Twisted Deal | A not-so cliche fake dating romance

Chapter Thirty-Four

Sebastian

I hadn't realized just how devastating it would be for me to be around Jen while she allows herself to like me again. I hadn't realized that when she cries in my car, I'd feel my entire heart eating at me. Knowing I'm the reason for her tears. It's so haunting, and I want nothing but to make it better. I can't be the one to make that decision, though. No amount of kissing or coaxing will make her suddenly forget the pain I have caused.

She needed to be able to be okay around me.

That was what I was working at. When I invite her to a baseball game to watch with her brother. I wanted her to get familiar with me again.


I find Jen at her studio the next day, where she is going through a new choreography with her students. I watch her in a mesmerizing gaze, and even though we had FaceTimed each other multiple times when I was at practice or she was reaching her class, I haven't seen her dance up this close. She stood in the front of the dance floor, wearing a sports bra and matching shorts. Her body moved so gently with the music that I was able to pinpoint exactly where she moves.

A student catches me when she turns on her heels, and I step back from the scene. Instead, I take a seat on the bench at the back of the room, but my eyes don't look away from Jen. I knew that Jen liked to dance and was good at it (never stepping on my toes with her heels at the wedding), but I've never seen her this confident. Not without alcohol anyway. I watch every deliberate dance move with an everlasting smile on my face. When she is done going over the choreography with her students, she steps back and lets them go through it again.

After a few more tries, Jen claps her hands together and addresses the group. "Amazing girls!" she asks them with a prideful smile. "I really like the effort you guys are putting into it. Now, I know that your summer break is coming up, but I still need you guys in the gym, okay? Come to practice every day with this attitude. Trust me, it will make it worth it for competition season."

Her students smile at her, their breathing hard, but they don't fail to look appreciative of her. After Jen dismisses them, I stand up, but when I go to walk toward her, the door opens with parents arriving to come take their child. So I stay in my spot as the students run to grab their clothes and head to their respected parents. After the chaos around me settles and the room clears, I look straight at where Jen was.

That's when she catches my eyes, shock evident in her face. I get off my spot and take off my shoes quickly before I move over to her. Before she can speak to me, I move to the speaker and turn up the sound. I had seen her turn it off right before dismissal, so when the music starts up again, I smile at her. Holding out my arm, I whisper, "Dance with me, Jen."

Jen looks at me with bewilderment that is ever-growing. "Bash, I'm sweaty and tired from the lesson I just gave."

"I know," I reply but shrug. "But dance with me anyway."

She looks at me hesitantly before her eyes drop. She reaches down to settle her stuff down on the floor, and when she is done, I snake my hand around her waist. I want to smile at the way my body relaxes at the touch of her makes me so happy. I missed her so badly. I tighten my hold on her enough so that when she stands up fully, I'm able to spin her toward me.

Jen's eyes widen when she is pulled close to me, and her hands go to my arm to hold on to me. I move my hand to hers and then pull one of her hands to go to my waist before taking her other hand in my hold. She is watching me in confusion as I lead her through the dance. I have a soft hold on her hip and guide her toward the steps.

When I pull her back and spin her around, she cracks an amused smile. Jen is back in front of me, and the she is looking at me with curiosity in her eyes. "You came to my studio," she whispers to me, and I nod.