Winning Moves (Stepping Up 3)

Together. That was the key, and one he couldn’t turn, at least not until he was home for good, with the auditions behind them. The next seven weeks were going to feel like a lifetime.

18

THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT opening came with a full house and huge success. Despite Jason’s departure the next day, and to of all places, Denver, Kat was happy. She stood backstage in the midst of a flurry of excitement with champagne and roses everywhere, and was not one bit surprised to find Marcus beside Marissa.

“Aren’t you two a cute pair,” Kat teased.

“Cute is really not what a guy wants to hear,” Marcus said with a grimace.

“It works for me,” Marissa said playfully, laughing up at him, and Kat didn’t miss how the rather timid Marissa didn’t seem timid with Marcus at all.

Jason joined them, not one bit of hesitation over Marcus’s presence showing in his demeanor. “It’s over. I feel like I just gave birth instead of Ellie.”

“Great show, man,” Marcus said. “You and Kat make a hell of a team.”

Jason glanced at Kat. “Damn, he really is a nice guy. I’m gonna have to like him, aren’t I?”

“Funny,” Marcus replied. “I said the same thing when Marissa was telling me about the way you treat the cast and crew.”

Kat watched the two men shake hands and if it was possible to fall more in love with Jason, she did in that instant. So few people could be as accepting as Jason was about Marcus.

“And by the way, Marcus,” Jason added. “We appreciate you helping us out the other night.”

“I think me being here was in the cards,” Marcus joked, and slipped his arm around Marissa to be clear about what he meant. Marissa blushed and Kat grinned at her.

“Kat!” someone yelled.

“Jason!” someone else shouted.

“Someone call 911!” came another cry.

Kat and Jason took off running toward the voices, which led them to the hallway outside the stage. Kat gasped as she found Ellie slumped over on the ground, with Tabitha of all people, kneeling beside her.

“She was dizzy and stumbled, and God, Kat,” Tabitha said urgently, “I tried to catch her but I couldn’t. She fell hard.”

“I’m okay,” Ellie said as Kat and Jason bent down beside her.

“No,” Kat said firmly. “You are not okay. You’ve been working too much and you won’t listen when I tell you to go home.”

“You won’t listen when I say I’m fine,” Ellie said, trying to smile and failing. “Nag, nag, nag.”

“Apparently, nagging is a skill I need to perfect,” Kat said. “Or you wouldn’t be on the floor.”

“Get the hotel medic!” Jason shouted, standing up. “Someone go find the medic and make sure 911 is on the way.”

“I’ll go find someone myself,” Tabitha said, hurrying away.

“My husband can give you lessons,” Ellie said, and then gasped with pain.

“What was that?” Kat asked, officially terrified for Ellie. She should have forced her to slow down.

“Same pains as last week,” she said. “They’re normal but… David, my husband. I need to call my husband.”

And that alone told Kat that Ellie didn’t think she was okay.

Jason squatted back down beside Ellie. “I’ll call him, Ellie. What’s the number?” He punched it in and then rubbed her arm. “Try to relax.”

Ellie laughed in the midst of a frown. “Nothing like the floor for a good rest.”

Kat drew Ellie’s hand in her own, reading her fear through the humor. “You’re not alone. You’re not. I’m here and Jason is here.” But Kat knew there was only one person that could possibly comfort Ellie right now, and that was her husband, who was in another state, and couldn’t possibly get here tonight.

* * *

KAT AND JASON sat in the hospital room with Ellie, who was dehydrated and exhausted. She was also very lucky that she and her unborn baby were fine.

“I guess I won’t be joining you for auditions tomorrow,” Ellie said, trying to laugh but sounding like she might cry instead.

“The auditions don’t matter,” Jason replied. “What matters is you and your baby. The studio knows that.”

“The studio is about money,” Ellie insisted. “They can replace me for the season and work me out of the show. My contract is up this year.”

“You have a contract though,” Jason said. “They can’t do that to you this year and you’ll be on the live shows which are the ones that really matter.”

“Read the fine print in your contract,” she said. “I’ve read mine. They can replace me. They still have to pay me but it will be my final check.”

“If they replace you over this,” Jason asserted, “I’ll be clear that I’m walking out.”

“What?” Ellie gasped. “No, you will not. Kat, tell him that no, he is not.”

“I’m not going back next season anyway,” he said. “I think now would be a good time to tell them that. It will encourage them to hang on to you. They won’t want to shake anything up too dramatically.”