An idea struck Gramps, but he didn’t want to say anything to get her hopes up. “I’m sure you’ll find something that will work out perfectly for you,” he said a little lamely.
“I hope so. Anyway, my parents are good. It’s nice to be able to talk to them whenever I want and not have to lie about what’s going on in my life anymore. And I’m definitely glad they’re going to get out of town.”
“I’ll see what I can find out about what’s going on down in Jamaica and with Coke’s empire. Have some of the DEA guys put feelers out about whether you or your parents might be in danger. I still think it’s good for them to lie low for a while, but we know they can’t stay in Mexico visiting relatives forever.”
“Thank you,” Cassidy said fervently.
“The last thing you need is more bad shit in your life. I’ll do whatever I can to help make your life smooth from here on out. Tomorrow is Mario’s first dance class, right?” Gramps asked.
“Yeah. He’s over-the-moon excited about it. Molly helped me find the place. I guess it’s a multiuse gym. There’s gymnastics, dance classes, and even cheerleading lessons being given there. Tomorrow, Mario’s class is between tumbling and cheerleading.” Her voice lowered. “Thank you for paying for the first few classes for him. I never would’ve been able to afford it otherwise.”
“My pleasure. Mario deserves it, and I think it’ll be great for him to start hanging out with other kids,” Gramps said.
Cassidy sighed. “I know I need to let him go, but it’s been just the two of us against the world for so long.”
“You’re a good mom,” Gramps told her without hesitation. “He obviously adores you. It’ll take some time for you both to learn your new normal.”
“I know. I really am sorry that he keeps texting you with excuses for you to come over.”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be,” Gramps reassured her again.
“Leo! Mom! Come on!” Mario called from his room.
Cassidy chuckled. “I guess we’re late for tonight’s performance.”
“Guess so,” Gramps agreed. The urge to lean down and kiss her was intense, but he forced himself to drop his arms and gesture for her to go down the hall first. She smiled up at him before heading to her son’s room.
Sighing, Gramps wondered when he’d lost his touch. He’d never had a problem making sure a woman knew he wanted her. But Cassidy was different. Special. He didn’t want to fuck up, so he was moving at a snail’s pace. He knew she was worth it, though. Both she and Mario were worth anything.
“Leo’s here!” Mario exclaimed happily when they stepped outside their apartment the next day. He went running down the walkway and took the stairs two at a time. He threw himself into Leo’s arms, giving him a huge hug. Leo had been standing in front of his Nissan Frontier with his arms crossed, as if he’d been there awhile, waiting for them.
Cassidy walked down the stairs with more restraint than her son. She smiled as she approached. “What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t think I was gonna miss Mario’s first dance class, did you?” He held out his arms, and without thought, Cassidy walked into them. It felt natural to hug him. Not awkward at all.
“I was going to order an Uber,” she told him.
“And now you don’t have to,” he said smoothly.
Mario quickly hauled himself into the back seat before slamming the door.
“He’s a little excited,” Leo noted.
“Ya think?” Cassidy said wryly. Then she frowned. “I just hope he’s not intimidated by everyone. He has a lot of desire, but I’m not sure how much talent that may translate to in a classroom setting.”
“He’s going to be fine,” Leo told her, putting his hands on her hips and resting his forehead against hers. “We’ve been watching him dance for us every night for the last two weeks. His enthusiasm and attitude will carry him a lot further than just talent will.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so. Now come on—if we don’t get going, your son is going to have a coronary.”
Cassidy chuckled. “It took him forever to decide what to wear. And he was in the bathroom for at least an hour trying to get his hair perfect.”
“I’m guessing you should probably get used to that,” Leo said as he opened the door for her.
Cassidy rolled her eyes and climbed into the truck.
The ride to the gym was filled with Mario’s excited chatter as he talked about what dances he might learn and fretted over whether he was going to be good enough, since he’d never had any official lessons before.
Leo found a parking spot in the surprisingly full lot at the gym and turned to Mario. “Listen to me. Are you listening?”
Mario nodded.
“It’s likely that you aren’t going to be the best dancer, but after watching you perform every night for the last couple of weeks, I know you won’t be the worst either. Other kids might make fun of you, or you might be jealous of their skills. But what’s important is that you don’t give up and you have fun. Life’s too short to get sucked into negativity, Mario—I think you know that better than a lot of kids. Be friendly, be positive, encourage the other kids, and be happy for them when they do something good. Okay?”
“I will,” Mario said.
Cassidy turned away so her son and Leo wouldn’t see her tears. God, this man was amazing. Somehow he managed to be both tough and encouraging at the same time. It was what Mario needed. What she needed.
“Come on, let’s go see what’s what,” Leo told Mario.
Her son nodded and reached for the handle of the truck.
“You okay?” Leo asked.
Cassidy took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“Right. Come on, Mama. Let’s go watch your baby bird fly.”
Cassidy loved how Leo was more alpha than any man she’d ever met while still being so kind and sweet—and that he didn’t care in the least that Mario displayed more feminine traits than masculine. He didn’t care that he’d spent all his recent nights watching her son dance hip-hop to music he’d probably never heard of. He hadn’t even blinked when she’d said Mario had spent an hour on his clothes and hair. She’d be surprised if Leo thought about either for more than a minute and a half, tops, each morning.
Mario practically ran across the parking lot for the door. But right before he went through, he seemed to get a case of nerves. He suddenly stopped, his shoulders hunching, and he took a keen interest in something on the ground.
Leo put a hand on his shoulder and said, “You got this, champ. Compared to running around Kingston on your own, this is a piece of cake.”
Cassidy never would’ve reminded Mario of what he’d had to do in Jamaica, but it seemed to be exactly what he needed to hear. He nodded and lifted his chin.
Leo held open the door, and they entered a world of complete chaos. There was music playing over the speaker system, and little girls were everywhere. Most had bows in their hair, and everyone was wearing leotards or leggings, and many were barefoot. Everyone was smiling. It was an overwhelmingly positive atmosphere—and Cassidy loved it.