Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
“You’re about as fun as Mom,” Juniper accused.
“Meaning she’s utterly delightful?” Caroline dropped down on Allie’s other side and I shot her a warning look. “Thank you for braiding her hair. You didn’t have to.”
“No problem.” Allie tied it off with an elastic. “Three sisters. I can braid in my sleep.”
Three. She still counted Lina.
Gavin swung out on the rope, sitting on the barrel-top-size wooden disk that served as a seat, then let go at the highest point of the arc. He flew for no more than a second, then splashed into the water cannonball-style.
“Solid eight,” I called out and clapped, and Juniper hollered.
“Mom, can I?” she asked.
“Go ahead. Just make sure there’s someone in the water!” Caroline finished in a yell, because Juniper was already running for the tree where the twins waited.
“Takes after you.” Allie nudged me, then drew her long legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. She’d ditched the hoodie, and the hot-pink straps of her bikini peeked out of the collar of her MBC T-shirt.
“She does,” Caroline agreed. “Maybe she’ll be a rescue swimmer too.”
“Or you could let her dance,” I countered, my ire from this morning getting the best of me.
“Don’t start.” Caroline pulled her hair up.
“She could be one of the greats,” I prodded, wrapping my arm around Allie’s hip. “She’ll never know if you don’t let her try.”
“Your perception is skewed by your proximity to the Rousseaus,” Caroline replied, watching Juniper. “Talent like Allie’s is rare.”
Allie blinked. “While I think that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, I’d argue that Hudson’s talent is far rarer.”
Holy shit, was that a compliment? My head swung toward hers, finding her attention fixated on Mason as he swung out over the lake and splashed into the water.
“Than a professional ballerina?” Caroline reached for her backpack, taking out her sunscreen.
“Sure. There’s about four thousand of us throughout the country, but only three hundred and fifty Coast Guard rescue swimmers.” She leaned into me. “Makes him far more precious.”
“Hmm.” Caroline studied Allie for a second. “You’re a principal, right? The top of your field?”
“Yes.” Allie nodded, tensing slightly. “As long as I can fully recover.”
Caroline’s gaze skimmed to Allie’s feet. “And what’s left to accomplish? What motivates you when there’s no competition, no promotion to attain, no”—her focus shifted to me—“fantasy duty station?”
“I’m not a prima, let alone an assoluta.” A wry smile twisted Allie’s mouth. “Which my mother loves to remind me. So there’s that to work toward. And if by some miracle that title is bestowed upon me, then I’d still compete with my biggest rival, as always.” She glanced at my sister. “Myself. There’s always something I can do better, some technique I’ll always strive for but never perfect.”
“Because perfection is the goal?” Caroline asked, but there was no bite in her tone.
“Always.” Allie’s smile slipped, but she quickly bolstered it. “And it’s unobtainable, so there’s never a shortage in motivation.”
“You’re pretty perfect to me.” I brushed my lips over her temple.
She scoffed, but her eyes sparkled. “Says the man who had to teach me to ride a bike.”
“Allie!” Juniper called, cupping her hands around her mouth. “Will you braid Melody’s hair before she swings?”
Allie nodded. “Have an extra hair tie in that bag?” she asked Caroline. “Mine are all back at the cabin.”
Caroline dug into the bag and handed the elastic to Allie.
“Thanks.” She brushed a quick kiss over my lips and pulled away before I could grab hold of her to deepen it. “Be right back.”
“How many principals?” I asked as she climbed to her feet on the blanket. “There’s three hundred and fifty of me, but out of the four thousand professional dancers, how many of them are principals, like you?”
“Oh, honey.” She backed away with a smirk. “Don’t make me hurt your feelings.”
I scoffed, and she headed down the slope.
“Something’s different between you two,” Caroline noted, spraying her legs with the sunscreen. “She’s . . . lighter. I don’t mean skinnier, or anything about her weight—”
“I know what you’re saying.” I watched as Allie reached Melody, then started braiding her curly blond hair. “Her injury was devastating both physically and mentally, but she’s coming back to herself. Little by little, she’ll get there.”
“She’s smiling too.” Caroline sprayed her arms. “I would guess that’s all you.”
“I wouldn’t mind being the reason.” I smiled when Juniper laughed at something Allie said. “But I’m not taking credit for the work she’s put into herself.”
“Were you always in love with her? Or just this time around?”
My gaze flew to Caroline’s.
“Oh, come on, you’re about as subtle as a hippo in a pet store.” She offered the sunscreen, and I shook my head since I’d already applied some. “No judgment. I’m just being nosy.”
“Always,” I answered as Allie finished up Melody’s hair. “It took me until that second summer to realize what the feeling was, but I fell for her the first day I met her. She was clinging to the side of the world’s oldest rowboat, and she lifted her chin and demanded I get Eva to safety first, even though she was bleeding. She asked if I had siblings and said there was nothing more important to her than her sisters. I was a goner and didn’t even know it.”