The Bad Boy Bargain (Suttonville Sentinels #1)(59)

“Last one,” Faith said. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be here!”

“No!” The chorus girl next to him pointed at center stage. “There, quick!”

He jumped over just as Faith spun toward him. He caught her waist, then her thigh. “We’re going all the way.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she said as he lifted her from the floor.

He almost dropped her, but pulled it together, and dipped her head like yesterday. Then, to show Josh what a real man looked like, he lifted her straight up, until his arms were fully extended. Tightening his core, he balanced her all the way around as he turned.

“Holy. Shit!” a chorus girl crowed.

“Damn,” another agreed. “I want a turn!”

Kyle set Faith down slowly, gently, until her front foot was balanced, and let her go.

She was breathing hard, and her cheeks were red, but her smile stretched ear to ear. “You are the craziest guy in the entire world. And that was amazing.”

Kyle turned to the director, bowed at the waist, then ran and jumped off the stage. A couple of girls in the violin section in the orchestra pit cheered. He blew Faith a kiss and ran back up the aisle.

“Wait! Where are you going?” the director was yelling. “You got the job!”

Kyle let out a loud whoop and flung himself through the doors and out of the theater, feeling like himself for the first time in four long years.





Chapter Thirty-Five


Faith


“But he can’t sing!” Josh was protesting. “How can he have the part?”

“He doesn’t, dummy,” Alyssa snapped. “Didn’t you hear Mr. Fisk? He’s your stunt double for the nightmare scene. That’s all.”

Samuel, who had the male lead as Curly, nodded in agreement. “Take it like a man, Josh. Sawyer is a natural, and he has arms like a Greek god.” He grinned at Faith. “Too bad he’s straight.”

“Enough, enough!” Mr. Fisk pinched the bridge of his nose. “Faith, would you please ask him if he’ll do it? We can teach him his dance steps pretty easily. An athlete with quick feet like that will pick it up just fine. I don’t want him lifting you over his head for the performance, though. Too much liability. The fish lift with a dip is enough.”

Faith shivered, thinking about it. She’d been so high up, she could see the crowns of every head on stage. It hadn’t scared her one bit—Kyle would never drop her. She almost squealed in delight just remembering it. “I’ll talk to him about it. If the performances don’t conflict with baseball, I think he’ll say yes.”

Mr. Fisk nodded. “Good. Now, I’ve had enough excitement for one evening. That’s a wrap. See everyone tomorrow.”

Faith took off backstage on wobbly legs to change into her flip-flops. She couldn’t believe Kyle had come, and that whole rushing in to save the day when Josh dropped her? She could kiss him until one of them fainted for that.

She had to find him first, though. Where had he gone? He’d taken off, laughing like crazy, and disappeared.

“Gazelle, dahling?” Vi stepped around the curtain. She was carrying a large bouquet. “I have something for you.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have!” Faith said, smiling at the roses. They were gorgeous—blood red and just starting to open. The arrangement was perfect, too, with greenery and baby’s breath expertly placed inside the bouquet, like the expensive arrangements Dad bought Mom on their anniversary.

“Ha, these aren’t from me.” Vi held up a single carnation wrapped in crumpled green tissue paper. “This is mine. I was saving it for the performance, but I couldn’t let someone else give you flowers first.”

Faith laughed. “Okay, you really shouldn’t have. But who are the roses from?”

Vi smirked. “Give you one guess. If he hadn’t looked like a sad puppy when he asked me for help, I would’ve trashed the flowers, but he made me promise to give them to you. After all that just now, I’m glad I relented. He really put on a show out there.”

Faith’s eyes unfocused as she thought about the feel of his hands on her waist. “Yeah, he sure did.”

“Hey!” Violet gave her a little shove. “Back to earth now, tiny dancer. Take your flowers.”

Faith snorted. “Is there a note?”

Violet handed the bouquet to her. “Yes. Be proud of me—I was good and didn’t read it.”

“I’m very proud.” Chuckling, Faith opened the envelope tucked inside the bouquet. It was too big for a flower arrangement, and heavy. He’d used good stationery. Where did a high school boy find stationery? Her hands shook as she opened the envelope, finding a long note written in Kyle’s cramped handwriting, with a few words scratched out:

Faith,

You have every single reason to hate me. But I need to explan explain. I didn’t push you away because I wanted to hurt you, but because I was sacred scared. You probably already know I’m a guy with secrets, but what you don’t know is just how big they are. For the first time, though, I want someone to know me—the real me. If you’re willing to hear me out, meet me in the back parking lot after rehersal rehearsal. We’ll go for a drive and I’ll tell you everything I was too scared to say before.