“I hope you’ll keep in touch,” Everly said as she walked Jasmine out. “I’d love to hear about your progress.”
“Of course I will.”
Once she got into her car, Jasmine took a moment to look at Everly and Cole’s house and fully absorb that this was the last time she’d be there. It surprised her to realize she would miss it.
Well, maybe not the PT, she amended as she started her car.
She had just cleared the gate at the end of the driveway when a call rang through the car’s Bluetooth connection. Seeing Will’s name on the stereo’s screen, she accepted the call.
“Hey there,” she said. “Welcome back.”
The team had returned from their road trip the day before. Will had a game that evening, so she hadn’t expected to hear from him. Her next lesson with Katie was scheduled for the following day.
“Thanks. It’s always good to be home, even if it’s only for a few days. I wanted to call and see how things went. Are we popping champagne the next time you’re here?”
“Champagne?” she asked blankly.
“You just finished your last appointment with Everly, right? Or did I get the date wrong?”
She didn’t immediately reply. She and Will sometimes talked about their days when they were together. She kept him updated on her PT progress, largely so he’d be prepared when the time came for her to take a step back from her work with Katie to concentrate on her dance career. She never imagined he paid close enough attention that he’d remember this big appointment.
“Jasmine?”
Shaking herself out of her daze, she said, “Sorry. Yes, today was the big day. I’ve been given clearance to return to dance again.”
“That’s the news I wanted to hear.” He paused a beat. “Unless you’re going to miss the pickup lines and marriage proposals from the fine clientele at Steamy Beans, of course.”
That made her laugh. “Sadly, auditioning doesn’t bring in the money. I’ll have to put myself at risk of come-ons and proposals for a while yet.”
“That’s a shame.”
“It’s not so bad. I’ve kind of gotten used to getting hit on every time I’m there. I’m worried I might go into withdrawal once I leave.”
“If it would help, I’ve got all kinds of bad pickup lines. I’m happy to toss one at you every once in a while.”
She snorted on another laugh. “I appreciate the offer.”
“Sure. Consider it open. Ironically, I actually called to ask you out, so I guess all of that was kind of one big pickup line.”
Her mouth opened on a silent Oh.
“The team has to attend a benefit in a couple weeks,” Will said. “The opening of a new boys and girls center on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. I was hoping you’d agree to come with me.”
A thrill ran through her. “I’d like that,” she said.
“Really? I didn’t even offer to tap you like a keg.”
Another laugh burst out of her. “I must be desperate to get out,” she said.
“I’ll take it.”
She shook her head, a wide smile on her face.
“We can firm up the details when we see each other tomorrow,” he said. “I was going to wait until tomorrow to ask you out in the first place, but I chickened out on the face-to-face approach. It’s been so long since I asked a woman out that I figured I’d get all awkward, you’d say no, and I’d end up battling unmanly tears through the entire lesson.”
“I’m kind of sad I missed that opportunity.”
He made a sound of amusement. “You have a rather dark, twisted side to you, don’t you, Jasmine Li?”
“Just wait and see.”
“Oookay then. I’ve got plenty to fantasize about now.”
“You’re welcome.”
When they ended the call, Jasmine caught sight of her smile in her rearview mirror. Her heart was performing jetés around her chest in a way it never had before.
She loved how Will made her feel. He was such a serious guy when it came to his family, his property investment business, and his baseball career, but he also had such a great sense of humor. He was helping her remember how to enjoy life outside of dance.
There was the high likelihood she’d have to stop working with Katie in the near future as her dance career finally took shape. For right now though, she was determined to live in the moment. As her injury had shown her, things could change in an instant. She might as well enjoy the time she had with Will and Katie