Page 32 of A Certain Step (Midnights at Pemberley #1)
ETHAN
W hen Ethan came home from the gym the following day, he kept refreshing Midnights at Pemberley’s Instagram account to see when Willa would start her takeover.
She’d been nervous about it, opting out of hanging out the night before in order to mentally prepare herself for an entire day of bringing people on a virtual journey of her day.
He fully understood it as someone who appreciated talking about his work but loathed the anticipation of an interview. Some actors were better at it than others, and despite how long he’d been doing this, there was only a handful of times when he didn’t get nervous.
On two-show days, he made sure to have a heavier breakfast to prepare for a lighter lunch.
He also went much easier at the gym. He made himself two avocado and spinach omelets with feta cheese, topped with Trader Joe’s “Everyday Seasoning,” a handful of blueberries and raspberries, and a cup of coffee.
Her first video came through when he’d made his way through one of the omelets.
Christ, she looked adorable. She had some sort of a lilac tank top on, and her hair was tied up at the top of her head in a messy bun with a few wisps dangling from the sides.
It looke d like she was wearing the barest bit of makeup.
“Hi, everyone! I’m Willa Davidian, and somehow, people thought it was a good idea to have me hijack the account on a Saturday matinee.”
She giggled slightly, and his heart galloped.
“For those who don’t know me, I’m in the ensemble as well as an understudy for some of the glorious stars in our production.
I’m also one of the co-dance captains. Today’s a bit wild because I’m still on as Elizabeth, but normally, and this is a fun fact that isn’t mentioned in the show: my character’s name is supposed to be Abigail.
So, follow along and be nice to me so I don’t have to cry before the show. ”
He appreciated how Willa could address something that triggered her anxiety by making a joke about it. Maybe he could learn from her.
Another video popped up while he’d finished that one.
“For starters, one of my favorite parts about this show is that I get to do it with one of my best girls.”
She put her arm around Sahar, who stepped into the frame and took a bow.
“Most people know we’ve been friends since we were in a West End production of Macbeth, and this is the first time we booked a show together since moving to the States for other gigs. We both moved to New York about six-ish years ago and we’ve been roommates since.”
“We have attachment issues,” Sahar added. “ Especially now, after working together every single day. We even share a dressing room.”
“It’s true,” Willa chimed back in. “ Anyway, first things first on our agenda, we’re going to get coffee, run a few quick errands, then head to the theatre.”
He knew it’d be a while before she returned with another post, so he sent her a text.
ETHAN
You’re gorgeous ??
Three dots appeared almost instantly.
WILLA
I’m a nervous wreck is what I am loll
ETHAN
you’re extraordinary. I could watch you read off a grocery list.
WILLA
Hahaha unfortunately for you, I never make one.
ETHAN
It’s a good thing I do. Tulip and I missed you last night. Mostly me.
WILLA
Convenient because I missed you both, too. (You a little more.)
He smiled to himself, wondering how in the world they finally got to this place where they wouldn’t have to tuck away their feelings.
ETHAN
see you soon, beautiful.
WILLA
??
He knew they’d be going to Amanda’s Coffee, so he called the store to make an arrangement. The line rang five times before someone answered. “Amanda’s Coffee, this is Jay.”
“Jay, hey, buddy, it’s Ethan Everett.”
His voice grew less robotic. “Hey, Ethan. What’s up?”
“Listen, the girls are going to come in today for their drinks. Can you opt out of charging them, and I’ll give you the amount when I’m there instead?”
Ethan heard chatter grow louder on the other end of the line. Jay didn’t speak. “Sorry, it was noisy. Yeah, sure. I’ll put them on my tab, and we can square away later,” he noted.
“Appreciate it, man. Thank you.”
“Of course, see you soon,” he added before the line went dead.
Willa texted him an hour later while he was standing in the subway.
WILLA
Did you do something? Why did Jay at Amanda’s say that our orders were taken care of?
He held back a chuckle.
ETHAN
Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. Maybe Jay is just being nice. Who knows?
WILLA
You’re a lousy but hot liar.
ETHAN
Come to my dressing room when you get to the theatre. I miss those pretty lips.
WILLA
So demanding.
ETHAN
pleaaaaaaase?
WILLA
Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t. Who knows?
ETHAN
I’m not above begging if that’s what you want.
WILLA
;)
He shook his head at her, drawing his attention back to the music coming from his earphones.
He refreshed his feed, seeing that a new story had finally appeared.
This time, it was a portrait photo of her coffee, held up against the shop’s wall of vinyl records.
She captioned it: coffee secured, now ready to be a human and answer your questions.
He jokingly added his own little note to the query box.
“Who’s your favorite person, and why is it Ethan? ”
He entered the theatre, signed in, and went straight for his room, where she was already on his couch, legs crossed and waiting. “Now, what was that about you begging?” she said amorously.
He shut his door, hung his bag against the hook, and rushed to her.
Ethan kneeled, eyes beaming up at her beguiling gaze.
She batted her lashes in a state of shock.
Christ, how had men let her go because they weren’t willing to be patient with her?
How had they not realized what they could’ve had with her beside them?
He would stay on his knees forever if that’s what she wanted.
He would refrain from innuendos if she asked for that.
He w ould even opt out of kissing her if she no longer felt that was something she desired.
He would do anything. No questions asked.
Willa brought her fingers to the bottom of his chin and tipped his gaze higher. She brushed her fingers against his lips, then she bent lower and clasped her mouth to his.
Her lips moved rhythmically, nudging him to part and take her tongue in.
Her wish was his command. She tasted like the notes of Irish Cream syrup in her drink, simultaneously sweet and smokey.
Her soft lips danced methodically against his, picking up pace when his hand rose to tangle itself in her hair.
A low, barely-there groan of need broadcasted itself, meeting the discreet chuckle from her. She pulled away from him, her eyes flashing with heat and desire equally. “Okay, okay, I have to go give the people what they want. I’ll come back to those lips later.”
Ethan held her gaze. “You’ll come home with me tonight?”
Willa dipped her chin up and down to answer.
He took her face in his hands for another quick kiss before letting her go.
Whoever was on his side up above, he’d send a thousand thanks in their direction. He felt like a kid at Christmas, giddy and teeming with excitement.
Ethan changed into Darcy’s clothes and sat back against the couch.
He opened his phone to see if there’d been another video from Willa, surprised to find about four waiting for him.
The question someone had asked was, “Who is the other dance captain? Is it Miles?” She recorded the video with her arm around Miles’s shoulder in his dressing room.
“ Yes! This brilliant beast of a dancer is indeed my delightful co-dance captain and scene partner in most of the numbers.” Miles concurred with a nod. “ We joke about it a lot, but we basically share a singular brain cell when it comes to dancing.”
Mile s spoke next. “ It’s true. Just last week, we were at rehearsals, and I wanted to work through something in my head, so I called Wills down, and I kid you not, she knew the movements step by step how I envisioned it in my head.”
“Or you know, you call me at four in the morning, saying you had a dream about a dance, and we need to make it happen immediately.”
They both laughed.
“ And what was the result of this visionary dream? The most viewed choreography video we’ve ever made thus far.”
Willa continued . “No, he’s right. It’s always just a ton of fun because any time there’s a new song that I want to choreograph something to, Miles is the first person I’ll text or vice versa, and the other person’s response is ‘I was just thinking the same thing,’” they say in perfect unison.
The next story played. The question was, “Would you ever teach a dance class?” She answered with a picture of her, Christian, Miles, and Sahar during rehearsals.
She captioned it: “ I would love to! I’ve talked about this a few times with Sahar and Miles, actually.
It’d be a load of fun. I taught a bit back home in London! ”
He’d take a class taught by her any day.
The next was a video; she was back in her dressing room again, and someone had asked, “What’s your favorite number to perform as Elizabeth?” Willa came alive when she began to answer.
“We all talk about this a lot, but ‘Marry Me’ is probably one of the most gorgeously produced numbers. When our brilliant goddess choreographer Josie Singh first showed it to us, we were in awe. It’s one of the performances that always mesmerizes me when I’m watching Ethan and Naomi or Ethan and Lea execute it in rehearsals.
I don’t get to see most of it because I’m usually changing costumes and wigs for ‘Forbidden Corridors,’ so getting to be a part of it is a real gift.
” Her eyes glistened then, a small change and one he was sure only he’d catch.
“ And, plus, sharing the stage with Ethan, who’s my best friend, makes the experience even mo re magical.
So, I’m going to have to say ‘Marry Me,’ followed by the encore, which is my second favorite overall. ”