Page 38 of Grunt: A Marine Romance

“What?” Elizabeth blurted. She dropped to Selena’s side and looked like she was gonna faint. “You finaled last year? Are you insane?” she asked.

Selena took a big breath. “Dima and I had been fighting, like, every day during practice. He actually flew up to San Francisco and said we should get back together and get married so it would look good to the judges! I told him after Blackpool we could see if we could reconnect as a couple. Maybe take a break after this season.” Elizabeth sucked in her breath. “But he totally flipped out. Dima wants everything his way. He said he never wanted to have children ever. So I told him that I would never get back together with him and the next day he called and ended our partnership.”

Jenny pounded the couch with a wicked fist, even though she already knew that Dima and Selena were broken up. “I told you that he never wanted to settle down. This stress of living under the spotlight is killing our souls.”

Elizabeth grabbed Selena by the shoulders, half hugging her and half shaking her. “Don’t worry, hun. Dima’s just stressed out. Once this season is over, you guys can work this out. Everything will be okay.”

Selena looked at Elizabeth, her eyes clearly questioning. She nodded and hugged her, but inside she felt like crap. She wanted to tell her that she didn’t want Dima back—that she was already planning her life with Bret. But she was afraid it would leak to the press. She felt comfort knowing that Jenny would never tell anyone that she was with Bret.

Sitting up, Selena wiped her eyes and gave her friends a weak smile. She joined in on a group hug, and then walked out of the lounge. Bret waited for her by the door.

“Sorry, Sel,” he said. “Dima’s just such a jerk. He had it coming.” He leaned in to kiss her.

“No.” She leaned away. “Not like this. I want this to be right. We need to wait until the season is over or Dima is kicked off. I don’t want to cause a tabloid scandal. Don’t worry, it’ll be worth it.” She kissed his cheek and walked away, leaving Bret standing at the doorway to the woman’s bathroom, alone, Selena’s head spinning.

Jenny was right. Everything had changed. Here she’d spent ten years pushing Bret out of her mind and now she thought about him every second, and Dima had resorted to acting like a self-righteous tyrant. It was crazy. Way crazy.

Eric walked over to Selena and handed her a bottle of FIJI water. “Hey girl, everything alright in there? I just got everyone in the studio to calm down. Dima and Bret aren’t talking but they’re not beating on each other anymore, thank God, so at least we can get moving again.”

Selena swore she could kiss the man. She took a big gulp of water instead. “Thanks, Eric. Seriously. I was just shaken up but it’s all good.”

Eric snapped his fingers and pointed two finger guns at Selena. “Anything for the best choreographer in the world.”

“Aww. You’re so sweet.” Selena couldn’t resist. She had to tell Eric that she saw him in San Francisco. “Hey Eric. I know this is absolutely none of my business and you don’t have to tell me anything, but I saw you in San Francisco. At the airport.” She nodded her head, trying to get a reaction out of him. “With your student?”

Eric didn’t even flinch. “Oh that. It was nothing. We were just goofing around.” He winked and sauntered away. “Eh, yo, Mickey, kick them strobe lights on, will ya? And gimme some Rob Base. We got some dancin’ ta do!”

Maybe Selena had overreacted. Ballroom dancers were overly affectionate with each other. She had probably just been so stressed about Dima that she read something into that kiss that wasn’t there. Well, she hoped so, for Nicole and their baby’s sake.

Selena glanced at Bret across the room. He winked at her, then mouthed, “I love you.” Then the strobes kicked in and the room exploded in old school base.

Everything had changed. But instead of feeling happy, Selena’s gut wrenched. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Dima and Bret’s fight was only a precursor of the drama to come.