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Of course, once everything had busted apart with Kenny, she hadn’t wanted to record the song She’d felt like a fool for ever believing in oneBut her label insisted it should be her first single And she knew they were right, that she couldn’t let Kenny and what he’d done reot fro every ounce of her heart and soul into it

But even though she’d hurdled that first huge bu a new one

She couldn’t stop thinking of Marcus every ti his face, couldn’t stop feeling his hands holding hers

And she couldn’t stop reeling froiven a thirty- back to put in another hour or so to try and pull it together She kne frustrated they all ith her She’d never planned on being a dancer, hadn’t trained at it like they had, but she’d always enjoyed ood moves over the years

Not that anyone would know it fro her today

Even Lori, her fun--and extrerapher seemed frustrated

The sound of Lori’s laughter drew Nicola’s attention across the room Earlier in the day, Lori had asked if she could invite her brother to observe for a bit Nicola had been a public figure for long enough that she wasn’t particularly concerned about oneher

She could see how much Lori adored her brother by the way she lit up while she was talking to hih and a wicked glint in her eyes

"Good news," Lori said as she walked back across the large dance studio with a s over now"

"Great," Nicola said, trying to sound enthusiastic despite ho she’d been feeling all day

But Lori ay too perceptive "Seriously, Nico, you should tell me if you don’t want him here I can see him later"

Nicola shook her head and forced herself to sly "I really don’tokay?"

"I know I’ve been sucking today Sorry about that"

Lori reached out and put her hand on Nicola’s arreat But you seeuess"

Nicola knew better than to talk to so with about her personal life, but Lori seemed different than most of the people Nicola worked with Nicer More honest, soh she should keep her ht"

Lori’s eyes widened "A hot guy?"