“I’m not mad.” Stephen reached for Lexi’s arm. Her warm skin electrified him. “We need to talk after we find Philly. What happened?”
Folding her arms across her chest, Lexi’s eyes watered and she looked around the lobby. “One minute she was doing just fine on stage, the next she exited the complete opposite. I ran back behind the curtains, figuring Nate caught the mistake and met her in my spot.”
“No—” Stephen shook his head “—he didn’t. He’s backstage looking for her.”
“I’ve posted guards at the exits.”
A part of him was amazed she thought so quickly and the other part of him wasn’t. The lobby swarmed with contestants and their families, and with all the chaos, Lexi had been able to pull guards from their duties.
“Follow me.” He laced his fingers with Lexi’s. They fit perfectly, as they should.
“Stephen.” Lexi pulled her hand away a bit, but he tugged her back gently.
“We’re going to find Philly.” He took a chance and tipped her chin with his free hand. “Together.”
A line began to form into the hallway leading to the outside pool. Stephen elbowed his way through the parents with Lexi in tow. There, outside, sprawled out on a white beach chair sat Philly, still in her tap-dance outfit, licking away on a candy apple. So much relief flooded Stephen’s senses, he almost cried. Lexi did. Blood began to pulsate in his fingertips and his temples throbbed.
“Philly!” Lexi dashed to the five-year-old’s side and knelt on the ground. “You had me worried.”
“Philly, what were you thinking?” Stephen sat down at the bottom edge of the little diva’s seat. Every visible inch of her seemed okay. “You bought a candy apple after what happened?”
“I don’t want to do the pageant anymore,” Philly announced.
“Okay,” Lexi said softly and pressed the back of her hand against Philly’s red-stained cheek. “Do you feel forced?”
“No,” Stephen interrupted with more force, “you’re not quitting this pageant. Lexi’s worked hard. Uncle Nate, Kimber... Hell, Philly,” he cursed and winced at the same time when both ladies looked up at him, “you’re not a quitter. You made a promise and you’re seeing this thing through to the end.”
“But I don’t want to do it if you’re going to be unhappy.” Philly’s bottom lip quivered, her brown puppy-dog eyes watering as she looked at him.
“What? I’ve never been prouder.”
“But you’ve done nothing but yell at everyone. And I don’t want Miss Lexi to leave us, so I’ll just stop.”
“Philly,” Lexi cooed, wrapping her arms around her. “What gave you the impression I’d leave?”
“You left Vera Laing. She told me not to count on you for pageants. So if I leave pageants, will you stay?”
Lexi glanced over at Stephen. He shrugged his shoulders, not sure what to say but sure the two of them both wanted to throttle the Laings. “Sweetie, when the pageants are over, you can always come and see me anytime.”
Taking another chance, Stephen reached over and pulled Lexi against him. “Lexi isn’t going anywhere, Philly. I promise.”
Long false lashes blinked back the giant tears. Stephen’s heart ached for Philly. “But you’re mad at Miss Lexi.”
“I’m not mad at Miss Lexi, I’m mad at myself.”
“Philly!” Nate’s voice boomed across the Olympic-sized pool.
“Is everyone mad at me?” asked Philly.
Lexi began to leave. Maybe she thought this was a private moment. Stephen held on to her hand to prevent her from walking away. “Philly, walking off and not telling anyone is so dangerous. You could have fallen in the water. Someone could have snatched you up and we’d never know how to find you. I can’t have you doing that ever again.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“You’re certainly not finishing this candy apple.” Stephen reached for the wooden Popsicle stick holding the half-eaten apple. “You will finish the pageant, and then we will discuss your punishment later.”
Nate stormed over and took Philly away after Stephen filled him in, all the while still holding Lexi’s hand. It dawned on him she may have wanted to leave with Philly, but not before they talked. Stephen stood to face her.
“We need to talk, as well,” he said, glancing into her eyes.