And I knew exactly how I was going to do it. But I was going to need help.
Lilly
"GOD, I FEEL like I have to pee again."
I cut a look at Eliza as she hopped from foot to foot, her hands holding her belly. She looked about ready to pop.
"Then go pee," I told her. "I don't know why you're back here anyway. You have a nice, comfortable seat in the audience."
She shrugged her shoulders and continued her pregnant pee dance. "The show hasn't even started yet, and I've never been back stage before. I was curious. Isn't this where all the action's supposed to happen?"
I giggled and turned fully to face my best friend. "It's the Spring Showcase, Eliza. Not a Broadway production. These are just kids, it's not like there'll be much action."
I could have sworn I heard her mutter, "You never know," under her breath, but before I could question it, Ethan came hustling up to us. "Did I miss it?"
"Not yet," Eliza answered, turning her head so he could place a kiss on her lips.
"Miss what?" I asked in completely bewilderment. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Nothing!" Ethan grinned widely before changing the subject. "Did Eliza tell you the good news?"
"What good news?"
"We're moving back!" she squeaked excitedly, clapping her hands together.
My mouth dropped open and my eyes nearly bugged out of my head. "What? When? How?"
"Ethan's retiring."
I looked up at him, surprised to see he didn't look upset about it in the least. "But … you're only like, thirty!"
He shrugged like it was no big deal. "Yeah, but my knee hasn't been the same since the injury."
I gave him a skeptical look. "You just won the Super Bowl. I'd say your knee's doing pretty damn good."
"Yeah, but better to get out while I'm on top, right?" His hand traveled down to his wife's belly. "Plus, when this little guy-"
"Or girl!" Eliza jumped in.
"Comes along, we want to raise him, or her, here around family. It's already a done deal. And Noah hooked me up with a coaching job at the high school."
I would have worried he wasn't happy - football had been his dream since he was a kid - but he looked so damn excited at the thought of starting his family here in Pembrooke, that I couldn't help but feel overjoyed.
"So, I'm getting my best friend back, full time?"
"Yes!" Eliza yelped.
We both squealed and hugged each other tightly. The past several months had been so depressing that getting news like this filled me with a much-needed warmth.
"What's happening?" Kyle asked as he and Samantha came rushing our way. "Did we miss it?"
What the hell was wrong with everyone? "What are you guys talking about? What's there to miss?" Each of them gave me a different brand of a secretive smile, and I could have sworn they'd been huffing fumes. Was everyone around me losing their minds?
"Hi, honey."
I spun around, my forehead wrinkling in confusion. "Mom? What are you doing back here?"
She waved me off. "Oh, I just wanted to come and wish you luck."
I looked around the group of people surrounding me. "Seriously, what's up with everyone? The show's starting in fifteen minutes. You two," I pointed at Kyle and Samantha, "should be getting the kids ready. And you guys," I waved my hand at Mom, Eliza, and Ethan, "should be in your seats."
"The kids are ready and raring to go," Kyle said, giving me a wink. No one moved from our little huddle.
I opened my mouth to speak up when a familiar little voice shouted out, "Miss Lilly!"
My head whipped around and down as Sophia came rushing at me, wrapping her arms and me and squeezing tight. "Hey, Little Miss," I smiled down at her. "What are you doing? You should be getting ready."
She looked at me with that beaming smile I loved so much. "I got a surprise!"
I hefted her up and rested her on my hip. "Yeah? I love surprises. What is it?"
"Look!" she shouted, pointing in the direction of the stairs at the side of the stage that led down into the already packed auditorium. All the air rushed from my lungs as Quinn made his way toward us. He wore another suit that only accentuated his perfect body and in his right hand was a massive bouquet of the most perfect red roses.
Seeing him walking in my direction was a massive blow to my system. Sure, it had been impossible to completely evade him in such a small town, especially with me being his daughter's dance teacher. But I'd done everything I could the past few months to avoid eye contact, and we hadn't spoken a word to each other since my meltdown after my father's funeral.