Page 135 of Blackwood

She shakes her head, already wiping her palms on her leggings. “Not really.”

“Okay. Then get out of your head and reset. I’ve got you. We’ve done this routine a million times. Plus, if you biff that turn again, I think Javi might actually bust a blood vessel. Pretty sure I saw his eye twitching.”

Bella lets out a breath. Almost a laugh. Not quite, but close.

“There she is,” Josh says.

She nods. When they reset, her footing is still off and the second turn nearly sends her sideways again.

I see the clench in Javi’s jaw from across the room. His heels click against the hardwood as he struts toward the edge of the practice floor, arms crossed so tight it looks like he’s physically holding in a scream.

“Get out of your head,” he snaps, voice sharp with that Spanish accent and a mouthful of sass. “This routine is lyrical, not lazy. You want to win Worlds or cry backstage? For the love of all things holy, Bella, concéntrate!”

Bella doesn’t answer.

He spins on his heel and beelines straight to me. “Alright, hulking disasterpiece, what the hell is going on with my girl? A mission go bad, or did Laing say something stupid again?”

My head snaps toward him. “You know?”

“Of course I know,” he says, flinging his hands like it’s obvious. “I’ve known since Zeke died, cariño. You think I didn’t notice the bruises? The missed practices? Por favor, I’m not blind.”

He gestures wildly toward the floor. “She looks like a hot mess dipped in regret. She’s about three turns away from popping her ankle like a bottle of prosecco. ¿Qué pasa?”

I sigh, staring at Bella as she resets again, body tight with tension.

“It’s Cade,” I admit. “He’s been gone too fucking long and it’s messing with her head. Hell, it’s messing with both our heads.”

“Ohhh,” Javi draws out with a wince. “Him.That explains it.”

He turns to look at Bella. “She’s not the type to spiral over boys. When she dumped that pretty little basketball player, Wes, she came back the next day and danced like her ass was on fire. She looked so good I was about to call the Vatican for an exorcism.”

“Yeah,” I say. “But this is different. It was supposed to be the three of us. We all knew what this was. And now it’s like—” I gesture at the stage. “—it’s like she’s waiting for him to walk through the damn door and save her.”

Javi’s eyes narrow. He turns, just in time to catch Bella fumble again. “Watch your damn turns, Blackwood!” he yells, snapping his fingers in the air.

He turns back to me. “If this continues, Lex, I swear on my abuela’s grave I’m giving this routine to Haley. She may not be as sharp, but at least she doesn’t dance like she’s possessed by a ghost with commitment issues.”

He storms back toward Bella and Josh. I stay back and pull out my phone.

ME:She needs you.

CADE:Why? What’s going on?

ME:She’s in her head. Sucking ass at a routine that’s supposed to be a damn cakewalk. Javi’s pissed. Josh is trying, but it’s not working. You need to come home Cade.

Me: It’s been too long.

CADE:I can’t Lex. I’m just not ready.

ME:I miss you.

CADE:I miss you too babe.

ME:Please babe. It’s been weeks. I hate sleeping alone. You know that.

CADE:Alone? You and Bella haven’t…?

ME:No. “Fingers only.” Damn girl is a menace. She says she’s teaching me patience and restraint. Apparently it builds character. One too many Dr. Monroe appointments if you ask me.