To make matters worse, I only have three days to learn the routines that these girls have been performing for months. Jordan pushes me so hard that my limbs feel like jelly by the time I get home every night. Reed makes fun of me because every time we talk on the phone, I’m icing a different part of my body. Steve thinks it’s great, though. He keeps telling me how proud he is to see me throwing myself into this extracurricular stuff.

If he knew the real reason I was working so hard, he’d probably have a heart attack.

On Friday morning, we have our last official practice before tonight’s game. One of the girls—Hailey—pulls me aside when we’re done and whispers, “You’re such an amazing dancer. I hope you stay on the team after Layla gets better.”

The compliment makes me blush with pride—on the inside. On the surface, I answer with a careless shrug. “I doubt it. I don’t think Jordan can stand to be around me any more than absolutely necessary.”

“Well, Jordan’s an idiot,” Hailey murmurs with a grin.

I try to stifle a snort, but it ends up popping out anyway. The sound draws frowns from Rachel Cohen and Shea Montgomery, Savannah’s older sister.

“What are you two whispering about?” Shea asks suspiciously.

Hailey just smiles and says, “Nothing.”

Okay, I like this girl. She’s not Val, but she’s cooler than I thought. So are most of the other girls. These past three days I’ve learned that Jordan’s mean-girl control only really applies to Shea, Rachel, and Abby, Reed’s ex-girlfriend. Abby’s not on the team, thankfully, but she comes by to watch the practices sometimes, which is super uncomfortable.

I don’t like Abby, and not just because she’s Reed’s ex. The girl is too passive. She walks around like the eternal victim, wearing this sad doe-eyed look and talking in a soft whisper. Sometimes I think it’s all an act and that deep down she’s got claws to rival Jordan’s.

In the center of the blue mats strewn on the floor, Jordan claps her hands, the loud sound bouncing off the gym walls. “The bus leaves at five,” she announces. “If you’re late, we leave without you.” She gives me a pointed look.

Ha. Like I’m going to be late. I plan on being there early just to make sure the bus doesn’t zoom away without me on it. I’m kind of worried that this sudden show of niceness on Jordan’s part isn’t real, that she doesn’t want a favor from me at all and is planning some horrible humiliation for tonight.

I’m going to take my chances, though. With the way Steve is constantly keeping tabs on me, this is my only opportunity to be alone with Reed.

“I’ll see you later,” Hailey tells me as we walk out of the girls’ locker room ten minutes later.

I wave goodbye and head outside to the parking lot, where Reed is waiting beside my car. His SUV is parked in the next space. I wish I was still living with the Royals and we were driving home together, but I’ll take whatever stolen moments with him that I can get.

He pulls me into his arms the moment I approach. “You looked so hot out there,” he rasps in my ear. “I love those little dance shorts.”

A shiver shimmies up my spine. “You looked hot, too.”

“Liar. You didn’t even look my way once. Jordan was standing over you like a drill sergeant.”

“I was looking at you in spirit,” I answer solemnly.

He snickers, then bends down to kiss me. “I still can’t believe Steve is letting you stay overnight.”

“Me neither,” I admit. A pang of worry hits me. “What did you tell Callum about where you’re staying tonight? He doesn’t suspect you’ll be at the hotel, right?”

“If he does, he hasn’t said anything.” Reed shrugs. “I told him East and I are crashing at Wade’s. That we don’t want to drive home drunk because we’ll probably be pounding booze at the after party.”

I frown. “He’s actually cool with you going out drinking? After that whole speech about keeping your nose clean?”

Another shrug. “As long as I'm not fighting, I don’t think he cares what I do. Look, about the sex thing—”

I give him an irritated look. “You said you were waiting until I was ready. Well, I’m ready. The only way we’re not having sex is if you don’t want it.”

He returns my irritated stare with a frustrated one. “You know I’m dying for it.”

“Great. We’re on the same page.” I push up on my tiptoes and give him a cheery kiss.

Reed’s arm tightens around me and then I feel the tension leave him in a rush. He’s on board. Oh, thank God. I was expecting him to put up more of a fight, try to be all honorable again.

My fake cheeriness morphs into real delight. “I’ve gotta go. Steve wants us to have an early dinner before the bus leaves.”

Reed smacks my butt as I walk around the side of the car. “I’ll see you later,” he calls out.

I turn to smile at him. “You know it.”

* * *

The football game is in a town called Gibson, a two-hour drive from Bayview. I was really hoping I’d get to drive up with Val, but as Jordan not-so-nicely told me, “The dance team travels together—no exceptions.” So Val’s driving my car while I bus it with the team.

But even though I was dreading being stuck on a bus for two hours with Jordan and her cronies, the ride ends up being surprisingly fun.

“I still can’t believe you were actually a stripper,” Hailey says from the window seat. She insisted that we sit together, and I didn’t put up much of a fight. “I can’t imagine taking off all my clothes in front of strangers. I’m too shy.”

My cheeks grow hot. “I didn’t take it all off. The club where I worked wasn’t a full-nudity place. Just a G-string and pasties.”

“Still. I’d be way too self-conscious. Was it fun?”

Not at all. “It wasn’t terrible. The money was decent and the tips were great.”

Jordan makes a derisive sound from across the aisle. “Yeah, I’m sure all those dollar bills stuffed down your panties added up to, what, twenty whole dollars?”

I bristle. “Twenty bucks is a lot of money when you’re working to support yourself,” I shoot back.