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Chapter Four

As I force my body into the classroom Monday morning, I decide that everything—and that means everything—is my brother’s fault. The professor thinks I’m a pervert, which isn’t completely untrue, but I don’t really think he needed to know that.

My English Comp class was before this one and I don’t think I listened to a single word the professor was saying. All I could think about is how I will never be able to look Lito in the eyes again. I guess I’ll have to stare at his nipples which are easily noticeable through his light-gray button-up. Why are his nipples showing? Why does he wear shirts that tight? I guess if I looked like that, my shirts would be tight as well…

Someone save me.

“Are you alright?” Kaiya asks, and I tear my eyes away from Lito’s nips.

“Yes! Fantastic! Let’s dance!”

She grins at me. “Are you sure?”

“Yep. Perfect. Dance time!”

“Okay,” she says as I lead her to the farthest point of the classroom in the hope of never looking at the professor again. Of course, Lito decides to watch us first. Why? I have no idea. Because he wants to torture me, apparently.

“How are you two doing?” he asks.

“I think everything is going really well,” Kaiya responds. “We seem to have gotten into the groove of things.”

“Good, good. Hunter?”

I nod. “Yep. Agreed. Totes. No… totally. Why did I say totes? I’ve never said totes before.”

Kaiya starts laughing, and then Lito is laughing and it’s like angels singing, so I am prepared to say “totes” all day long if I need to even though I’m positive my face is as red as it can be.

“Excellent,” he says with a grin. “Let me see what you’ve got.”

We dance for him, and I’m thrilled when I don’t mess it up. Maybe someone out there in the great beyond felt so bad for me that they let me get the routine right somehow.

He leaves to help another group, so Kaiya and I continue to practice. As I turn her, my eyes stray and I seek out Lito. His eyes catch mine and I’m stilled by them, drawing Kaiya to a halt. Lito quickly looks away, but I’m left watching him.

I’m sure he was just checking to make sure we were dancing properly and I responded by making a fool of myself. There’s no way he’d be interested in me.

Right?

When class ends, I’m not sure if I’m excited to face him or if I should fake a stomachache and run.

“Did you get a chance to review those videos?” Lito asks.

“I did.”

“Awesome. What do you think?”

“I have a long way to go.”

“Nah, don’t be so negative. Everyone is constantly learning; even I’m still learning. It doesn’t mean you’re bad at it. So think about what he talked about and show me what you can do.”

“Okay,” I say as I take his hand. It feels strangely intimate now that I’ve told him I want to grab his nuts. He acts completely cool, like he could be dancing with his ninety-year-old great-grandma.

“So, a class needs this room on Wednesday during our practice time. I thought you could come over to my studio and we could work on some things Wednesday evening instead. Would that work?”

“Ooh, I want to see your place. Yes, please! And can I join more classes?”

“Sure, when the next session starts up, you’re more than welcome to join any or all.”

“Do you teach them or do you have a different teacher?”

“I teach some.”

“I want to be in all your classes.”

“You want to be in the over-seventies group?”

“I will join anything.”

Lito grins. “I bet you would.”

I do my best not to appear embarrassed as I look everywhere but at him.

Parker sits at my desk with an eyebrow raised. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but… don’t you need to be able to freely move when dancing?”

I look over at him from where I’m struggling to button the jeans I’ve very narrowly managed to squeeze myself into. “That doesn’t matter. How’s my ass look?” I turn to show him just as I get the pants buttoned.

“I don’t want to look at your ass.”

“Parker! This is a matter of importance! Look at my ass.”

He sighs like it’s such a hard thing for him to do. “Your ass looks acceptable.”

I smile. “Thank you.”

“I got you a present.”

Thankfully, my roommate is in class or I’m sure he’d be judging us. Especially when my brother pulls out a condom. “I even got you lube,” he says with a grin as he waves a small packet at me.

I snort. “I’m not getting laid. He doesn’t even look at me, but I’ll take them anyway,” I say as I snatch them up.

“Good luck, and I mean it. You’re not going to be getting his pants off with anything other than luck and/or blackmail.”

“How do I imply it?”

“The blackmail?”

“No! That I like him.”

“Not verbally. It sounds like you’ve already verbally harassed the man enough. Try nonverbal. Touch him a lot. Make him want you, but don’t be too easy.”

“I thought you said I have a one in a million chance at this.”

“You do, but I’m enjoying the fight, and I never want it to end. I could watch you mess up all day long.”

“I hate you,” I decide. “But I’m glad for the presents,” I add as I stuff them into my pocket. “I’m going to head out.”

“Didn’t he say not until seven? It’s five thirty. You’re going to be an hour early.”

“Just in case I get caught in traffic.”

He lifts an eyebrow but nods. “Okay. Good luck. Text me if your ass is too sore to drive, and I’ll come pick you up.”

I glare at him before heading for the door.

I arrive at the dance studio at 5:42, right on time. Since I have nearly an hour and a half to kill, I decide that I should probably go do something else for a bit. That’s when I hear a knock on my window.

Startled, I jump before looking at Lito who is peering in. I debate just putting the car in reverse and leaving, but I manage to roll down the window.

“Did… I tell you six by accident?” he asks.

“No… I’m early. But I was just in the neighborhood, you know, didn’t want to get caught in traffic.”

“The school is five minutes away.”

“You… never… know. I was going elsewhere to wait.”

He gives me a huge smile. “No, no, come inside. You can help me with my six o’clock class. I’m glad you’re here.”

I turn the car off, grab my shoes, and jump out in a heartbeat. Quickly, I follow him into the studio. It’s much like the one at school but slightly bigger. One area has chairs, but the rest of the room has mirrors running down the walls. Off to one side is a young woman teaching a small class of teenagers.

“Well, this is it,” Lito says. “This is our youth class. I’ll be teaching cha-cha next, do you mind helping?”

“Of course not!”

“Great. It’s a lower-level class and you can help me show them the moves.”

He waves to a chair, so I sit and change my shoes before waiting patiently as he handles other things. As I watch him, I realize that he shows everyone a smile all the time. Clearly, the niceties aren’t just for me. For some reason, that disappoints me, even though I’ve only known the man a couple of weeks and obviously know nothing is going to come of my awkwardness around him. I dressed up for this, and I don’t think he even looked me over.

When six comes around, he calls his class to the middle.

“I’m heading out, Lito,” the female instructor says.

“Have a good night.”

I watch her leave before turning back to Lito.

“This is Hunter, he’s a student of mine, and he’ll be helping me out today,” Lito explains to the group. The class greets me, and I say hello in return. Then he tells me what they’ve been practicing before taking my hand and leading me into it.