A Wright Christmas - K.A. Linde Page 0,13

were busy trying to get your career back. That doesn’t sound like the time to give up on a relationship. It sounds like the time you needed someone to be there more than ever.”

A knot formed in my throat at the words. Those perfectly placed words that I hadn’t realized I needed to hear until he said them. I had needed someone during all of that. And instead of staying, Serge had vanished.

“It was for the better,” I finally said when I could get my voice under control. “Serge and I started dating when we both made principal in the same year. It went well for a while. We moved in together. Then it became …convenient.” I shrugged. “It was ending anyway. We were both just too busy to say it. Then, when I got injured, it was the excuse he needed.”

It was Isaac’s turn to reach forward and take my hand. “That wasn’t fair to you. He should have been there.”

I waved him away. “It’s fine. Really. Ancient history. I’ve been better without him.”

Before we could say anything else, a group of the high schoolers burst into song in the corner. I jerked at the sudden rendition of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” A beatboxer joined in, and a Latina girl began to belt out the chorus.

“Do you suddenly feel like you’re in a bad musical?” I asked Isaac.

“Totally. They’re not that bad though.”

“I think that’s the Frenship High School a cappella group. The main girl is wearing their T-shirt.”

He laughed as the crowd cheered the end of the song, and they launched into another one. “You want to get out of here?”

I nodded. “I don’t know if I can take much more of the random bouts of singing.”

We hastened out of Braum’s and back into his truck. I shivered as I waited for the heater to kick on.

“You know, I could call an Uber if you wanted to get back to Aly sooner,” I offered.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to abandon you to find your own way home.”

“I’ve lived in New York, Isaac. I think that I can find my own way home.”

“That’s New York. You’re in Texas now.”

He put the truck into drive, and that ended the argument. It was only a ten-minute drive back to Piper’s house.

“Thanks for the ride home,” I said gratefully.

“Anytime, Peyton.”

I flicked the lock and stepped out of the truck. Then, I dipped my head back inside. “It really was good to see you again.”

He smiled, and for a second, I thought about getting back into that truck and being seventeen again. Putting the car in park and making out in the driveway until it was past curfew. But that was a different Peyton and a different Isaac.

“It was great to see you, too, Peyton. Don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t. Night.”

I slammed the door shut and began to head up to the front door. But then, before I got there, I jogged back to the driver’s side. He rolled down the window with raised eyebrows.

“Can I help you?”

“Well, there’s an LBC charity event on Wednesday before the first show on Friday night. We’re giving an exclusive sneak peek of the cast, plus drinks and appetizers. I didn’t know if you might be interested in coming. I can get you a ticket.”

“And I’d get to see you dance?”

I nodded once.

“I’ll have to figure out what to do with Aly, but…I’d like that. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you dance.”

I beamed, all the while chiding myself for inviting him at all. “Well, great. I’ll…I’ll see you there.”

“Sounds good. Night, Peyton.”

“Night, Isaac,” I said softly before walking back to the house.

For the first time in a long, long time, I felt as light and airy as the characters I portrayed onstage. I didn’t know what was happening with Isaac and me. I didn’t know if it was even smart to do it. But for once, I didn’t care.

7

Peyton

“Seeing you in a tutu just makes me all teary-eyed,” Kathy said, waving her hand in front of her face. “Or maybe it’s the hormones.”

I chuckled and pulled Kathy in for a quick hug. “You’re just nostalgic.”

The Sugar Plum Fairy tutu had finally been finished and fitted with my measurements yesterday, but we weren’t doing a full-dress rehearsal for the Open Barre charity event tonight. I was currently in a plain white tutu along with the rest of the ensemble cast, who I had been rehearsing with for nearly a week. It wasn’t like