She stares at me, her big eyes wide with confusion. There’s so much tension between us, it’s stifling and I find it hard to breathe. I expect her to slap me, to do something, but she merely reaches for my face. Her soft hand cups my cheek.

“What broke you?” she finally questions.

Our eyes lock on each other and I don’t know how to tell her, how to confess how much I fucked up.

“Life.”

“That’s a lie because when you left you were—”

“I was a boy who thought he owned the world, Piper,” I tell her as much of the truth as I can muster. Turning away from her, I already miss the heat of her touch. “I was stubborn, carefree, and I thought everyone owed me something because of where I came from.”

“That wasn’t who you were,” she argues.

“You only thought that because you were in love with me,” I bite back, spinning on my heel to meet her fiery gaze.

“Fuck you, Ryder. I thought that because I knew the real you. I saw beneath that fucking asshole façade you put on for everyone.” Piper takes a step toward me. Her eyes burn through me, begging and pleading for answers I cannot give her. It’s in that moment that I know I love her. I’ll always love her, but there’s no way I can give her what she needs. What she deserves.

“It’s time for you to leave. I’ll be in class tomorrow to go over the routine.”

She doesn’t respond this time. I don’t get her voice when I need it. Right there, in those few seconds it takes her to nod and turn away from me, I feel it, the grip she has on my heart, on my soul. Piper slips into the car without a word. It squeezes the breath from me, and the pain I’d lived through the years I was away is nothing compared to watching the woman I love drive away from me.

I’ve finally fucked up everything in my life. Not only my dance career, but the only person who ever saw me for who I really am, just a broken little boy needing love.

Sighing, I run my fingers through my hair and tug hard at the strands. A bite of pain causes me to growl in response. Why do I always do this? Mess up everything I ever want.

“Dude,” Preston’s voice comes from behind me. I turn to find him sauntering toward me. His silhouette shadowed by the dimly lit warehouse. “Was that my sister in her car crying?”

“Yeah,” I tell him honestly. I can’t lie to my best friend. As much as he’s an asshole at the best of times, he’s also been there for me all my life. Given me an out, a chance.

“Did you tell her?”

“No,” I grunt, grinding my teeth almost painfully. There’s nothing I can do now because he won’t stop until I’ve finally told her the truth.

“Why?”

“Because she deserves better than me,” I tell him, meeting his incredulous stare. “I can’t be the man for her.”

“How do you figure that out, asshole?”

“You know why.” I make my way into the warehouse without looking at him. The silent footfalls of his shoes are behind me as he follows and I know I’m in for a talk from my best friend.

“She loves you, Ryder. She’s not going to walk away because of your past mistakes,” he tells me earnestly. “Look, I never wanted you with her when we were at school because you were an asshole.” He chuckles at my expression. “But she’s an adult now, and you’re more responsible than you have ever been. I know you love her. I’m not fucking blind.”

Slumping against the table behind me, I watch my best friend stare at me. We’re at a standoff and I know I’ll lose. Preston is as stubborn as I used to be, but then again, I’m still as pigheaded as I’ve always been. Only now, I know I’m not worthy of the love Piper has given me and continues to give me.

“She’s not going to give up.”

“Stubbornness runs in the family then,” I retort, causing him to chuckle and shake his head. His eyes burn into me with a warning I can’t ignore. I know I have to tell her, but it scares the shit out of me.

“It does, and as you know, my sister is persistent.” Preston stalks closer to me then. He grips my shoulder, offering it a squeeze. “Don’t hurt her, Ryder. Don’t fucking hurt her.”

He leaves me then, with that one warning. I don’t need another, and I certainly do not need to know what he’ll do to me if I do make her cry.

It’s time to swallow my pride and come clean. I know it is. I turn to the stereo and find our song. My girl’s song—"Good for You" by Selena Gomez. The beat takes me away and I move through the space like I used to.

Ignoring the way my body doesn’t do the things I used to be able to do, I flow into the routine, popping over onto my hands, spinning around, my eyes closed in concentration as I recall her smile, her taste, her kiss. Those smooth, delicate hands that seem to touch me in a way that was both intimate and erotic. That makes my body come alive, just for her. No other girl could ever come close to Piper. No one else could make me feel like a man who was loved and appreciated, even though I was never worthy of her.

The movements are easy enough for the kids to pick up, and it allows me to practice with them without showing anyone how broken I really am. As soon as the song ends, I flip onto my feet and find my footing on the cold concrete floor.

“It’s time for you to learn who you love, Butterfly,” I tell the silence that surrounds me. “It’s time for you to see who I’ve become.”