Page 68 of Dancing on Air

“I’m so sorry,” he said when she answered.

“Don’t be,” she replied. “She’s your mother.”

“She’s done this before. Normally she’s only here a night or two.”

“Then it won’t be long until we move my things over there. I miss you.”

“I miss you too.” He smiled and sat on the edge of his bed. “Practice can’t come soon enough so I can see you again.”

She chuckled. “Practice starts at seven in the morning.”

“I know.” He leaned back on the bed. “Get some rest. I’m beat and I don’t even have to dance tomorrow.”

“I will.” She sighed. “Max?”

He waited a heartbeat, wishing she would tell him that she loved him. He wanted, needed, to hear it from her. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t told her yet himself.

“Goodnight,” she finished and quickly hung up.

Shit. He should have said it. He should have told her back at the resort. They’re had been plenty of time. Why hadn’t he?

Then he heard his mother on the phone in the next room arguing, no doubt with his father, and he knew the answer. Fear.

Fear that what he and Cora had would somehow morph into what his parents had.

Deciding he was done dealing with his mother for the night, he undressed, shut off the lights, and crawled into bed.

The next morning, he stood by his father as he yelled at Cora and Reece. What his dad was doing there was beyond him. Max was in charge, not him. Yet his father had arrived at the center shortly after he had and had basically taken over the practice.

Outfits were wrong. All of the dancer’s stage entrances were wrong or slow. Even the music was wrong.

But hearing his father tell Cora that she was being lazy, that was the last straw.

“Dad,” he barked. “My office. Now!” He didn’t even wait for his father to respond. Instead, he turned and marched out of the room, yelling behind him. “Keep practicing. Start at the top,” he told everyone standing around.

When his father entered the office, Max slammed the door behind him.

“What in the hell is this?” he asked, trying to keep his voice down.

“You’ve made a total mess of everything. There’s so much for me to do and only a week left to fix everything,” his father said, his face growing red.

“Out,” Max said softly. “I get that you are pissed at Mom, but don’t take it out on those people out there. They’ve worked hard over the past few months to get where we are. I won’t let you destroy their confidence or state of mind.” His father seemed to deflate slightly. “Go. Work things out with Mom or not, but get out of here.” He motioned towards the door.

Max watched an array of emotions cross his father’s face before he turned and left without another word. Taking a moment to reset, Max stepped out and focused on getting everyone back on track.

When he called lunch, most everyone took that time to break in new shoes or make phone calls while they nibbled on a salad or some fruit.

He pulled Cora into his office and vented about his parents while she patiently listened. Just before he was done, he realized just who he was talking to and what her own parents were like.

“Shit,” he said, running his hands through his hair. “I’ve been going on like a chump this entire time about how spoiled my parents are, not once thinking about yours.” He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

“Hey.” Cora’s arms wrapped around his waist. “You have to deal with your parents. Mine are out of my life. The last time I saw my dad was the day JT and I went back to the house that I barely grew up in to get some of my things. My mother…” He felt her shiver. “She’s been committed. I have it easy. You have to see and talk to your parents daily.”

He held onto her and then kissed her. “I’m sorry for unloading all this baggage on you.”

“It’s what people do when they’re in a relationship. Right?” She smiled up at him.

He cupped her face gently and kissed her. “I don’t deserve you.”