Luc cleared his throat. “We’ll be back in a moment, then we’ll go have dinner like I promised.”
“Are you coming, Bailey?” his mom asked.
“Oh! I, um, didn’t want to intrude, so I thought I’d go with my friend Coco—”
“You’re not intruding,” Luc said.
His mom nodded. “We want you there.”
Bailey’s smile wavered, then she nodded, her smile drooping before she hitched it up. His heart fell. Didn’t she want to come? Granted, his mom was a little forward, and his dad had been a bit weird, but they were his folks, and the fact she might not want to spend time with them—with him—hurt.
“It was really nice to meet you,” Bailey said, not looking at him.
“Hey, before you go, can we get a photo with you?”
“Of course!”
They gathered close for a selfie, which he took, seeing his arm was longest, then Coco walked past and offered to take a few more. He was conscious of Bailey’s slender frame as he wrapped his arm around her, her hair tickling his nose.
“I think you’ll find some there that should do.” Coco handed back his phone and he thanked her. But as he was looking through the photos—yep, just as he’d hoped, Bailey looked perfect with his family—he stepped on Bailey’s toe.
She gasped, wincing, wobbling as she drew her foot up.
“Oh, Bails, I’m so sorry!”
She shook her head, shut her eyes, but he saw a tear leak onto her cheek.
He glanced at his folks. “How about I join you at the restaurant as soon as I can?”
They nodded, and told Bailey they’d enjoyed meeting her, to which she nodded in reply, bright and happy, until he held her arm and pivoted her to the dressing room. “Hey, I really am sorry.”
She bent over, her nose wrinkling, then a producer appeared. “Bailey?”
Bailey instantly straightened, smiling bright. “Hey Erin.”
“Everything okay here?”
Bailey shot him a look and he knew he had to step in. “We’re good. Bailey was just showing me how faint she gets when she’s not fed enough.”
Erin frowned. “Didn’t you eat at lunch?”
Bailey nodded, but Luc knew he still had to do more. “I know this will surprise you, but she actually eats more than me.”
“As long as she can fit into those costumes and she’s not throwing it straight back up that’s fine with me.”
Erin winked, but Bailey had paled, like there really was something wrong, more than a sore toe. He hurried to her, drawing her to a darker corner, holding her close, saying in a quiet voice so nobody else would hear, “Bails? What is it?”
She shook her head.
“No, don’t try and deny it. What’s wrong? Is it my folks? We don’t have to eat with them if you don’t want.”
“They’re really nice. It’s not that.”
“Did I hurt you before? I’m really sorry.”
Another shake of her head. “Miguel and I collided in the pro dance, and I hurt my toe.” She winced. “I really hope it’s not broken.”
“Bails! You should’ve got that checked out right away.”
She nodded. “I know, but we needed to go over your dance, and—”
“You’re more important than my dance. Come on. Let’s get you undressed.” He cringed. “Man, I really didn’t mean that. I meant changed.”
“I know.” Her smile was a welcome beacon of light in a storm.
“Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you?”
“If you carry me there’ll be all kinds of other questions, and I really don’t want the producers thinking I can’t do my job.” She sighed. “They’re probably already hearing that from Miguel, and I don’t want them to fire me.”
“They won’t fire you,” he scoffed. “Stuff happens, Bails, and you gotta dust yourself off and keep going. You’re awesome,” he encouraged. “Besides, everyone knows that you’re the only reason we’re going to round three. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?”
She nodded. “The money will help, that’s for sure.”
He blinked, as hurt swirled through his chest. The money. See? He knew this wasn’t about him for her, but was about the money.
“Come on. Let’s get you changed. You can hold onto me.”
She clutched his hand, and he half-lifted her onto his back in a move for which the judges should give him a solid ten. He soon deposited her at the women’s dressing room, where Coco met her. “You two still playing?” Coco asked, with her arched brow.
