“That’s because he charmed you via text all summer,” Penny said.

“He sure did,” she said.

“He can be pushy, but he means well,” Penny said.

“He doesn’t push, but he definitely nudges,” Roni said. “He makes me want to do things I didn’t even realize I wanted to do.”

“Quincy and his dirty deeds,” Crystal teased.

“Not that kind of pushing. I mean, maybe that, too, but…” Roni felt her cheeks burn.

“They do send videos to each other all the time,” Josie pointed out. “Jed said Quincy stops whatever he’s doing to watch your videos.”

“This just got a lot more interesting,” Dixie said.

“Not those kinds of videos,” Roni insisted. “We use video messages instead of texting. It’s more personal. Anyway, what I meant was, he sees more in me than I let myself see anymore.”

“What do you mean, anymore?” Josie asked.

Roni hadn’t realized she’d never told them about her accident. She filled them in on what she’d gone through and said, “Quincy’s trying to get me to perform again. On the one hand, I’m really nervous about it. But on the other hand, a big part of me wants to do it for him, which feels weird because I’ve never wanted to dance for someone else. I wanted to make my grandmother and Elisa—my dance instructor—proud, but dancing has always been something I’ve done for myself.”

“That’s how you know you’ve found your person,” Red said. “The one who will help you become the best you can be and would walk through fire for you.”

Roni thought about that for a second and said, “I think he would walk through fire for me, and for all of you, too. He’s that good a man.”

“And your person comes with all of us,” Gemma said cheerily.

“Speaking of us, did Gemma talk to you about the costumes for the Winter Showcase?” Crystal asked.

“No. Is there a problem?” Roni asked. “We had some issues with ill-fitting costumes for the Summer Showcase, but Elisa worked that out with the costume company, and I thought she sent home a note to parents not to order until four weeks prior to the event.”

“I haven’t ordered Kennedy’s yet,” Gemma reassured her. “I hadn’t said anything about this to you because you’re seeing Quincy, and I didn’t want you to think we were trying to use your relationship to our benefit, but when I was looking through the company’s website, I realized that Crystal and I could make the costumes much cheaper. We can get the materials in bulk through the boutique and save the families quite a bit of money.”

“Do you know if Elisa would consider having them made locally?” Crystal asked.

“I think she’d love that, and, Gemma, I wouldn’t have thought you were using my relationship with Quincy. When I was young, we couldn’t afford as many dance classes as I wanted to take, so my grandmother made all the costumes in exchange for tuition. I think Elisa and the parents would appreciate saving money and doing things locally. Why don’t you give me your number. I’ll mention it to her and let you know what she says.”