Page 57 of Two-Step
“Keep dancing,” he instructs. “You were doing great.”
I start dancing, but then look down. “I was?”
And then I wallop him again.
Beau pinches his eyes shut.
“Oh God,” I mutter.
Eyes still closed tight, he gives a taut shake of his head. “No, no. It’s fine. What’s a few bruises?”
“OhGod.”
He clears his throat and shakes like a dog after a bath. “We were onto something,” he says, eyes on me again. Beau sets his hands on my shoulders, and I stop moving.
“What? What were we onto?”
“You. Not thinking.” He reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone. “Let’s start over. This time don’t think.”
The music restarts, and I’m immediately off on the wrong foot, but at least I don’t knee him.
“It’s okay. Keep going.”
I botch it again. If someone were filming this, it would be the world’s longest blooper reel.
“Are you thinking about your steps?” Beau asks, a touch of accusation in his tone.
“What else am I supposed to think about?” I try to throw my hands up, but I only manage the one at his waist. The other’s trapped in his hand, and he isn’t letting go.
“Don’t think about anything,” he says, dark brows drawing together.
I look at him like he’s crazy. “I have to think aboutsomething.”
“You can’t just clear your mind?”
My eyes nearly fall out. “Are youserious?”
His face clears, and his lips shape into a smile. “Yes. I know exactly what the problem is,” he mutters.
The way he’s looking at me makes me nervous. Well, more nervous. “What’s the problem?”
Intrigue sparks in his gaze. “You’re stuck in your head.”
“I thought we established that,” I say, no less confused.
Beau shakes his head, looking pleased with himself. “No, you’re completely stuck in your head, which means you’re out of touch with your body.”
I want to shake my head in denial because I’mconstantlythinking about my body—if my butt looks fat, if my belly is too big, if my clothes look too tight—but I don’t say this.
“How can I be out of touch with something I’m stuck inside?” I blurt.
It’s only after Beau’s face flashes with shock that I hear myself.
Stuck?
“Stuck?Why would you say it like that?”
WhywouldI say it like that?
