Page 12 of Knox (Graeme #3)

I Can't Dance

L acey's laugh brought me back to the moment, and I concentrated on the stage. The scene required her to dance with Knox, but she was having too much fun with her poofy dress.

"People really wore this?" she asked and lifted the skirt over her head, showing the shorts she wore underneath.

Ian pinched the bridge of his nose and began counting. He reached five and said, "Why did Wallace choose a damn musical and leave me to direct it alone?"

I stood then, and Adam stood with me. I headed in the other direction, to the aisle and up to the stage.

"What if you have them come from the aisles? I mean, Poofy can play with her dress, and the rest can-"

Ian cocked his head to the side. "I'd have to choreograph something new."

"Not really," Knox said. He grabbed Bri's hand and led her down the steps.

She took off towards my side, and Knox hurried up the opposite side.

Lacey stood in the center of the stage while everyone else chose a side, and when they were in place, the music started.

Bri and Knox led them down the aisles, singing as they danced their way to the stage.

Lacey, it seemed, was the only one who couldn't get her shit together.

Bri took Lacey's place in the dance with Knox, and rehearsal continued from there.

Lacey glared at me, and I grinned, causing her to huff and walk offstage.

Well, damn. The music continued when Ian waved his arms. He wasn't putting up with her, and I couldn't blame him.

But I caused it, and it left a hole because one of the girls didn't have anyone to dance with when Ian ran through the scene again.

I ended up with Lacey's place on the dance down the aisle, and Bri took hers back.

Knox and I met in the center of the stage, and I let him lead. He and Lacey weren't the main couple, but one of three, thankfully. We weren't having a repeat of last time. I didn't want to be in this play.

"Perfect," Ian said when the song ended. "Josh?"

I nodded once and headed backstage while the cast moved onto the next scene and wardrobe change. I found Lacey in the restroom and made sure it was just us when I entered.

"You wanna talk about it?" I asked.

She cut her eyes at me and blotted her cheeks with a tissue. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," I murmured as the door burst open. Knox joined us, with his clothes for his next scene, and thrust the jeans at me. I helped him dress, and she watched but stayed quiet.

"Well?" I asked as I bent down to help him into his loafers.

Lacey sighed. "When I'm nervous, I laugh. It's stupid. The truth is, I can't dance."

"You say stupid things, too," Knox muttered.

"Well, you can act, so if dancing is your only issue, we can fix that," I shrugged, cutting my eyes at him. He stuck his tongue out at me, but let it go.

"In three days?" She gave me an incredulous look and shook her head.

"In three days," Knox nodded. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

I winked at him as she explained her schedule.

"Okay, so, tomorrow night-" I started and Knox shook his head.

"No?" I raised my eyebrows.

"No," they both said, and I frowned. Did they have a date?

"Oh." I stood, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Well, you work it out and let me know if you need me."

I started to leave, and Knox slapped his hand to the door. "It's your birthday, Josh. Ian invited us to your surprise party."

My first reaction was—a party? For me?

The second was smoother; I hoped. "Oh. Well, we can dance then, too."

Knox pointed at her. "He's mine now, so don't get any ideas."

She nodded slowly. "Got it."

"Okay, go change for the next scene," I said when Knox lifted his hand from the door, and I left with him behind me.

I was glad Adam was driving now. There were too many things going on, and a party on top of that just scared the hell out of me.