Page 274 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“Adversaries sometimes make the best of friends.”

“We’re not adversaries,” she contested, drying her hands and unlocking the deadbolt on the bathroom door. “We’re not anything.”

Out the door and, I presumed, back to her seat, she left me there in the bathroom with absolutely nothing gained from our conversation other than determination.

She didn’t want to be adversaries, friends, lovers…anything?

Sure sounds like a challenge to me…

God, I fucking loved a good challenge.

As Kinky Boots ended on a more than perfect note, leaving the crowd tingly with happy thoughts, positive vibes, and hundreds of smiles, all a mile wide, I’d be a liar if I said it was awful. Despite the fact that Kinky Boots had led to an in-person meet-and-greet—and a side of bathroom stalking—with Scott fucking Shepard, the notes of friendship, adversity, and wacky fashion all won me over piece by piece. And, when I stopped feeling bitchy long enough to admit the truth, one thing was obvious: hands-down, it was one of the best Broadway shows I’d ever seen.

And let’s face it, I’d seen a lot of Broadway over the past fifteen or so odd years.

Cyndi Lauper had created something magical with the musical genius she had injected into the show. It definitely had something, and I had a feeling my dad would be dragging me back to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre for another showing.

The crowd’s applause, already a steady, rolling roar, increased ten-fold as the performers made their way back to the stage to take a bow. My dad hopped to his feet and wolf-whistled as the main cast members stepped out of the line and to the front of the stage. “Bravo! Bravo!”

I wouldn’t be surprised if, when the house lights came up, I found a few fresh tear tracks on his face.

His enthusiasm urged a soft smile to my lips and made me grateful to the cast for making such an impact.

Broadway and Bill Paige. A match made in musical heaven. I often wondered if he had a past life as a performer.

“Wow,” he said between claps as the cast took their final bows on stage. “What a great show.” He glanced at me out of his periphery, just in case the actors made some last-minute enchanted statement. “Wasn’t it fantastic, Low?”

“It was.” I nodded, struggling to swipe the amused grin off my lips. “Kinky Boots was perfection.” Bill Paige is perfection. Really, I had the best dad.

“It really was,” Nicole added with awe in her voice, briefly reminding me of the person I’d been pretending I’d forgotten.

Whatever her devil spawn of a son’s name is.

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen a Broadway show, but wow, I need to change that. I’m missing out.”

“You are,” my dad agreed and gently grinned in her direction. “It’s one of the perks of living near the city, Nicole.”

“See?” She nudged Scott—ugh—with her elbow. “You should take your mother to Broadway shows more often.”

Scott smirked and glanced around the theater dramatically. “Oh, shit. I thought that was what I was doing. Where am I? Am I hallucinating?”

“Smartass,” she muttered on a laugh. “I mean, you need to do it more. Not just once every few years.”

“Whenever I can fit it into my call schedule, I’ll take you, Mom,” he said, and she groaned.

“Ugh. So, basically, once every few years, then?”

Scott grinned. “Boy, you’ve gotten grumpy in your old age.”

“I’m not old!” She smacked his shoulder, glancing briefly to my father with rosy cheeks. Scott laughed.

My dad cleared his throat and wrapped his arm around Nicole’s shoulder.

Damn. Bill’s got game.

“Consider it a standing offer. Anytime you want to go to a show, I’ll gladly escort you.”

“Okay.” She smiled at him, and he smiled back at her and—Jesus Christ, these two were doing a lot of smiling.