Tutus & Cowboy Boots (Part 2) (9 page)

I pause. “I’d like to join a company or
attend college to pursue a degree in dance.”

“I’d like to talk to you more about what we
have to offer, and maybe schedule a tour for you. How does that
sound?”

“That sounds great,” I say as she hands me
her card before shaking my hand.

As soon as she’s gone, Jade squeals with
excitement and I shush her. She covers her mouth to contain her
excitement.

“That’s awesome, Cadence!” she says as she
pulls me in for a hug and begins to jump up and down.

As we walk back to the dressing room, Jade
is talking a mile a minute. I don’t really hear what she’s saying
as my head is spinning with the thoughts of moving to Boston. The
Boston Conservatory is amazing and I would be crazy not to check it
out, but it’s in Boston and everyone I love is here. I consider
texting Lauren to tell her about the competition and the recruiter
but I decide to celebrate with my team instead.

Barrick

I wanted to surprise Cadence by coming to
see her, but I didn’t want her to know until after she performed. I
didn’t want to throw off her focus, but I wanted to see her in her
element. Glancing at the stage door, I’m unable to sit still any
longer, so I stand and prop myself against the wall. I know she has
to be coming out soon.

I see Regina and Ms. Mae and give them a
wave, and that’s when I see Jade exiting the door with Cadence
right behind her. Jade and Cadence spot me and I push off of the
wall and walk toward them with a bouquet of flowers in my hand.

“You came,” Cadence whispers as I stop in
front of her.

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Oh thanks, Bare!” Jade says, taking the
flowers from my hands.

I give her a dirty look. “These aren’t
yours,” I say, handing them to Cadence.

“Well dang,” she says with a laugh. “I’m
going to go see if Mom loves me,” she says as she walks to where
Mom is sitting.

“They’re beautiful,” Cadence says as she
reaches around and gives me a hug. “Come on,” she says, pulling me
out the side door into the fresh air.

The sun is bright and a warm breeze engulfs
us. As I look at Cadence everything feels perfect.

“What’s that smile for?” she says, looking
at me with her head tilted to the left side.

“Everything,” I say as she looks at me with
confusion. “Watching you on stage, seeing your face when you
realized I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, and being right
here in the moment.”

She smiles as she wraps her arms around my
neck. “I think I really like you, Barrick Carpenter.”

I let out a laugh because I think it’s a
little more. Bending down I pick her up off the ground and spin her
around. “I think I really like you too,” I say as I kiss her
gently. “You better get back in there. Awards are being announced
soon,” I say.

She shakes her head. “I can’t believe you
know so much about this dance stuff.”

“That’s what being a dance bro is all
about,” I say with a wink as she takes a step back, flowers in
hand, and goes back inside to take her place on the stage for
awards.

I sit down beside my mom and she grins while
getting her pen ready to write down all the scores. We listen as
they go through all of the age categories, giving anything from
gold to double platinum. They have yet to give out a crystal, but
no sooner do I think it, one is given out. I’ve learned over the
years to pay attention to the total number of double platinums and
crystals given. Those will be the overall winners. As Cadence and
Jade’s age division is announced, I look for them on the stage and
then at Mom, who is patiently waiting to write down the scores.

When they get to number sixty-five, I glance
at Mom and then the stage. “Number sixty-five is awarded a…
crystal,” the announcer states. We clap, yell, and holler at them
as they take the crystal in their hands with excitement written all
over their faces.

Once all of the individual
scores are given out, the overalls begin. It doesn’t take long for
me to realize they are in the top two. Looking at both of them on
stage, I’m a proud brother and boyfriend.
I think boyfriend is the right word.
That’s something we’re going to have to clear up.

When the awards ceremony is over, Ms.
Lyndsay takes the stage with them and they take pictures with her,
the other teammates, and family.

“Barrick! Did you see my Cade up there?” Ms.
Mae asks as we make our way out of the auditorium.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say as I’m attacked by
Cadence. “Hey beautiful,” I say as she smiles brightly. “Y’all did
it!”

“Yes we did. Gran what did you think?” she
questions.

“That music was different. I sure didn’t
expect some of those moves. Do you think you can teach your Gran a
thing or two? I need a few new moves for The Loft,” she says while
shuffling her feet.

“I’m sure I could,” Cadence says with a
laugh.

We all exit the auditorium, and enjoy a meal
together before calling it a night. Tomorrow will be another day
filled with dance, but it’s teams instead of individuals. I hate
that I’ll have to miss it, but I’ve got too much to do at Ms.
Mae’s. I give Cadence a kiss and wish her and Jade good luck for
tomorrow before I leave for the night.

Chapter 14

Cadence

Saturday morning I wake to the sound of my
alarm. Thankfully we have a later arrival time for today and I was
able to sleep in a little this morning, but I still have a few
things to do before we leave again.

Mom and Gran aren’t in the kitchen and I can
only assume they are at the barn. I look out the window and see
that Barrick is already here so I throw on some clothes, slide on
my galoshes and pour Barrick a cup of sweet tea before making my
way toward the barn.

As I get ready to open the barn door, Mom
and Gran walk out.

“Good gracious, girl. I didn’t think we’d
see you out here this morning,” Gran says as she places her hand
over her heart and I giggle.

“Well, the work’s not going to get done if
I’m sleeping,” I say with a wink. They head to the house and I go
in to check on Daisy and Barrick.

Barrick is milking a set of cows so he
doesn’t see me when I walk in. He’s in his own little world so I
decide to watch him for a moment. Taking a step toward the milking
station, I catch his eye.

“Mornin’ beautiful,” he says with a smile as
he continues to work.

“Morning,” I chirp while taking a seat on
the stool near him. “Thought you might be thirsty,” I say as I set
the tea on a shelf.

“Thanks,” he says as he finishes up. When I
help him take the cows to the field, I see Daisy is in a stall at
the end of the barn.

“What is she doing in here?” I ask.

“Just keeping an eye on her this morning.
Got to check her after a while.”

I shiver. “Can that wait until I leave?”

“Of course,” he says as he goes to get his
tea. As he lifts the glass and takes a big gulp, I can’t help but
stare. He’s hot. When he lowers the glass from his lips, he looks
up and catches me staring.

“You want some?” he asks with a grin.

“Nah, I’m going to go check on Daisy,” I say
with a smirk as I walk away. I tell Daisy how great we did
yesterday as she looks at me intently and takes it all in. I let
her know I won’t see her again until tomorrow, but Barrick will be
here. “No worries, I’ve got her,” he says as he stands beside
me.

We stand with Daisy a few minutes and then
Barrick gets quiet. I look at him. “What’s up?” I ask.

“So yesterday, I had this thought and I
wasn’t sure of the answer.”

“Okaaaay?”

“I was so proud of you and Jade. I mean, who
wouldn’t have been?”

“Thanks, Barrick but what is your question?
Just spit it out.”

“What are we?”

“What do you want us to be?” I banter back
to him with my hand on my hip.

“Cadence, will you be my girlfriend?” he
blurts out sweetly and his cheeks flush pink.

“Why Barrick Carpenter, I’d be honored,” I
say as I hug him and kiss him gently as Daisy moos in approval.

We both break apart and laugh at her
gesture. Who would have thought I’d enjoy sharing this moment with
a freaking cow?

Barrick

After Cadence, Ms. Mae, and
Regina leave for Showstopper’s, I text Jade to wish her good luck
and then spend the rest of the morning working on the farm. I’m
counting down the hours until they are home. I can’t wait to see my
girl and hear how they did.
My girl, I
like the sound of that.
They don’t have to
compete tomorrow so I hope they are home in time to go to The Loft.
I think they both could use a night off.

After lunch, I take a break and text Cadence
to see how their groups performed, but I don’t hear anything. I
text my mom and she replies within minutes that they are doing
great, and hopes that they will be home by ten.

When I have nothing left to do at the farm,
I head home, shower, and decide to ride to Aaron’s.

“Hey! What you up to?” I ask as I see him
walking toward his truck.

“I was ‘bout to go fishin’. Wanna go?” he
asks.

“Heck yeah,” I say as I take a seat in his
truck and we make our way to the pond.

We stop at the gas station for a carton of
worms, something to drink, and a grilled cheese from the grill.

When we get to the pond, we take our things
and set up on the bank. Within a few minutes we have a bite or two,
but no takers. We sit quietly and enjoy the peacefulness around us.
Suddenly, my phone starts to chirp. It’s a text from Cadence.

Cadence: Hey boyfriend! Hip hop killed it!
Double platinum!

I shake my head as I envision Cadence’s body
moving to that music because I know what that routine entails, and
I don’t know if I could handle it.

Me: Awesome! What about large group?

Cadence: That’s not until later tonight
& they’re behind schedule. What you doing?

Me: Fishing with Aaron

Cadence: I’ve never been fishing.

Me: We’re going to have to fix that. Now go
knock ‘em dead!

I put my phone in my pocket and Aaron gives
me a goofy look.

“What?”

“You got it bad,” he says, shaking his
head.

“And you don’t?”

“Good point,” he admits.

“So you want to go to The Loft tonight?”

“Sure. I have a feeling they’re going to be
late tonight,” he says as he casts his line back into the
water.

Aaron and I don’t catch a dang thing so we
head back to his house for dinner. We clean up and then make a
frozen pizza before leaving for The Loft.

The parking lot is already packed when we
pull in. I send Cadence a quick text to let her know what’s going
on and wish her luck one more time.

“Put that dang thing away,” Aaron says.
“I’ve never seen you so attached to that thing.”

“Shut up!” I say as we walk in, but he’s
telling the truth. I couldn’t have cared less if I had a phone
before, but now I catch myself checking my texts and her Twitter
and Instagram accounts for updates.

Aaron and I see an open
pool table and hit it up. Within another twenty minutes a few other
guys arrive and hang out with us as the girls start to wander over.
I don’t give them the time of day, but one can’t take the hint.
Aaron, on the other hand, talks to everyone, and I’m keeping my
eyes on him. He better not do anything to hurt my sister. When one
starts to get a little too close to him, he takes a step
back.
Good boy
. He
looks my way and politely tells her he’s not single and introduces
her to Kyle.

“Dang, those girls can’t take a hint, can
they?” he questions as he hits the last striped ball into the
pocket.

“Nope. I think once they know you’re taken
they try harder.”

“It seems that way for sure,” he says as we
reset the table for the next group and then make our way to his
truck.

It’s almost eleven when we get back to his
house and I haven’t heard from anyone. I hop in my truck and head
home. Once I throw on some athletic shorts and a t-shirt, I call
Mom and she lets me know they are on the way home. Then I text
Cadence to let her know I can’t wait to hear all about the
competition and to call me when she gets home.

I sit and watch the latest
episode of
Driven TV
while I wait for them and yell that I’m in the living room
when I hear the door open.

A set of hands covers my
eyes and I hear, “Guess who?” whispered in my ear.
Cadence.

“Mom?” I say.

“Really?” she says, removing her hands and
looking around at me like I’m crazy.

“Nah, I knew it was you,” I say as I grab
her and pull her over the couch as she begins to giggle
uncontrollably.

“Okay, you two,” Jade says, taking a seat
across from us.

I give Jade a dirty look and then look at
Cadence. “So how did you get to come over?” I question, realizing
this is the first time she’s ever stepped foot in my house.

“I told Gran and Mom I wanted to let you
know how we did,” she says.

“Well…”

“Let’s just say four double platinums and a
crystal make for a great weekend.”

“Awesome, so y’all are for sure going to
nationals.” She nods her head and I’m so proud of both of them as I
give Cadence a hug and then stand to do the same to Jade. I can
tell this season is going to be amazing for both of them.

Cadence, Jade, and I talk for a few more
minutes and then I take her home. I’m so glad my girlfriend came to
tell me in person; it made my night.

Chapter 15

Barrick

I’ve watched Cadence for the past three
weeks and I’m amazed at how she can keep going. It’s obvious she’s
exhausted from working on the farm, school, and dance, but it’s
almost as if she’s accustomed to it.