Under The Stars

14

Alina

Eighteen Years Old

My toddler group’s second recital is this weekend. When it comes to two and three-year-olds, “choreograph” is a loose term. That doesn’t stop everyone I love from showing up like my routine’s on Broadway. I appreciate their support. I never realized how much I would fall in love with teaching dance. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.

There’s a studio about twenty minutes away in downtown Chattanooga that’s offered me an internship. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would accept because it would mean skipping college. But Jax encouraged me, saying college will always be waiting. He may be biased though, considering he chose to stay in Sugarlake as a mechanic, instead of furthering his education. His late daddy always dreamed of having his car restorations in the movies, and Jax is set on seeing that dream through.

I haven’t told Chase about the internship yet, but I’m planning to this weekend. He was hoping I would apply to ETU, but I know if I don’t take advantage of this opportunity, I’ll regret it.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Jax grins, shutting the sliding door to my backyard.

“Hiya, Teeth.” I smile.

He rolls his eyes. “Stop calling me that. These babies are one-hundred percent au naturale.” He runs his tongue over his pearly whites. “You ready for the big night?”

“I’m more than ready. Nervous, but my girls are gonna steal the show, you just wait and see.”

He clicks his tongue. “I don’t know. I heard the eight-year-olds have some killer moves this time. I’m not sure your toddlers can keep up.”

I smack his chest. “You shut your mouth with that kind of talk, Jackson Rhoades. I’ll have you know my kids can out-dance those eight-year-olds all day long.”

“Oh yeah? And why’s that?”

“Because they have me, of course.”

“Now that I believe.”

My cheeks flush at the compliment, the air shifting as he loses his grin.

He clears his throat. “Anyway, I just stopped by to see if you needed help with anything.”

I clap my hands together. “Yes! I’m in charge of refreshments for the recital, but I haven’t had time to pick anything up. I’d love you forever if you’d do it for me.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Would that make you say yes?”

His green eyes sparkle, and a lightness fills me. Things are so easy with him. I’m sad we weren’t friends sooner.

He ties his hair into a bun and throws his hands up. “Okay, I’ll do it. Cookies for the kids and veggie trays for the old people. I’ll be back soon.” He winks, spinning his key ring around his finger as he walks out the door.

My phone rings a while later, Chase’s name flashing. My stomach flutters with excitement knowing that in a few short hours I’ll see him. He promised he’d make it home this time.

“Hi, Chase.”

“Hey. How you feeling today, Goldi?”

“Excited. Nervous. Mostly, I just can’t wait to see you, though.” I lean against the kitchen counter.

“I can’t wait to see you, either. Think I can steal you away after the show? I want to get us a hotel. I thought we could have some long overdue alone time. Would you like that?” His voice quiets, whispering low and raspy in my ear. “I need to f*****g be inside you, baby. I can’t wait anymore.”

Arousal shoots through me.

My grip on the phone tightens as I squeeze my thighs, trying to ease the ache. “Yes,” I say on an exhale. I don’t know how I’ll explain it to Mama and Daddy, but I’ll think of something later.

“Thank f*****g God… hey, hang on a second.”

He’s talking, his voice muffled like he’s covered the phone with his hand. A girl’s voice is in the background. Jealousy washes over me.

“I’m back. I’m gonna get off here though, run some errands and take a nap before I leave. Recital’s at five, right? I’ll be at your place by three-thirty. Damn, I can’t wait to see you.”

“Is Lindsay there?” The words are out before I can stop them.

“Uhh… yeah. She just showed up.”

“Oh.” All the anticipation I was feeling disappears. I can’t stand her and he knows it. But still, he keeps her in his life.

He chooses her when he should be choosing me.

Jax bursts through the door, hands filled with platters of cookies. “Just call me Sugar Daddy, sweetheart, because I’ve got all the sugar you need.” His eyebrows wag, and I snort out a giggle.

“Is that Jax?” Chase’s voice cuts through the line.

“Yeah, of course it is. He just got back with the refreshments for tonight.”

“How nice that you have him to help,” he says, dryly.

Irritation slams into me. “Yep. You have Lindsay, and I have Jax. Havin’ friends is the best, ain’t it?”

“That’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair is you bein’ glued to a girl that I’ve told you repeatedly makes me uncomfortable.”

“And I’ve told you there’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“You haven’t told me anything, other than she’s in a bad place and ‘needs’ you.”

“She does.”

“Well, so do I, Chase.” I rub my forehead. I’m so tired of having this same conversation. “Listen, I don’t wanna fight. I’ll just see you when you get here. I’m really lookin’ forward to our night together.”

“I don’t want to fight either, baby. All I want is to show you all the ways I can love you. And I do, you know? I f*****g love you.”

I try to trust in what he says, but it’s no consolation. His words are just that. Words.

I push away my irritation and finish getting ready. Chase is supposed to meet me at my house so we can ride to the rec hall together. But when three-thirty comes and goes with no Chase in sight, I give up and hitch a ride with Jax.

I’m backstage with the director and my girls, trying to pump them up. It’s fifteen minutes until showtime, and still no word from Chase. I peek around the curtains and see Jax in the front row. I give him a small wave before scanning the empty seats around him. Still nothing. The disappointment settles into my bones. I don’t see my folks either, which is strange. I slip my phone out of my pocket one more time, checking for a call, a text, something. It rings in my hand.

Unknown.

I excuse myself from backstage quickly, hoping it’s Chase.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Is this Alina Carson?”

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“Ms. Carson, my name is Judy Davis. I’m a nurse at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.”

A foreboding tingle creeps up my spine, making me stand up straight. “Okay… how can I help you?”