The Dance (34 page)

All the air and anxiety left my body. “Really?”

“You’re my good luck charm.” He winked, rolling backward until forced to turn away.

A warm sensation spread throughout my body as I watched Hart join his teammates for the start of the game.

Cupping his hands on either side of his mouth, Doug yelled, “Kick some ass, Hartford!”

“What just happened here?” Sophie asked.

The buzzer sounded, the opening tip-off performed, and the game started.

Tears of relief and happiness seeped from behind my eyes. Trying to keep my emotions a secret, I quickly wiped them away before anyone noticed. Ronnie was several steps away watching the game. Doug’s focus was split between Sophie’s ass and her chest. Colin’s eyes zeroed in on the court action but he seemed to be getting closer to me.

When we were shoulder to shoulder, he asked, “You okay?”

I glanced over at him. “Yeah.” The word came out as half sigh, half whisper.

Colin still didn’t look at me. “I’ve known Hart my entire life.”

“He mentioned you guys had been friends since you were kids.”

“You’re the Bryson from Garrison.” My widened gaze shot to his profile. “Yesterday, when you appeared in the office doorway and I saw the look on Hart’s face, I had a hunch it was you.” I was stunned into silence. “When he said your name then I knew for sure you were the girl from senior year.”

I attempted to blink my confusion away. “Hart told you guys about me?”

“Hart talks to me. He doesn’t tell those other guys everything because . . . well, you’ve met them.”

A slight chuckle escaped me.

“So, what has Hart said about me?”

His bright green eyes met mine followed by a sweet grin. “Bryson, there’s a reason why Hart confides in me.”

“Because you’re like a vault?”

“Exactly.”

“Can I ask you one question?”

“You can ask but I can’t promise I’ll answer.” His grin faded as he turned back to the game.

I appreciated Colin’s honestly and was glad Hart had a loyal friend like him.

“What caused the accident?”

“A broken heart.”

A stab of jealousy pierced the center of my chest. I had no right to feel this way. But the idea of Hart being so tangled up in another girl that their breakup caused him to lose control bothered me. Since I got the impression from Colin I had one shot at getting a little information, I stayed quiet. After a few seconds of us watching the game, he elaborated.

“Hart’s mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer the year we turned sixteen. She was the cool mom of our group.” A wistful tone laced his words. “Hart took care of her, going to every doctor’s appointment, chemo treatment, and even physical therapy sessions. They were trying to keep her strength up as long as possible.”

As I listened it was like a bubble formed around Colin and I, blocking out everything and everyone except Hart. I watched as he whipped around the court, living his life to the fullest. My vision got blurry with misty eyes.

“That’s why he chose PT as a career,” I whispered loud enough for Colin to hear.

“Yeah. He started taking college level courses the summer before junior year. He was a mad man. I don’t know how he did it. Hart got it in his head that if he could keep her strong, she’d last long enough until they found a cure. By the end of junior year he’d enlisted their neighbor, Miss Polly, to cook three meals a day even though by that time his mom was barely eating. When she was admitted into the hospice house, Hart had to go live with his dad.”

“His mom died the day of the motorcycle accident, didn’t she?”

When Colin didn’t answer, I knew I was right.

“In a single day everything was ripped away from Hart. His control, his ability to walk, and the one person he loved more than anything in this world. It left him completely broken. His dignity and self-confidence took a massive hit. For a while I was afraid he’d give up and not make it.”

It was hard for me to imagine a different Hart other than the confident and self-assured one I’d experienced. The snap of my heart breaking echoed in my ears knowing how much he’d struggled.

“He fought long and hard to get back control.” There was a slight quiver in Colin’s voice.

This glimpse into Hart’s past helped me better understand the way he operated. His directness, the orderliness of his home, the aversion to relationships, and the Amber arrangement. Even the questions he asked me last night about why I wasn’t following my passion.

I suddenly felt Colin’s eyes on me.

Facing him, I said, “Thank you.”

“Bryson, Hart’s a good man. He’s guarded but not impenetrable. I don’t know all the details of your situation.”

“I’m getting a divorce and forming a new friendship.”

He gave me a knowing smile. “Call it what you will. But the way he looks at you . . . I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

And with that, the bubble popped and Colin turned his full attention back to the game.

I wasn’t sure how to feel after our talk. Part of me wanted to enjoy the fact that those closest to Hart had noticed something between us. That this pull, this attraction wasn’t my overactive imagination. The other part of me couldn’t ignore the concern in Colin’s last comment. I didn’t blame him for looking out for his best friend. In fact, I liked him even more for it.

The roar of the crowd caught my attention. I’d been so focused on what Colin had to say that I hadn’t been keeping track of the score. Sophie and I never went up to our seats in the nosebleed section. Since the game held little to no interest, she spent most of her time on the move dodging Doug. Ronnie left early to meet Julie, his fiancé, for an appointment with someone who had something to do with their wedding. Colin and I stayed put courtside.

The Steelers ended up winning the tournament. I beamed with pride, watching the fans crowd around congratulating Hart and the team. Not wanting to distract from his moment, I decided to quietly slip out. I’d give him a proper congratulations tomorrow when I saw him at the rehab.

Sophie was relatively closed lip as we walked back to the car. She really was an amazing best friend. She knew when I needed an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or a moment of silence. But I knew this wouldn’t last long and her curiosity would get the better of her.

She waited until we’d pulled out of the parking lot before firing off her first question.

After applying a fresh coat of lip gloss, Sophie ran her fingers through her hair and flipped the visor back up. “So, you wanna talk?”

“Not really.”

“Good then I will.”

I cut my eyes in her direction and gripped the steering wheel.

“I’m pissed off at you . . .”

“For what?”

“Um . . . for lying to me, for taking me to a basketball game, for making me walk across gravel in these fabulous heels, for Doug . . .”

“You can’t blame me for Doug.”

“I can and do.”

I simply shook my head.

“For not telling me how into Hart you are.” Crossing her arms, she snapped. “I thought we were best besties.”

“We are.”

“And he’s obviously into you.”

I glanced over at her. “You think?”

A smile started to creep over my face.

“Puul-lease. I craved a cigarette and a shower after the credits rolled on the eye porn matinee y’all performed. Although the shower may have been brought on by how icky that Doug guy made me feel.”

“If it helps, he seems pretty harmless.”

“It doesn’t.”

I chewed on my bottom lip for a few seconds before apologizing. “I’m sorry. If I’d told you where we were going you wouldn’t have come and I needed you for moral support.”

“I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you were looking at Hart. I felt like a peeping Tom watching the two of you.” She paused, leaning her head against the headrest. “God, I wish you had dumped Slimy Bastard right after prom.”

“I can’t go back and change the past.”

“If you had taken a chance with Hart back then things might be different now.”

I sniffled as tears formed. “Maybe I’m being given a second chance to make things different.”

Sophie shifted in her seat, turning toward me. “Bryson, you know I love you and your happiness means the world to me.”

“But . . .?”

“You’re gonna make me say it?”

“I think you’re going to have to.”

She took in a deep breath. “You need to leave Hart alone.”

“You were the one touting what a good candidate he’d be for my transition guy.” I tried to keep my voice steady.

“That was before seeing the way you look at him and before I knew he was . . .”

My throat thickened as a few tears spilled over. “Say it.”

Sophie blew out a loud breath. “Before I knew he was
disabled.
Happy?”

I dug my fingers into the steering wheel. My pulse went from normal to warp speed as heat flushed through my body. Sophie wasn’t a cruel person but there was a patronizing and dismissive tone in her voice when she said the word
disabled.
What infuriated me the most was her lack of effort to see the man in the chair.

“I never thought of you as being close-minded. There’s so much more to Hart.” I choked back a sob.

Sophie placed her hand gently on my shoulder, causing a stream of tears to run down my cheeks. “I know there is but it’s a big part of him.” She paused. “You’re vulnerable right now. He’s given you some much needed attention and he’s safe.”

“Safe? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Her hand dropped. “Not many women want the added pressure of being a nurse to a guy like Hart.”

I pulled into my driveway and jerked the car into park. My blood boiled at Sophie’s assumptions.

“You are so out of line right now,” I growled through clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound harsh.”

“Hart appreciates me and encourages me. I feel worthwhile when I’m around him.”

Sophie brushed the hair back from the side of my face. “Don’t lose yourself in this guy just because you’re scared to be alone.”

A mix of angry, hurt, and disappointed tears ran down my cheeks.

Whipping my head around, my gaze seared into her. “Scared to be alone? I’ve been alone for the last year. Wait, I take that back. I’ve been alone for the last ten years. Every time Will left me at a party or forgot about me all together.” I paused, took a deep breath, and tried to compose myself. “Do you have any idea what it felt like to watch him go in his office each night knowing he’d rather spend time with a stranger than me? Every time that door closed I was alone. And I was alone throughout our entire relationship because I was the only one in it. So don’t you dare insinuate that the only reason I’m drawn to Hart is because he’s safe and I’m scared.”

Sophie wiped away the tears that had trickled down her face. “You need to think clearly about the good and the bad of the situation. I just want you to be happy.”

“Then be a friend and let me figure out what makes me happy. Hart and I just got reacquainted. We’re friends. Period.”

“That’s not how it looked to me.”

“It doesn’t matter how it looked. I’m well aware of my situation. Besides, Hart doesn’t do romantic relationships.”

Cupping the side of my face, she said, “Why do I get the feeling he’d make an exception for you? Bryson, I’m afraid you’re going to fall hard and hurt yourself.”

Sophie and I hugged before she left. The pain from her words was still fresh but I knew deep down they were coming from a place of love and concern. She had much more experience when it came to dealing with men and the potential feelings involved. She’d seen firsthand how this past year affected me and was trying to protect my heart.

I headed to my bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes. As I pulled on the black yoga pants, my mind floated to the conversation with Colin. I couldn’t decide if he was for or against my friendship with Hart. But his concern was clearly evident. I shoved my arms into the long sleeves of the white T-shirt Sophie’s brutal honesty echoed in my ears. As I slipped into my socks, I thought about Hart dealing with all the obstacles and pain he’s had to endure for most of his life. I’m sure he had lots of people over the years telling him he wouldn’t achieve his goals and dreams because of the wheelchair. He stayed true to himself and created a life worth the effort.

I was a grown-ass woman and tired of others dictating what I should and shouldn’t do. Making me feel guilty for taking a stand, telling me my dream was stupid, that I didn’t have enough experience, or that I should give up the one positive thing in my life.

Fuck that.

I went downstairs to Will’s office, sat at the desk, and fired up my laptop. I revised my resume, wrote a new cover letter, and googled Charleston caterers. It didn’t matter whether or not they were looking to hire. What mattered was that they knew I was ready to take hold of my dream and just needed a chance. Most of the resumes were sent via email while a few others were slipped into envelopes. By the end of the night every caterer in the Lowcountry had been checked off my list. Tilting back in the brown leather chair, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment wash over me. And I couldn’t wait to share it with Hart the next day.