Page 41 of Everything In Between

THIRTY-FOUR

jersey

“T-minus twenty-five minutes until show time!” Bethany says, stepping into the room. I glance up just in time to see my crew of six backup dancers crash through the door of the green room behind her.

They all crowd me, sitting next to me on the couch or plopping themselves down on the floor in front of me. I can’t help the joyous laughter from taking over.

“How are you feeling, Jersey?” Donovan asks as he settles next to me. Like the others, he has his stage makeup on and an infectious grin already on his face. “Ready for our last show?”

“Yep. It’s a little surreal. To be going on the stage for the last time for a while.”

“Especially since we’re in New Jersey for the last one,” Petra adds. “Perfect to finish off in the state you were named after.”

“It is perfect, isn’t it? Funny how that worked out.” I wink at her, knowing she had likely played a big part in confirming the dates and locations for the shows when they scheduled them months ago. “But yes, I’m excited to go back to the regular routine.”

“Six weeks of shows isn’t too unmanageable, but I bet you’ll be ready to go home and get some rest when we’re finished.” Bethany winks. “You deserve a chance to snuggle up with that quarterback of yours. Spend all of April resting and recovering.”

My eyes drop to my lap and I fight off the blush threatening to color my cheeks.

“How’s he holding up after his injury?” Marcus questions. “Will he be ready for preseason?”

I nod my head. “Absolutely. Overall, he’s doing much better. He’s been hitting the physical therapy ever since he had his surgery. Getting stronger every day.”

“Well, the Majestics sure missed him. Their Conference Championship game was rough.” He shakes his head, mouth pulling into a frown.

“Yeah, definitely not what they were hoping for this season, to say the least.”

“Can’t imagine they would’ve had such a hard shut down if he had been on the field,” Donnovan adds with a shrug. “Did you two watch the Super Bowl?”

“We did. It was a little bittersweet for him. He still loves watching the game, but not as much as he loves being a part of it himself. He’s really missed it the last few months. But he’ll be back and better than ever next season.”

Donovan and Marcus high five each other, Donovan exclaiming, “Next season’s gonna be epic! Hayes Vogt comeback, baby!”

I laugh, thankful for how my dancers have dedicated themselves as Hayes Vogt fans. Before I started dating him, I don’t think they had much interest in football, but now they’ve even got their own Majestics apparel.

I hope with everything in me they’re right. Hayes has his sights set high, and I have no doubt he’ll be able to do everything he aims for.

“Will Hayes be here tonight?” Lola, one of my lead dancers, asks.

My stomach sinks. “No, he won’t. He wanted to be, but his physical therapy schedule is pretty grueling. He’s putting 110 percent of himself into his rehab so he can be ready to go for next season.”

“Oh,” Lola says, giving me a pitying smile. “I’m sorry.”

I shrug my shoulders, not letting her know I’m bummed too. “I can’t hold it against him. He said he’ll be tuning into the live stream tonight from home. And I’ll see him next weekend once I’ve got the all clear to head back to Milwaukee.”

Petra leans her cheek on her hand and gives me a dreamy expression. “Isn’t it crazy that only a few months ago you barely knew his name? You two are the cutest couple ever.”

I roll my eyes, ignoring the way my cheeks heat up again. As if on cue, my phone buzzes in my lap and a text message comes through.

Hayes

Good luck tonight! You’re going to crush it. Give that stadium the best show ever!

“He must’ve known we were talking about him,” Petra teases. Lola giggles as she wraps her arms around my neck, giving me a big hug.

I smile halfway, looking down at his name on my screen on top of the selfie of the two of us I have set as my background. My stomach aches, and suddenly, I’m missing him so much more than before.

“Jersey, can I talk to you for a sec?” Bethany asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. She tilts her head off to the side.

Untangling myself from my dancers, I join her on the other side of the room, where we can talk a little more privately. Her blue eyes study my face and she reaches for my hand. “Are you doing okay?”

“Of course.” I squeeze her hand. “Why do you ask?”

“You seemed a little disappointed when you mentioned Hayes wouldn’t be here.”

“Oh.” I purse my lips and nod. “Yeah, I mean, of course I’m a little sad. I would’ve loved to have him see a concert where I know he’s present. He hasn’t seen a show since the very first one he went to.”

“Did you ask him to come?” Bethany asks. When I nod again, her eyebrows draw in. “What did he say?”

“He left it at he couldn’t get away from training right now.

He looked devastated, honestly. Like a sad puppy dog.

” I shake my head. “His career is just as important as mine, so it’s okay.

I can’t hold that against him. There will be plenty more shows, more opportunities.

I can’t expect him to drop everything and hop on the first flight out every time I’m performing. ”

“I’m sorry, Jersey.”

“I mean, he’s heard the whole concert with me belting it out on the treadmill at home over the holidays,” I say, then laugh, hoping Bethany will buy it that I’m okay.

I don’t think she does. “I’m still going to perform my heart out because that’s all I know how to do.

He’d do the exact same if our roles were reversed. It’s the only way to move forward.”

She squeezes my hand again, but winces. “I have some bad news.”

My face pales with nerves. “What is it?”

“Cal just texted and said he’ll be arriving midway through the show. He said he wanted to see the last one before you go on break.”

“But he couldn’t get here on time to see the beginning?” I ask flatly.

She shrugs. “I’ve given up trying to figure out the whys or the reasonings of Callum Strong.”

I sigh. “Me too. Well, thanks for giving me the heads up.”

“He’ll probably expect to see you after the show.”

“I expect nothing less.”

Bethany glances at her phone and nods. “Time to go.” She turns to the dancers and waves them over. “All right, everyone, let’s do this!”

Me and my group head out of the green room and up to the stage. When we’re five minutes from the opening set, my dancers and I stand and gather in a circle. We wrap our hands around each other’s shoulders and huddle up. Their eyes all fall to me, expectantly.

“I want to thank each and every one of you for showing up time and time again and for pouring your entire hearts into making our concerts memorable. I appreciate you all and I know our fans do too. Let’s go out there and do what we do best. Ready?”

Our pre-show ritual begins. I start the process off and then look to my left to keep the momentum going. “Celebration!”

“Inspiration,” Petra announces, turning to Donovan on her left.

“Passion,” Donovan says.

“Devotion!” Marcus adds.

“Energetic!” Lola winks.

The last two dancers get louder as they share their goal words.

“Elegance!”

“Motivation.”

The circle comes back to me and I bow my head in the middle. They all follow my lead.

My voice is reverent as I close out our routine with the word I always do. “Gratitude.”

The group together counts to three and then, out of the huddle, we move into a group hug. My heart is full. I close my eyes and take it all in, thankful to be standing here celebrating our last show with some of the most important people to me.

We release each other and get into position for the opening song. From my mark, I can hear the fans screaming at the top of their lungs. The whole stadium is alive and vibrating with anticipation.

My pulse races, echoing in my ears until my heartbeat drowns out any other thought than the one most important phrase in show business.

No matter what’s going on in my personal or professional life, no matter what is happening in the world around me, when I’m on stage, only one thing matters. I repeat it in my head, taking a deep breath and putting the biggest smile on my face before I walk out onto the stage.

The show must go on.