“… Are you still there?”
Shaking my head, I focused back on my friend. “Sorry. Was checking out the room service menu.” I have no idea why I even made up a story. “What were you saying?”
“I said that while you’re there, you should try and catch one or two of her performances.” Michael paused for several seconds. “I just sent you her number. She’ll be able to give you the details.”
“Sure.” The thought of seeing her made me smile. “It’s been years since I’ve seen her. And I’ve never seen her perform.”
“She’s really good.”
We chatted for a little while longer before Michael got paged to deal with a patient.
I pressed the red button and looked at the contact he just sent to me. It would be good to see her again. What did I have to lose?
Justin: Hey there, it’s Justin. Michael gave me your number.
Chapter 2
Angela
I join my teammates standing against the wall at the back of the arena. One of the fun parts of attending school competitions is cheering for competing squads. Usually I’m whooping and clapping along with them but today I’m a bit distracted. Instead, I’m checking my phone.
For the hundredth time I scan over the text exchange with Justin. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. But in a good way. It’s been such a long time since we’ve done more than like each other’s posts on social media.
Angela: Hey! It’s been a while
Justin: Your brother suggested I catch one of your performances while I’m in town.
Angela: You’re in Vegas?
Justin: Until Saturday Morning.
I’m not thrilled with the butterflies that took up residence in my stomach at that news. I mean, I had a crush on him in high school, sure. But that was over a decade ago. I’m over that. But I cannot deny that judging by the photos he’s posted online he was attractive. But come on. I meet a lot of attractive men. Some of them are even on my squad.
Angela: I’d love for you to come and watch one of my routines. I’m on at 10am and 4.50pm each day this week. Just let me know when you’re available.
Justin: I can do tomorrow afternoon.
Angela: Send me your details and I’ll have tickets sent to your hotel for you.
As it turns out he's staying at the same hotel as the competition. He’s attending the convention taking place at the hotel.
The team around me cheers as the team on stage finishes off with a perfect pyramid. Not an easy feat for an all-girl middle school team. The entryway opens as another team of girls leave to go backstage. Teams are supposed to be backstage half an hour before their performances so they’re like the last one for the day. I usually let my team hang around until about five to ten minutes before we go on stage. They’re adults so I don’t need to corral them.
Once the team has left, the ushers allow another batch of people in. Some girls who had performed earlier come walking in, ready to catch the last few routines of the afternoon. Some of them have taken out their bobby pins and loosened their hair. But all of them are in uniform sweats as per competition rules.
My squad is not subject to the same rules, but we do adhere to it. For one thing it’s tradition to not show off your costume off stage. And also, most of our costumes are… well, less than modest.
The girls are followed by a stream of parents who were trying to help their kids get ready. Trying, being the operative word. Most of them hover, overcrowding the dressing room and stressing their children out. Generally making things worse, not better. Mostly mothers but since the sport was becoming more popular among boys too, you’ll find dads in the boys dressing rooms as well. One of the men walking through the entryway is not a dad, however. I have to concentrate to ensure my jaw doesn’t drop to the floor.
Tall, with broad shoulders, he was hard to miss. I’d recognize that dark blonde hair and chiseled jaw anywhere. He’s wearing a pair of dark slacks and a pale blue button-down shirt with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up. Like he’d come straight from a meeting and just ditched his suit jacket.
The seat I got him was right at the back where he could still see the stage but come and go easily if he needed to. He hasn’t spotted me, and he eases his way to the seat a few spots from the aisle. He’s diagonally across from me and I have the perfect view of his ass before he sits down.
I clench my fingers, mimicking digging them into those cheeks. I swallow and drag my eyes away from him and force them to look at the team on stage. Lilly elbows me in the ribs and nods her head toward Justin.
“Hottie Single Dad over there.”
I smile and shake my head. “Hands off.”
Lilly’s eyebrows reach her hairline. “You’re single for barely a weekend and you’re calling dibs. I’m impressed. Miss Goodie Two Shoes is getting her groove on.”
The nickname used to bother me in the beginning. I’m not exactly an angel. Sure, I’m the captain of the squad, and until a few days ago, one of a few of us in a stable relationship. And honestly, I’ve been pretty responsible in both those roles. But historically I’ve been pretty reckless. Case in point, I gave up my spot on Seattle’s Football cheer squad on the off chance I would get a spot on this squad. It worked out and I don’t regret that decision, but it seems I’m still that same reckless girl. I quit this job without a clear plan of what I’m going to do.
“It’s not like that. He’s my brother's best friend. A good friend of my family.”
“And judging by how you can’t take your eyes off him,
