Thick Love (Thin Love, #2)(26)
“No, step on the one, skip the two.” That was Leann in instructor mode, teaching someone I couldn’t see on the other side of the open studio door. The lights were dim, the music loud and there was the distinct smell of floor wax and the ozone from the AC in the large room.
Once I stepped over the threshold, Leann spotted me, frowning as she walked around who I thought was a student. But the woman at her side didn’t look like anyone I’d ever remembered seeing. At least, I didn’t think so when my glance slipped over her long, muscular legs and those three inch black heels that made her strong calf muscles flex.
But then the woman looked away from the floor where she watched her feet caught in a step, practicing whatever dance Leann had been teaching, and I realized this wasn’t a stranger. Aly wasn’t sporting the drab, busted t-shirt and dance pants I’d only ever seen her in before. She wore tight black leggings that came just below her knees under gray biker shorts and the swell of her round ass shook when she swayed and rolled her hips to match the bassline pumping out of the speakers.
“Ransom? What’s wrong?” Leann met me in the middle of the room, barely looking at my leg as I favored my knee. Her voice edged toward a panic. “Is it Keira? Is everything okay?”
“No,” I said, looking over Leann to glare at Aly in the mirror. “She,” I jerked my head at Aly, “lied to me. She promised she’d call Mom about helping her out. She damn well didn’t.” Leann tried to block me as I walked around her, but I moved too quickly to let her be much of a buffer between us.
Aly’s expression transformed from quiet surprise, likely at my anger, right to obvious annoyance. She stepped toward me and lifted her chin as though she was used to being on the defensive. “I didn’t promise anything.” She didn’t back down, and quickly returned her attention to her feet as I stood in front of her, like I was a distraction she couldn’t be bothered with at the moment.
The anger I’d managed to keep below the surface threatened to seep out as I stared down at Aly, but it confused me, too. Plenty of people lied to me—girls who’d tell me whatever they thought I wanted to hear to get me to touch them, coaches who promised I wouldn’t be pushed beyond my limits, teammates who assured me that I’d have fun following them into debauchery. Hell, that wasn’t anything new to me. So why did this woman lying have me itching to slam my fist into Leann’s wall of mirrors?
“You said you’d call. Who does that? Who promises to do something and then just flakes out?”
“Everyone, jackass.” I had to give her credit, Aly didn’t cower away from me. Not when my temper flared and my voice got loud. Not when I stepped right in front of her, glaring at her with my top lip curling up. She just stood there, arms crossed, face tilted like no amount of warning would make her back down. “Besides, I said I’d give her a call. I just haven’t yet.”
“That was days ago. And she needs help now.” This woman was unbelievable. Didn’t she get how desperate we were? Didn’t she understand help meant now?
“She’s not my mother. Why don’t you help her?”
“You think I don’t want to?”
“Modi, I have no idea what you think. And I really don’t care.”
“You’re a selfish, greedy…”
“Hey, you grosoulye bata,” that cool attitude fractured just a little and when Aly’s bottom eyelid twitched and I saw a quick rush of anger, one that could probably match my own. She jabbed her finger in my chest and I let her, floored that she had to nerve to touch me. I didn’t quite get why I let it slide, why I didn’t brush her hand away. The anger in the room felt heavy and hot, like something you should avoid, but are too tempted to test how quickly you’ll be burned. Aly’s eyes were wide and the low light around us glinted against the gleam like glass. “You don’t know me. Don’t you dare start slinging insults at me.”
“That’s enough. Stop it now.” Leann came between us, pushed me back a couple of steps. “You two are simmering. Too much energy.” Then that familiar slow grin pushed against Leann’s mouth and I knew she was going to ask me to do something that was sure to piss me off. She walked around me, gazing over my legs, my shoulders, judging me, like she hadn’t ever really seen me before. I felt like a horse being examined at auction. Aly’s back stiffened when Leann measured her up in the same way before she finally stood between us again, her grin transformed into something that reminded me of a super villain who was just moments away from monologuing his wicked, wicked plan. “You need to work out this frustration.”
“No. I twisted my knee at practice.” I knew Leann well enough to pick up on her in the middle of a scheme. That grin lowered when I shook my head. “Besides, I’m more concerned with finding someone to help my mother.”
“You’re barely limping and we’ll discuss Aly taking the job.” The small pat she brushed against my arm didn’t relax me, at all. “But for now, sit.”
“Leann, I don’t have time for this bullshit.”
“You make time, Ransom.” She stepped in front of me holding my arms so I wouldn’t just walk out of the room. “You promised to help me with the recital.”
“So?”
“So, Aly and I are thinking of adding a Kizomba number in the schedule.” She shrugged like that explanation was reason enough for me not to leave. “We need a male body and you know the basic steps. At least, you know the concept.” She pointed to the floor, nodding her head like she expected me to sit down.