CHAPTER 19
Lex
Back at the studio, Theo played the two tracks he’d tasked me to help him choreograph, asking that I get a feel for them and choose which one we’d start with. I chose the more upbeat of the two, shying away from the emotional one—for now.
There was something incredibly endearing in how Theo had asked for my help. How the tables had changed so drastically from that first day we met. And now we were sharing a studio with the intent of working as one. I still didn’t know how it was going to play out, but I did my best to keep my nerves in check.
“Set the mood for me. Where’s Winter on the stage? Is she the focal point, or are the dancers?”
Theo replayed the song and explained the placement onstage and all its transformations throughout. “Here’s what I think so far.” He showed me the first few eight counts. “What do you think?”
I was shaking my head, blown away by what Theo could put together in only minutes from what he dreamed up. “I think you don’t need me.”
The side-eye he shot me next made me laugh. He reached out, grabbed my hand, and pulled me toward him. “Mirror me to start, but after the intro, you’ll be here, like this.” He turned me so we were both facing the mirror. “Now move left so you’re diagonal.” He placed his hands on my hips, fingers pressing into my hip bones just enough to make me gasp. I ignored the hint of a smile that crept onto his face. “Right there. Perfect.”
“I thought you said there would be no touching.”
He stopped, and his face crumbled. “Shit. I thought we agreed no lifts. You’re going to have to spell this out for me, Lex.”
I bit my lip to stop my smile. “I’ll be fine. Just warn me before you move me.”
The truth was, I didn’t think I’d mind doing partner work with Theo. After he’d respected my space last night while it was very obvious he didn’t want to, a trust had blossomed for the jerk standing behind me. I didn’t know how I’d fallen asleep in his arms like that. In fact, I hadn’t slept that soundly since moving to LA. That wasn’t something I could ever admit to Shane. He’d feel awful. But there was no denying I felt safer in Theo’s arms than I did under my own roof.
We marked the steps even as he began to add new choreography. To any outsider, it would have looked as though I wasn’t much help other than being there for placement, but I knew different. He watched me as he contemplated every next move, as if he were feeding off me and I were somehow empowering him to move forward with a confidence that maybe he’d lost.
Theo’s first touch was cautious and gentle. “Is this okay?”
“Yes.” Everything about him was on fire at that moment. We were on our knees, him behind me, demonstrating the next step. I was wrapped in his arms, his fingers threaded through mine, and he was dragging our arms across my chest before breaking free. It was raw and gritty and powerful, and like a sledgehammer, it hit me as all the feelings from last night came rushing back.
“I think we can call it quits for today.” Theo laughed as he lay back on the studio floor.
I tucked my knees under my chin and smiled. “That felt incredible.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “It did. And we knocked another one out. Thanks for your help today. I think the crew will love it.”
“Who will dance it?” The entire day, I’d been wondering. It almost felt wrong to give the piece to someone else after we’d put so much effort into it.
“I don’t know.” Theo had been watching me, probably trying to figure out why I asked the question. “Winter will want to decide that sort of thing. She might want to hold an audition for the featured spots. At the end of the day, it’s her show, even though it doesn’t feel like that sometimes. But you’ll be the first one she’ll see since you’ll help me demonstrate it.” He smiled and reached out to touch my knee. “You okay?”
My excitement blossomed at the thought of getting any of the solos or duets. “Yeah, of course. Today was fun. Guess I’m feeling a little possessive. It’s silly, right?”
The look Theo gave me next made me feel as if I’d just gotten the wind knocked out of me. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but my imagination was going wild. Is Theo feeling a little possessive of me?
Then he shook his head. “No, not silly at all.” He sat up and rolled his neck. “You should probably get some rest. Today was intense, and Monday will be worse.”
My head cocked to the side. “What’s Monday?”
“Blends.” He made a face I couldn’t quite decipher. “With Winter,” he added.
I smiled knowingly. “Oh.”
He stood first, reaching a hand out to help me to my feet. I thought he was just going to walk me to the door, but when we reached the sidewalk, he gestured to a sleek black Ferrari convertible. I looked at him as if he were crazy. “What?”
“Get in. I’ll drive you home.”
My heart hammered. Is he for real? The sun was still shining, which meant it would be daylight for a while. There didn’t seem to be a risk in walking home at that hour. “It’s okay. I’m going to walk. I’m only a few blocks away.”
He pulled his leather jacket over his shoulders and gave me an exhausted look. “Do what you want. But just so you know, if you don’t get in this car, I will follow you home like a goddamn stalker so I know that you made it safely.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
I waited until he’d made it into his driver’s seat before scrambling in beside him, fuming. Didn’t we discuss this? Anything that could jeopardize my contract shouldn’t even be considered. Yet he was making it impossible to stay away.
Everything’s possible, Lex. You just have to play your cards right.
I bit my lip, trying not to smile at his words from this morning. There were so many ways I could interpret that sentiment.
“Hey, Lex.”
I turned to face Theo. He had the car running, but it wasn’t moving. “Yeah?”
“I don’t know where you live.” He flashed me a grin, effectively stopping my heart. Why doesn’t he smile like that more often? My heart somersaulted. Or maybe it’s a better idea if he doesn’t.
“West on Ventura, right on Laurel Canyon.”
I faced the passenger window the entire way home and reached for the handle as soon as he parked. I had a moment of hesitation as I stepped out of his car, hating the thought of sleeping in my crappy apartment alone. The studio wasn’t an option. Not after last night. I would suck it up—thin walls, empty fridge, and all.
Speaking of an empty fridge, my stomach growled as I pressed forward.
“Wait,” Theo called as he climbed out of his car. “I’ll walk you up.”
I turned and continued to walk backward. “Thanks for the ride. I got it from here.”
Theo stepped forward again as his eyes scaled the exterior of my apartment complex. It was nothing to look at, but he couldn’t guess from the outside just how bad the inside was. I could feel the judgment that accompanied his frown.
“Nine a.m. Monday,” he reminded me. He finally stopped walking when he reached the top of the stairs. I was entering my code at the lockbox.
“Yeah, I remember.” I threw him a smile over my shoulder. “See you then. Thanks again for the ride.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond. Instead, I slid my body through the narrow opening of the doorway and pulled it shut behind me. The click of the latch sounded before I looked up, meeting Theo’s gorgeous hazel eyes against the glass. I got the distinct feeling that he wanted me to let him in—but I was afraid of what that might mean.