Page 87 of Igniting Sparks

Mina

Have you ever messed up so badly that you don’t know if you can fix it?

I have to reapply my makeup three more times before I leave for dinner with Bitsy and Leo. The tears keep winning, no matter how hard I fight.

I hurt Braden. Badly. Which is something I never wanted to do.

But he doesn’t understand that I could lose everything—every chance, every shred of my dancing life.

I don’t know anything else. Just brewing coffee. Ringing up book orders.

I spent my whole life as a dancer, and now it’s right there.

Even worse? Instead of reassuring him I have no intention of reconciling with Leo, I shut down.

I’ve always been like that, hiding away until the storm passes.

And the anger in Braden’s eyes when he called himself a place card in my life damn near broke me.

I’ve called him a million times, but he’s not answering.

Hell, I’m not sure what I’d say if he did pick up. Plead my case? Apologize? Grovel? Likely a combination of all three.

Braden thinks I’m just like my rich family, but I’m not. I’m not like him either. Sadly, I don’t belong anywhere, and the loneliness is a weight I’ve carried my entire life.

I arrive in town with a half hour to spare. Perfect. I hope I can track Braden down at Black Lotus and make amends before having to sit through dinner with a viper.

Does he really think I don’t know who Bitsy is? That I’m not aware of how ridiculous her life of privileged elegance appears to people on the outside?

I get it. Boy, do I get it. But she holds my future in her hands, and the least I can do is hear her out.

Maybe it won’t be that bad. Or maybe it will ruin everything. Somehow, I feel like I’m going to lose no matter which path I take.

I glance around the parking lot and sigh. No sign of his motorcycle.

Damn it.

I walk into One More Page and head for Ori’s office. Maybe she knows where he’s hiding.

“Can I come in?” I knock gently on the door before peeking inside.

Ori leans back in her chair, her hand idly rubbing her belly. “You look nice.”

I smooth the skirt and shrug. “I’m going to dinner.”

She nods, peering at me over her glasses. “So, I heard. Let me guess—you’re looking for Braden.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“He dropped by about twenty minutes ago, spoke with Zane. I know they’re going out later, but I don’t know where.” She releases a long sigh. “He was really upset, Mina.”

Tears fill my eyes again, and I blink them away. I do not have the strength to fix my face again. “I never meant to hurt him.”

Ori fixes me with her dark gaze as she taps a pen against the desk. “Well… you did.”

I love and hate my friend in equal measure right now. Ori doesn’t sugarcoat things, and she knows I’ve fucked up. She won’t let me run from it, which is exactly what I want to do.

“You know,” she continues. “I was terrified that Braden would hurt you, but I had it all wrong. He’s done everything you asked of him this entire time. He deserved better than that.”