Destiny Disrupted (There's Always Tomorrow Book 1) (11 page)

Chapter 8

Vance pulls into the parking lot of Melina's dance studio that she co-owns with three of her friends. On the ride over, she tells him about how they all met at the Juilliard School for the Performing Arts. The four of them just clicked, and once they graduated, they decided to move to Los Angeles to open up a school together. They each have their own specialties. Melina mostly dances contemporary, but she also teaches Hip Hop and some Latin Ballroom.

Melina needs to work today, even though it’s Saturday, because one of her male students has an audition that he’s trying to get ready for, and she agreed to squeeze in some extra lessons to make sure he’s ready. She hops out of the car giving Vance a chaste kiss on the cheek, not wanting to get him riled up when she needs to get into the studio. They plan for him to pick her up on the way to his sister's house at four.

Just before four, Vance walks into the lobby of the studio and sees Melina's best friend, Harper, sitting behind the receptionist desk, reading a magazine. She looks up when she hears him walk in, giving him a sexy smile. The few times that he's been in Harper's presence, he's always felt a bit uncomfortable. She’s extremely flirtatious with him. Melina says that she likes to test any guy who’s with one of her friends to make sure he's not a cheater. He’s getting the feeling, though, that Harper's attention toward him is more than just a test.

“Hi there, Vance,” she purrs and stands up.

“Hey, Harper,” Vance says, giving her a nod and shoves his hands in his pockets.

Harper walks her sexy little dancer's body his way, stopping just in front of him. And when Vance says little, he means she is actually, physically tiny. She can only be about 5'2” max, and maybe weighs a buck. Soaking wet. She has long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and is absolutely gorgeous, but she does nothing for Vance.
Dayne
, he thinks. This little vixen would be perfect for Dayne. He would absolutely love this chick. She’s feisty and has a fire in her eyes that says she likes dirty wild sex. Exactly what Dayne’s into.

Vance can't help but smile. Harper brushes her hair over her shoulder and looks up at Vance. “What’s that smile about?” she asks curiously.

“I was just thinking how well you and my buddy, Dayne, would get along.” Vance chuckles.

“Oh yeah? Is he as fuckable as you?” Harper asks, biting the corner of her bottom lip.

“I have a feeling that you would definitely find him ‘fuckable.’ I'd even bet that he'd have you in his bed the same night he meets you.”

Harper's eyes flashed excitedly. “It's been a long time since that's happened, but he could try.”

Vance laughs. “Okay, so you want me to set you up?”

“Hell yeah,” Harper says, “Get my number from Melina. What’s his name again?”

“Dayne Propers,” Vance replies.

“Okay, you tell Dayne to call me,” Harper says, giving her sexy smile again. Dayne is gonna love her.

“I will,” Vance says, giving her a nod before heading down the hall to where the music is coming from.

Vance stops at a studio doorway and leans against the doorjamb. Melina has just started a song and is walking back over to the young guy waiting in the middle of the room. She looks beautiful, her long dark hair pulled back from her face.

The young guy with dark brown hair can only be maybe nineteen or twenty, but he’s built nicely from being a dancer. Melina gives the boy a nod and he gets into his opening position. He starts at a certain point in the song and just glides across the dance floor like he’s skating on ice or flying effortlessly. Vance is in awe. The kid doesn't look feminine at all; in fact, he’s a very masculine dancer, but he’s so graceful and powerful. It’s stunning to watch. Melina watches him with such pride on her face.

The song ends as does the kid’s dancing, and Vance starts clapping. Both of their heads whip around to look at him. Melina's face immediately lights up, and the kid actually blushes. Vance pushes off the doorjamb and walks toward them.

Vance gives Melina a quick kiss then turns to the dancer. “Man, that was amazing; seriously, I couldn't take my eyes off you.”

The kid is now bright red and unable to meet Vance's eyes. Vance glances at Melina, confused. “Bryan, this is my boyfriend, Vance. Vance this is Bryan Whitmore.”

“Nice to meet you, Bryan,” Vance says and sticks out his hand for a handshake.

Bryan gives him a very tentative handshake and a quiet, “You, too.”

“How long’ve you been dancing, my man?” Vance asks.

Bryan gives Vance a quick glance but keeps his eyes lowered when he speaks. “Four years,” he answers quietly.

“Wow, you've only been dancing for four years and you look like that? That's impressive.”

“Yeah, well, my dad and brothers think I'm gay…not impressive,” Bryan whispers.

Ah, Vance sees the problem now. Bryan doesn't have any support from the men in his life. He has the urge to take him under his wing and give him the support he needs.

“Are you gay?” Vance asks, no judgment in his voice.

Bryan's head shoots up to glare at him. “No, I'm not,” he says firmly.

“I don't give a shit either way.” Vance shrugs.

“Well, I'm not,” Bryan says, not as defensively this time.

“Okay, so you dance because you love it, right?” Vance asks. Melina excuses herself to go change her clothes, giving Vance and Bryan some privacy to talk.

“It's my passion.”

“What does your mother say?” Vance asks.

“She's proud of me, and she tries to get my dad and brothers to leave me alone, but they really like to hassle me about it. I'm to the point where I think about quitting dance just to get them to lay off.”

“No, don't you dare. You are way too good to stop now. Have they seen you dance?”

“No, they refuse, saying that they don't want to be embarrassed by me and my ‘gayness.’”

“Fuck, I don't even know them and I don't like them,” Vance grunts.

“Tell me about it. Try living with them.” Bryan snorts.

“Damn, no thanks. You can't move out?”

“I don't have the money.  I only work a minimum wage job. Half of the time, Melina won't even take my money; she wants me to save it,” Bryan says, his voice softening. The fondness he feels for Melina is clear in his voice.

Vance's heart melts a little more for his girlfriend. She’s so amazing. “Listen, Bryan. You seem like a really good kid, and I hate to see you being treated by your family like that. I have an idea, but I want you to talk it over with your mom before you give me an answer, okay?”

Bryan gives Vance a wary look. “Okay?”

“I know this is gonna sound a little weird because we just met, but if you want, you can move into the house I share with four of my friends. One of them is currently deployed, so you could stay in his room. It would be free of charge. If your mom wants to call and check me out, I'm a detective with the L.A.P.D. I just think you need to get out of that house. It sounds toxic.”

Bryan stares at Vance in shock. “Seriously? You would let me live with you for free?” he whispers.

“Sure, as long as you do your share around the house,” Vance says with a nod. “My buddies are cool, too. No judgment, I swear. I've known them my whole life.”

“They wouldn't mind me living there?” Bryan asks quietly.

“Nah, we've got the spare bedroom.. What’s one more dick in a house full of ‘em?” Vance smirks.

Bryan laughs, but his laughter turns into crying. Vance's heart breaks for the kid. He can't understand how a father doesn’t support his son no matter what. It’s just incomprehensible to him because his father is not like that at all. Vance puts his hand on Bryan's shoulder to try to comfort him, but is completely shocked when Bryan throws his arms around him.

Vance wraps his much bigger arms around Bryan and lets him cry into his chest. “Everything’s gonna be alright, I promise,” he murmurs.

After Bryan gets himself under control, he pulls away from Vance and wipes his eyes with his hands. “Now that was totally gay.” Bryan sniffs.

Vance laughs. “Yeah, not in my house; we cry and hug each other all of the time. It’s nice living with guys who don't give a shit how you show your feelings. Sometimes we’re just a bunch of pussies, but ultimately, we always have each other’s back.”

Bryan laughs and shakes his head in understanding.

“So, like I said, talk to your mom about it, okay?” Vance says, giving Bryan a brotherly pat on the back.

“I will, definitely.” Bryan nods.

“Good.” Vance smiles.

Vance tells Melina about his conversation with Bryan on the way to his sister's house. She actually cries and makes him pull over so she can kiss him. She’s so grateful for what he’s doing for Bryan. The poor kid needs some positive male role models in his life so badly, and Melina didn't know how to help him.

She’s in an extra good mood when they pull up at his sister's house. They get out of Vance's car and start up the walkway to the front door. Melina slips her hand into his and he smiles down at her as they walk. They only make it halfway up the walkway when the front door flies open and his nieces, Hailey and Olivia, come running out.

Vance lets go of Melina's hand and scoops the girls up as they dive into his arms screaming, “Uncle Van!”

Vance hugs them long and hard, giving them each multiple kisses and telling them how much he has missed them. After he puts them down, he sees that his sister, Mia, and brother-in-law, Landon, are introducing themselves to Melina, which she seems totally at ease with.

Mia is the female version of Vance, minus the muscle and facial hair. Well, she isn't 6'4”, either. She is tall for a woman, though, at 5'8”. And Mia has shoulder length blonde hair. But other than that, they can pass for twins.

Mia's husband, Landon, is a cool dude. Vance is glad that he got a great brother-in-law. Landon is a redhead - not a fiery red, but more of a light auburn. He is also very pale, and the butt of a lot of jokes. But he always laughs and even pokes fun at himself. Landon is a good man and definitely deserves to be with Vance's little sister.

Vance gives his sister a kiss and a hug next. Mia clings to his neck. “Vance, I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too, Mia,” Vance murmurs into her hair.

Mia releases his neck only to cup his face. “Are you doing okay?” she asks with a quiet concern.

“I'm fine, why?” Vance asks, brows furrowed.

“You look worn out and stressed,” Mia says gently.

“I’m working a really fucked up case right now. It’s definitely taking a toll,” Vance whispers so only Mia could hear him.

Mia frowns and gives him another hug then lets him go so he can say hi to Landon. Vance and Landon exchange a man-hug, which consists of a handshake and a shoulder bump. Mia herds them all into the house where Vance's brother, Xander, and his parents are.

He takes hold of Melina's hand as they walk into the house. Xander is sitting in the recliner looking stiff. Their mother is sitting on the couch with their father. Vance's parents shoot up when they see him and rush over to hug and kiss him.

“Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend, Melina. Melina, this is my mom, Maggie, and my dad, Val,” Vance introduces.

Melina shakes their hands. “Nice to meet you.”

“My lord you're gorgeous,” Maggie breathes, looking over Melina again.

Melina blushes. “Thank you.”

“Girlfriend, huh? I think it's been almost six years since you’ve brought any kind of woman to a family dinner.” Val smiles and winks at Melina, who smiles.

“Jesus Christ, can we not start this again? Xander has never brought a woman around and you don't nag him about it,” Vance complains.

“Oh, he's only twenty-one; he's got plenty of time to bring someone home,” Maggie dismisses with a wave of her hand.

“Yeah, you're twenty-eight and not getting any younger, son,” Val says and gives him a slap on the back.

Melina chuckles. Vance rolls his eyes and pushes past his parents to say hi to his brother. Melina stays and speaks with his parents.

Vance squats down next to the recliner. “Hey, Xan. How ya feeling?”

“Like shit. Broken ribs suck ass,” Xander grumbles.