assassins, #5)(92)

Claire let out a little scream before hopping up. “I gotta fix my makeup.”

He looked up at her and smiled. She smiled back before leaning down and hugging him tightly around the neck. When she let him go, she threw him a large grin that shot straight through his heart. She looked untroubled, carefree maybe, and that made any worried thoughts that he might have had diminish. This was going to work. They were going to work because all she needed was love, and he had plenty of that.

Not only for Claire, but for Reese too.



When Reese spotted Claire and Phillip in the crowd, both with smiles on their faces, relief flooded her. She wasn’t sure if she could believe the text Phillip had sent saying they were fine but seeing them together solidified his claim and eased her concern. Claire had changed into her Reese Allen Company sweats but left her hair up in her bun, removing the flower. Reese’s heart ached for her and hoped like hell that she wasn’t mad at her. She had lied just as Phillip did, but she hoped that it wouldn’t spoil their relationship and if it had, she hoped she could fix it.

Reese bit into her lip as they reached her, and they all stood awkwardly as tension settle between them. She waited for someone to say something, but instead, Phillip rocked back and forth on his heels as Claire moved her fingers together in a nervous way. Reese hated nervous silence and decided that since neither of them were going to say anything, she would.

“I’m sorry you had to find out about us the way you did, Claire.”

Claire shrugged her shoulders. “I think I always knew that something was going on between you two.”

Phillip looked away as Reese said, “Okay, but I’m sorry for lying. It was wrong of both of us.”

“It’s okay.”

Reaching for Claire, Reese hugged her tightly and was glad when Claire hugged her back just as tight. Letting her go, she looked down at Claire and said, “I also want you to know that no matter what happens between Phillip and me, I will always be here for you. We are friends, Claire, and nothing will ever change that. This thing between me and him is just fun.”

Phillip raised an eyebrow as Claire asked, “Fun?”

“Yeah, nothing to be worried about. It isn’t like we are getting married and popping out babies. Far from it actually… we are just having fun.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “What does that even mean? I’m so confused. Are you two together or not?”

That stumped Reese but thankfully, Phillip came to rescue. “We are doing stuff that adults do. Nothing to worry about. Apparently, it’s only sex. Friends with benefits type thing. Just know that we are both here for you, and nothing will ever change that.”

He seemed angry as he said that, and what he said bothered her. Yeah, everything he said was true, but there was more to it. “I mean, I like him but like I said, no wedding bells or little cousins for you, okay?”

Claire looked from Phillip to her and then shook her head. “Y’all are weird but whatever, I’m gonna go find Brian.”

And then she was gone.

That didn’t go the way she thought it would. She saw it going easier, saw lots more hugging and declaration of love for Claire. Oh well, in a way she was thankful for the easiness. Looking over at Phillip, she saw that he was looking out at the stage, his body tense.

“You okay?”

“Fine.”

She reached out, wrapping her fingers around his wrist. “Wanna come to my room after this? We can talk.”

“Or have sex,” he said, looking over at her with an annoyed look on his face.

She bit into her lip, taken aback by his demeanor. “Well, that too, but I’d like to talk, make sure you are okay. It’s been a rough day for both of us.”

He let out a breath and something changed in his face as he slowly ran his hand through his hair before looking back over at her. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Me too,” she said, squeezing his wrist. He moved his hand, lacing his fingers with hers. She smiled as she said, “You’ve done amazing with her. If she would have found us a couple months back, she would have lost her shit.”

He chuckled. “Oh… she lost it but yeah, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I think we both played a part in how she is now.”

She smiled. “I’m glad; I do care for her a lot.”

“I know, and I thank you for that,” he said. He leaned down, kissing her softly on the lips. When he smiled against her lips, she smiled too, her heart fluttering in her chest as he moved back some to look at her. “It’s nice to do that and not care who the hell is watching.”

She giggled as she nodded. “I agree,” she whispered before pulling him back down for another quick kiss. When they heard the announcer call all dancers to the stage, Reese pulled away and smiled, her heart seizing in her chest from the desire that was swirling in his shocking blue eyes. Pulling her gaze away from his, she fought for breath as the awards ceremony started.

Her hand still entwined with his.

Through the whole thing, Reese was a nervous wreck. Her three duets that performed in the Ruby category, which was basically intermediate, had done well, placing in the top ten, but not at the top, and that made her nervous. She thought those dancers were great. Was it their best performance? Probably not but still, she saw them in the top three, but they finished at the end. Listening and watching as they went through the Diamond category, the advanced one that Claire and Brian were in, Reese was basically shaking from the scores. Everyone was scoring great. They came to Claire and Brian, and the announcer said, “Platinum, with a perfect score, goes to “Use Somebody,” Reese Allen Company.”