Chapter 10

"Let's try that again," I say, encouraging Justin and Mark back into their starting positions.

They carry on for a few more minutes until Mark sighs.

"I feel like we're just stuck on the same thing. I know we need to practise the basics, and I promise we will." He shoots a grin at his fiancé, who meets it with his own smile. I can't help smiling at the joy they radiate. Mark continues. "But it's hard to see what we're aiming for and how it will all fit together."

"Can we see you do it?" Justin chimes in. I think for a minute, indecision preventing me from moving. I glance towards the door. There is a way, but am I prepared to do it?

Nick arrived earlier, and was now helping my mum with her class. Despite our messages the other day, it was awkward, and we didn't get past a stiff hello before my mum claimed him. I'm hoping we can talk later, but I could do with his help now if Justin and Mark want to see what they're looking to achieve.

"I'll be right back," I say, and before I can change my mind, I head towards the other studio and poke my head round the door.

"Nick, do you have a minute?" He's currently showing an elderly lady how to waltz.

He checks with my mum, who waves him away.

"Please excuse me, Mrs Carter. I'll be back soon." He releases his partner with his trademark charm and a smile, and warmth blooms in my chest as, for a moment, I can see a glimpse of how things have always been for us. How much I've missed that smile and how my sister might have been right. But as he turns towards me, his face becomes guarded and the prism shifts, refracting a different view. I push that away, trying to remain professional for now.

I don't speak, but beckon him to follow me, not trusting what I would say right now. Back in the other studio, I introduce him to Justin and Mark.

"They want us to show them what it looks like."

He nods, his mouth a thin line as I put on some music. I face him and hold up my arms. My heart cinches as I see him hesitate before he moves forward, putting one hand in mine and the other on my shoulder. It starts badly, maybe not enough for Justin and Mark to notice, but we both know, and I see him wince. I call a stop.

"I want to try something for a minute," I tell Justin and Mark. "Can you join us?"

They stand and come over. I pair Justin up with Nick, and I take Mark. "Let's do a few basic steps for a while and then we'll try again."

I'm hoping Nick will loosen up a bit. The dance I'm teaching them is mostly based on the rumba, one of the most sensual of the dances. I resolutely ignore the feeling I have that he'd rather not be in the same room as me. This time, things are better and Nick starts relaxing. Justin says something that makes him laugh, and my chest loosens a bit. Mark is good fun and I start enjoying myself, too.

"Can we watch you again now?" Justin asks when the music ends, and Nicks agrees.

"Oooh, can you dance to our wedding song?" Mark asks excitedly. "That's what we're working towards."

"Of course. What have you selected?"

"Love is in the Air." Mark almost bubbles over with glee. I catch his excitement, as I love the song myself and it's great to dance to.

This time, Nick steps forward without hesitation and I see the glimmer of a smile still on his lips.

This time, as soon as the music starts, we move freely. Everything feels different. It feels... right... It feels like home. As the song progresses, we become more in tune with each other. With every step we take, I feel more complete. Everything that had been missing with the dancers who'd tried out, is here in this dance with Nick, and I don't want it to end. As the last notes die away, we're facing each other, and I feel the same tingling I'd felt the last time we danced. Nick is looking at me in the same way and the moment seems to stretch.

"Oh, that was wonderful." A clapping sound breaks the spell. I'd forgotten anyone else was in the room, and I turn, almost in a daze, to Justin and Mark.

"That was amazing," Justin says, echoing Mark's words.

Nick thanks them, but excuses himself. I feel the edges of my euphoria dull as he leaves the room, but it feels different from the last time he left, and this time I have a plan. I just need to check something out first.

As soon as Mark and Justin leave, having booked in for another session, I race upstairs and switch on my laptop. Hastily checking out information for the Nationals. I hear the other lesson finishing and clatter back down to the studio. My mum is saying goodbye to the clients. When they've left, she closes the door and calls out.

"Dinner in ten. Darcy, do you want to ask Nick to stay?"

I wonder where he is. I poke my head into the kitchen, but he's not there. I find him in the changing room. He's sitting on a bench, changing into his trainers.

"Hi," I say, keeping my distance but leaning back against the door.

He looks up, but his face is neutral, and I can't read it.

"Hey." He returns to tying his laces.

"How have you been?" I ask, and I'm saddened to see him shrug. We've never kept secrets from each other, and have talked about how we've felt with each other many times. I guess remaining friends is easier to promise remotely, via text, than saying it face to face. But now I've felt how good it was when we danced together, I'm not willing to give it up without a fight. I take a deep breath.

"Will you dance with me?" I blurt before my nerve fails me.

"We just danced." A frown crosses his face.

"At the Nationals. Will you dance with me at the Nationals?"

He stands and faces me. "We can't dance at the Nationals," he says with a derisive snort.

"Why not?"

"Surely it's not allowed."

"I've checked. There's nothing in the rules that says we can't dance together."

He starts pacing. Nick is never still, but pacing is his stress response.

"I'm not good enough," he says roughly.

"You don't believe that any more than I do. You saw those candidates; you're way better than any of them." He doesn't slow his pacing, but his face crumples slightly. I feel like he's slipping away from me and that makes me desperate.

"Nick, tell me you didn't feel something when we danced. Look at me and tell me," I demand.

"I can't dance with you." He doesn't even turn around.

"Why not?" I'm almost yelling.

He eventually comes to a stop in front of me, so close I could touch him, pain written across his face as he answers.

"Because every time I get near you..." Anguish threads through his words. "I want to kiss you."

I stare back at him, seeing those eyes, capable of holding the universe, look dark and haunted and I want to make them shine again.

"What if I want you to?" I whisper.

His shoulders sag.

"D." It comes out as a sigh. "You don't know what you're asking. We could never go back to being just friends."

"Look at us." I gently raise a hand and waft it between us. "Don't you think we've already messed that up?"

He closes his eyes briefly and releases a heavy breath, like he's fighting an internal battle. He moves closer, and I lock my eyes on his, seeing a hunger that makes my knees go weak. I'm grateful for the support of the door behind me.

"Are you sure?" he whispers. My stomach flips, seeing that he's still Nick, still so courteous.

"Please," I breathe back, and I see a tiny curl of his lips as they meet mine.

It's soft, gentle, and over too soon. He pulls away slightly and looks at me, licking his lips as if he's tasting me there. Then he breaks out into his usual grin and kisses me again.

This time, it's needy and possessive and steals my breath. I kiss back with a hunger born from years of longing erupting through the cracks created by my sister"s words. It's not enough. I grasp his hips and pull him so he's pushing me up against the door. I feel his tongue questing, and I open up, wanting him to devour me. Wanting nothing more in this moment than to feel like this forever.

Slowly, breathless, with heaving chests, we break apart. Nick rests his forehead against mine and gives a low chuckle.

"I don't know if this is the stupidest or most incredible moment of my life."

"We'll make it incredible," I whisper, and seal the promise by fusing my mouth to his again.