way. I’ll see you when I get back later today.”
I turn to the driver and give him the address a block away from Matt’s Meat, then I bring the phone up to my ear. “Soph? Can you see me?”
“Yes,” she grumbles. “I see your dot moving. I still think you’re jumping too soon.”
“It’s been four years. I’ve waited.” I glance out the window as we pass building after building. At first, the buildings are high-end fashion, clothes, shoes, bags. Then as we get further away, heels turn to cars, and then cars turn to lumberyards. “I’m done waiting, Soph. I can’t do it anymore.”
“And if she runs?” she questions. “If you go in there, and she panics, are you willing to lose another four years? Because I think we have to be prepared for that eventuality.”
“I won’t let her run.” I stare out into the street and chew on the inside of my cheek. “I can’t let it happen. I can’t let her go.”
“Ya know, most normal guys just get themselves a new girlfriend by this point.”
“Guess I’m not normal, then.” I take out my wallet as the cab pulls up to the curb in the shitty side of town. I press cash to his waiting palm, thank him for the ride, then I slide out and step onto the sidewalk. “If, after all this time, I still can’t let go, then it’s probably a sign that there’s something there that shouldn’t be let go of. I’m gonna find out what that thing is.”
“I’m just looking out for you, fighter. She wasn’t kidnapped, and she knew where you were all along, so that means that she could have come back to you. She didn’t. She chose to stay away.”
“Yeah,” I grunt through the pain her words slash through my heart. “I appreciate your words of comfort. It feels good to be so loved and missed.”
“You know she misses you,” she sighs. “She said she’s hurting. I’m just saying…” She hesitates. “Fuck it. Forget I said anything.”
“Would you move on if Jay left you?”
“No.”
“Even after four years?”
“No. I wouldn’t move on. Like I said, forget I said anything. You’re nearly there. Got your game face on?”
“I’ve got a face on. Fuck knows what it looks like.”
“Bit like you sucked on a lemon,” she snickers. “Stand tall, smile. You’re about to see her face to face for the first time in four years.”
“Jesus.” I bring a hand up to my chest and cross the last intersection before Matt’s Meat. “I’m nervous. I didn’t expect to be, but I kinda wanna puke.”
“I’m gonna tell you right now; if you puke on her studio floor, even if it’s not really her premises, she’s gonna whoop your ass and make you clean it with your tongue. Dancefloors are sacred, fighter. Don’t fuck with it.”
“Yeah, okay, I get it. I’m here.” I slow my steps just a couple doors up from the studio. Walking closer to the street so I can peek into windows, I stretch my neck and try to catch sight of her before I burst in unannounced. It would be embarrassing if I did the Kool-Aid Man thing, only to find an empty studio.
“She’s in there,” I breathe when I catch sight of her by the mirrors. She spins, checks, spins, checks. She’s facing my direction, but focused on her work, so she doesn’t notice me. “Jesus, Soph. She’s right here.”
So close.
So unbelievably close.
“I should probably go ‘round back and puke first.”
Soph only laughs. “I think it’s cute that you’re so nervous.”
“It’s not cute.”
“It totally is. This young love thing is adorable. Jay and I never really did that. We didn’t date, or do the nerves thing. We just… ya know. Jumped on in.”
“There’s a word for that, you know? Starts with wh…”
She snorts. “I’m not ashamed. When you know, you know.”
“Yeah.” I draw a deep breath, and let it out on a gusty exhale. “When you know, you know.”
“I guess that means you should go on in. She has classes starting in a little while, and you’re gonna want a minute with her before that.”
“If I come during class, she’s less likely to bolt out the back door.”
“If you come during class, she could mistake your approach as an attack on the children. Don’t fuck with the babies, Kincaid. She’ll go hard, trust me.”
“Okay. Fine.”
I fill my chest once more, like I’m stepping into the octagon and not a dance studio. Oxygenate my body, fill it with adrenaline, prepare for battle.
“Go!”
“Yeah, okay.”