The Price of Mason (Forbidden Men 10)

I mean, I knew we would be going to the same school this next year—which was a relief to realize I’d actually know someone there—but I still wanted to keep spending time with him like we did in class. You know, close-contact kind of time. I was trying to boost myself into asking him if he’d want to go on an actual date with me, practicing the words in my head, when I glanced up and saw him talking to another girl.

Leticia Marsh was one of Skylar’s friends and another fabulous dancer who volunteered at the academy, teaching a class to younger kids as well. She was also tall and slim like Skylar, which made me wrinkle my nose bitterly as she laughed at something Julian said, leaning in toward him intimately as she touched his arm.

“You’re so funny,” she told him, her voice carrying across the room and making me roll my eyes.

Ha ha, you’re so lame, I muttered in my head, projecting my sour thoughts her way, wishing diarrhea or something on her. Even though I felt like the lame one because I was growing jealous of some girl for merely talking to the guy I liked. Insecure much, I asked myself.

Turning away, I plopped onto the floor and started my stretching exercises while Julian and Leticia talked on, oblivious to my presence. They didn’t stop until a couple of six-year-olds entered, talking loudly enough to interrupt them.

“Well, I guess I better let you start your warm-ups,” Leticia told Julian with a regretful smile as she touched his arm yet again before slowly backing away. “And let me know if you ever change your mind about getting together and doing something some time.”

“Will do,” Julian answered pleasantly, waving her away and watching her until she disappeared from the room.

When he finally turned my way, his face registered surprise before it broke into a smile. “Hey!” He jogged over. “I didn’t see you come in.”

“Hmm,” I answered bitterly, focusing on stretching my arm across my chest and holding my elbow in place. “Yeah, you looked pretty occupied.”

“Oh.” He seemed a little taken aback by the ice in my voice before he pointed toward the doorway. “Yeah, that was one of my sister’s friends. We’ve known her since forever.”

I nodded. “She’s pretty.”

He shrugged. “I guess.”

Silence flowered between us, and it was an awkward uncomfortable silence at that, one we hadn’t experienced since the first few days of class. Julian sat next to me, but instead of starting his own warm-up stretches, he scratched the back of his neck. “So, this is the last day of class for both of us.”

“Yep,” I answered emotionlessly.

He nodded. “It’s strange. It was the very last thing I wanted to do, and yet…now I’m going to miss it.” His gaze shifted my way, and it seemed to say, I’m going to miss you. But that was probably just a stupid, hopeful wish on my part.

Sighing, I glanced his way and murmured a quiet, “Yeah.” I was going to miss it too.

When he opened his mouth, I held my breath, wishing he’d ask to see me again, but his sister breezed into the room, a flurry of excitement, clapping her hands and bubbling with praise as she thanked all the students for being in her class throughout the summer. As she talked on about how much she was going to miss everyone and how proud she was of us, Julian scooted across the floor closer to me, hissing, “Hey.”

I glanced over and caught his concerned look as he mouthed the words, “You okay?”

No, I wanted to weep. I was so far and gone away from okay it was pathetic. I didn’t want to say goodbye to him, and I wanted to keep seeing him outside class, but now I was too insecure and afraid to ask after seeing Leticia—the beautiful, fabulous dancer—basically just ask him out.

Shrugging, I said, “I’m fine.”

His brows furrowed, letting me know he was confused by my response, probably because my body language said one thing while my mouth said another.

“Julian,” his sister called, breaking into our moment. “Nia. I think I left my box of awards in the supply closet. Do you think you two could go fetch it for me? I’m not sure exactly where I left it so you might have to search a while.”

When her brother zipped her a short frown, she sent him a meaningful look before darting her gaze my way. They seemed to have a silent sibling-type argument to which Julian must’ve lost because he huffed out an aggravated breath and jerked to his feet, muttering, “Fine.”

He stormed toward the closed door of the supply closet, only to pause when he reached it so he could wait on me to enter first. As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted the box full of certificates and little presents wrapped in neat bows sitting on a cart in the center of the room.

“Uh… Aren’t these the awards right here?”

I turned back, jumping when Julian closed the door behind himself, closing us alone inside the closet.

He shook his head slowly, beginning to smile. “You know, I don’t think my sister’s ever played wing woman for me before but I gotta admit, I like it.”

I blinked at him, utterly confused. “What?”

He took his hand off the doorknob and stepped toward me. “She knows I like you, so she just gave us an excuse to have a moment alone together so I could tell you that.”

“She…” I swallowed, pretty sure I was hearing things. Shaking my head, I gulped. “But… You can’t.”