Winning Moves (Stepping Up 3)

“Ellie, honey, what are you feeling? Was that pain?”

“It’s nothing,” she said dismissively. “The doctor said it’s from ligaments stretching. It’s normal.”

“All the same, let’s get you up to your room so you can lie down.”

“Really, I’m fine,” Ellie insisted. “I want to find out about tonight’s ratings before I go upstairs.”

“We’ll call Jason from your room,” Kat suggested. “Will that work?”

“You don’t need to walk with me,” Ellie said. “You stay and close things down here.”

“I’m coming with you,” Kat said, not pleased with how pale Ellie looked. She was worried. “And you don’t know me well enough yet to understand this, so let me save us both some time. I’m stubborn as a mule and proud of it. You’re going upstairs to rest.”

Ellie laughed and then grimaced again. “Maybe I do need to rest.” She stood up and swayed. Kat grabbed her arm and Ellie laughed without humor. “When was the last time I ate?”

“Too long ago if you have to ask,” Kat chided. “Room service it is.”

“Room service for sure,” Ellie agreed, as she and Kat stepped into the hallway and directly into the path of Jason, his assistant director Ronnie, and several of his crew members.

Kat’s eyes met his and awareness rushed over her, along with a huge dose of emotion. She cut her gaze away before she could see the rejection, the anger, and maybe something worse, that might be in Jason’s expression. She’d have to manage this quickly to be professional on the job, but not tonight, not when this change between them had just happened. The hurt was too raw.

“Oh, good,” Ellie said at the sight of Jason. “Talk to us, Jason. What’s the ratings news?”

“Fifteen million viewers,” he said. “A couple million over expectations.”

It was an announcement Kat would normally have celebrated with Jason, but instead, she turned to Ellie. “See? Now can you rest?”

Ellie let out a breath. “Now I can rest.”

Kat flicked a fleeting look in Jason’s direction. “She’s feeling sick. I’m taking her to her room and feeding her.”

“We can finish up here,” Jason said. “Ellie, you should slow down. Consider taking off the entire weekend like I told you to.”

“I’m fine,” Ellie insisted. “I just need food and bed.”

One of the cameramen shouted Jason’s name from behind them, and Jason turned to address the man. Kat took that opportunity to hustle Ellie toward the stage. “Let’s exit through the theater to avoid running into anyone who might convince you something is going on you need to be involved with.”

She laughed. “I guess you know me pretty darn well.”

It wasn’t until they were alone in the elevator that Ellie studied Kat. “What happened?”

Kat didn’t pretend she didn’t know what she was talking about. “We fought.”

“Everyone fights, Kat.”

She shook her head. “Not us, not like this.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“I can’t,” Kat said. “Not without really losing it and I don’t cry often, but when I do, I do it right. I’ll be swollen up like a blowfish and I’ll never get out of here without everyone knowing.”

“You can stay with me tonight,” she said. “Or you can have your own room a few doors down.”

“Thank you, Ellie, but I need to be home tonight more than ever.” Home was a place she hadn’t felt she’d had in a long time, a place where she could retreat and deal with this.

The elevator dinged open. “I understand,” Ellie said.

It didn’t take long for Kat to get Ellie settled onto her bed and order room service. Ellie still felt dizzy and Kat offered the kitchen staff a big tip if they rushed the food. By the time she hung up, Ellie’s husband David called and Kat felt awkward listening to them talk.

“I have to chat with Kat,” Ellie told him.

Kat shook her head. “No. No, it’s—”

“I’m off tomorrow. I’ll sleep all day. I’m fine. I’ll call you when I’m done eating.”

Kat sunk down onto the mattress with Ellie and did something she never did. She interfered in Ellie’s personal life. “What if Stepping Up decided to film in Vegas every season?”

“I’m sure you and Jason would be happy.”

“I’m not talking about me and Jason,” Kat said. “I’m talking about you.”

Her expression sobered. “We’ve talked about it,” she said. “It’s only a few months every year.”

“And the audition travel.”

“The baby can go with me,” she said, “and by the time she’s in school, it won’t be likely that this show will still be around. We’ll make it work. We both know this job is our chance to retire young and just be with our kids and each other.”

“That’s what Jason and I said every time a big job came up that separated us. And before you say, you’re close, you won’t fall apart like the rest of us, we did, too. Look. Ellie. I regret our choices. I regret saying there might not be another opportunity. What there might not be is another shot at each other. Just…think about it. Be cautious. None of this matters without the person you love with you to share it.”