When I didn't find her anywhere in the lobby area, I gave up my search and headed for the studio where Sophia's class was being held. Usually the kids were running around like they'd just executed a successful prison break at the end of class, but pushing through the door and stepping into the studio, I was taken aback to find that not only were they all sitting completely still, facing the wall of mirrors, but even the parents weren't moving, with smiles on their faces as they faced forward.
"Come on. Miss Lilly!" One of the girls cried. "Pleeeeeeeease?"
I watched in fascination as Lilly's face blushed an enticing shade of pink as her gaze darted to the ground and that dimple popped out with her shy smile. "Okay, okay," she started, holding her hands up as the kids started shouting. When they finally quieted down, she continued. "But only if Mr. Kyle is okay with it."
Something unpleasant twisted in my gut as the guy who taught some of the classes at Lilly's school walked over all cocky-like, a confident smirk on his face as he threw his arm around Lilly's shoulder. I was officially losing it, because I had a sudden urge to lunge and rip that goddamned arm off and beat him to death with it.
"I don't mind if you don't, sweetheart." He smiled brightly down at her. The fucker. The kids went crazy and the adults all chuckled quietly as Lilly moved from under Dick Head's arm and walked to the dock that held her iPhone.
Seconds later a song began to play and she and the douche moved to the very center of the room facing everyone. They began to move in sync to some punk who sounded like he hadn't even hit puberty yet as he sang about begging some chick to have mercy on him.
The longer the song played, the tighter my fists clenched at my side, until my knuckles turned white. And it only got worse when they moved, pressing their bodies flush against each other as she wrapped her lean arms around his neck and he grabbed hold of her hips and pulled him even closer.
Was everyone else blind? They were in front of a bunch of first and second graders, for Christ's sake! How did they not find this shit inappropriate?
Lilly finally moved away from him, and I started to breathe easier, until she executed some sort of jump through the air and he caught her, tossing her high before letting her slide down his body. I thought my head might explode. Just as my vision started growing red, the song ended and everyone in the room - except for me - burst into cheers.
Everybody acted like it was the most magnificent thing they'd ever seen. And although I couldn't deny that both of them were clearly talented, while everyone else celebrated them, I wanted to commit homicide. I told myself it was because they had no business dancing like that in front of impressionable children, but the truth was, I couldn't stand the sight of another man's hands on Lilly.
"Daddy!" Sophia came charging through the crowd of kids and parents. "Weren't they awesome?" she screeched, as she threw herself into my arms.
Before I had a chance to respond one of the soccer moms close by turned and spoke up. "They truly are amazing, aren't they? I'd kill to learn how to do the Argentine Tango."
Was that what they were doing? I thought they were just dry humping around the floor. "Amazing," I gritted out through a fake smile. "You ready to go, Angel?" I asked, turning back to my daughter and disregarding the woman next to me. She was obviously an idiot.
"I wanna say bye to Miss Lilly," she pouted. I was just about to tell her we didn't have time if she wanted to make it to her classmate's slumber party when Lilly's voice spoke up from beside us, causing every muscle in my body to tense up.
"Hey guys."
It had been a week, a fucking week since I'd last seen her. I'd been going out of my head picturing this very moment, but right then the best I could do was a quick glance over my shoulder. I couldn't look for too long or there was no telling what I'd do. I gave her my attention just long enough to notice that her chest was rising and falling, still somewhat out of breath from her dirty dance with the needle dick.
"You were so good, Miss Lilly! I can't wait until I can dance like you."
Yeah. Over my dead fucking body.
"Thanks, sweetie." She smiled sweetly and some of that anger knotting my gut untangled a bit, but not enough for it to matter. When her eyes hit mine, the sparkle dimmed slightly, and Christ, that hurt. She asked, "How are you, Quinn?" but I needed to get out of there before my head exploded. Nothing was going right. Anxiety mixed with an unhealthy dose of jealousy raged in my blood, and if I didn't leave, I was going to cause a scene.
"Come on, Soph," I stated in a flat tone. "We have to go."
"Okay," she answered sullenly. I caught a glance of Lilly's face, just enough to notice that I'd hurt her feelings again, but there was nothing to be done. If I stayed any longer the chances of me making the situation worse continued to grow. As I grabbed my daughter's hand and led her from the building without a backward glance, I hated myself just a little more.