Once I’m fit, I’m going to hit the auditions hard. I will land a role on Broadway even if it kills me.
Chapter Six
HAYDEN
“Dad, these tights are going up my butt. They’re too small and make me look stupid!” Lily, with a disgruntled expression, stomps into my bedroom.
Ever since I picked her up from school, she’s complained about everything. From the car being too warm. The ride home too long. Not having her favorite cookies, and the list goes on. Is she eight or eighteen? If her moods are this bad now, what will they be like when she hits her teen years?
“Your tights are not too small, and they are not going up your butt. They’re fine,” I assure her.
Lily huffs, blowing her hair from her face. “Ruby’s mom buys her better tights. I want those ones.”
Where is this attitude coming from? “There’s nothing wrong with your tights. Now, hurry and pack your bag for ballet or you’ll be late.”
“Only moms know the right ones to buy. Dads don’t know this stuff.”
An icy shiver stiffens my spine. This is the first time Lily has compared moms and dads. “I’ve bought the right ones. There’s a uniform list on the studio’s website. I checked.”
“Well, they’re too small. You don’t know my size.” With an eyeroll, she marches from the room.
What has put her in such a bad mood? And why is she talking about mothers? Hopefully her dance class will put her in a better mood. She loves ballet and always comes away with a smile on her face.
A few minutes later, Lily is back with her bag slung over her shoulder and an irritable expression. Even with a frown on her face, seeing her dressed like a little ballerina melts my heart.
“I’ll do your hair, then we can go,” I say, leading her into the bathroom.
As I glide the brush through her hair, she winces. “Ow, you’re hurting me.”
I take a deep breath and brush more gently then twist her hair up into a high bun. “How’s that?”
“It’s crooked.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “Ruby’s mom knows how to do hair better than you.” The bun is sitting perfectly on her head.
She’s eight, she doesn’t know her words are slicing through my heart. I’ve done everything I could do to make her feel like she hasn’t missed out on having a mother. Maybe it’s not enough.
Looking at her in the mirror’s reflection, I say, “Lily Pily, is something wrong?” This attitude has come from out of nowhere.
She frowns and shakes her head.
“You’ve been unhappy since I picked you up from school. Did something happen today?”
“Nothing happened. Can we go now?” Without waiting for an answer, she rushes from the bathroom.
During the car ride to the dance studio, Lily sits in silence. No matter how much I try talking to her, she stares out the window with barely a word to say. It’s like talking to a brick wall. Eventually I give up. Something has happened. Whatever the problem, I wish she’d talk to me. How can I help her if I don’t know what it is? I’ll let it go for now and give her space. Hopefully, if it’s something really bothering her, she’ll come to me. Raising a baby on my own had been hard. I have a sinking feeling it won’t get any easier.
We take the spiral stairs to the studio. Lily sits on a bench and digs out her ballet shoes from her bag. Normally, at this point, I’d leave her. Parents aren’t encouraged to hang around. But I don’t want to leave her in this mood. The kids in her class—some of them from her school—gather together talking excitedly as young children tend to do. Lily doesn’t take part. This is her favorite place to be and seeing her not enjoying it breaks my heart. I want to fix whatever the fuck is going on.
A clap from inside the dance room catches the children’s attention. Lily, with her ribbons tied, scurries away. Where is my wave goodbye? It’s like she’s upset with me.What the hell have I done?
Just as I’m about to leave, I hear Lily’s teacher address the students. The voice stops me in my tracks. It’s not Miss Naomi; she doesn’t have the same sexy tone as the woman who’s speaking—the woman who has been on my mind the last four days. Slowly, I turn to look through the window of the dance studio, and I see who that voice belongs to. My suspicions are confirmed. It’s Alyssa.
“Hello class. My name is Miss Alyssa. With Miss Nikki’s help, I’ll be taking over from Miss Naomi while she takes time off to have her baby. I can’t wait to watch you all dance.” She looks over all the children. “We’re going to have so much fun. Let’s start with—” She stops mid-sentence as our gazes connect. Aflicker of irritation creases her brow, her lips drawing into a thin line. What did I expect? A huge, cheerful smile?
“Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back.” She beams the class with a smile. As soon as she turns her back on them and heads my way, it drops into a frown.
She’s dressed much like the girls in the class—a pink leotard with a sheer pink skirt over white tights. Under the fabric, her body is on full display. Slender, toned, and athletic. Gorgeous. My jeans tighten at the fly. Fuck. This is not good. I need to forget about her. How am I supposed to if she’s Lily’s teacher?
“I’m assuming you have a child in my class.” Her tone is like a blasty chill.