The Perfect Couple (10 page)

***

“We hope you all have enjoyed the couples as they have danced their hearts out for your vote.”

Cara’s pulse accelerated as she listened to the host address the crowd before them, not believing that it was almost over.

“Now it’s all up to the audience to cast their votes on who is going to be our first ‘America’s Best Dancer’ champion! You will find a keypad device in the holder on the back of the seat in front of you. Press the number of the couple you liked best. The couple with the most votes will be our champion!”

Cara smiled at the crowd nervously, gripping Daniel’s hand so tightly that she was sure she was going to break one of his fingers. They had done it, they had danced their hearts out and now it was up to an auditorium full of strangers to decide their fate. The curtain closed and she let out a breath, launching herself into Daniel’s arms. “We did it.”

“Yes, you were perfect, Cara,” he said, squeezing her. “I think we have to be in the top two if not the winner.”

Cara nodded as he released her and went over to congratulate the other couples for their great dancing, hoping and praying that he was right. She had poured her heart and soul into the dance. After a stressful couple of days of making a routine that would work for the both of them, Cara and Daniel had finally decided on the elements of fire and ice. Cara was dressed in a blue costume representing water while Daniel was in a red costume to represent fire. Her part of the routine had played to her strength of ballet, being very fluid with her movements before the beat of the music changed and Daniel took over with his more aggressive dancing. Together they had tried to show the fight between water and fire. One of the key moments of their dance was when she had leaped into Daniel’s capable arms, his strength lifting her high in the air. The audience had gone crazy with their applause then and Cara just knew they had nailed their routine. Or at least she thought so.

Giving the other girls a smile, she tapped her foot nervously, knowing that they now had at least an hour or so before the audience finished voting and they were tabulated. Ugh, she hated waiting.

One of the other girls walked over to her, a hesitant smile on her face. “I’m Laurie. I just wanted to tell you that your dancing, it’s amazing. The connection you have with your partner is not anything you can fake.”

“Thanks,” Cara said warmly. “You did well. There’s no way I could do those turns even in my wildest dreams.”

Laurie blushed and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, leaning in close. “You are a couple, aren’t you? I mean it’s none of my business but I’ve seen the way he looks at you. If you aren’t, you might want to consider it.”

Cara laughed and looked over at Daniel’s tall form, her heart going pitter-patter at the mere sight of him. How did she ever get this lucky? “Yes, we are and I love him.”

“I thought so,” Laurie grinned, giving Cara a little wave. “Good luck. Ya’ll were fabulous.”

Cara smiled as the girl walked away, shaking her head. Were they that obvious to everyone? After their night together, everything had changed. Now she couldn’t get enough of him and after three grueling days, she was looking forward to some rest and relaxation with Daniel, regardless of the outcome. There was a whole new future out there for them now.

***

“We have had some amazing dancers on our show and I hope you have enjoyed them as much as we have.”

The audience cheered and Marie held up her hand, causing Cara’s stomach to lurch funnily at the thought of what was going to come next. This was it. This was win or lose now. Daniel squeezed her hand lightly and she forced a smile on her face, knowing that she was a winner no matter what was going to happen. 

“We are very happy to announce that Daniel and Cara are our new winners of ‘America’s Best Dancer’!”

“Oh my god,” Cara breathed, looking at a grinning Daniel. “We did it!”

“We sure did!” he shouted, grabbing her and spinning her around in a circle before placing a resounding kiss on her lips, the audience roaring with cheers. “We won!”

Dazed, Cara followed Daniel to the center of the stage, where Marie gave them both a hug and held their hands high. The audience cheered again as confetti fell all around them. Cara was deliriously happy that they had won, but more so that it was all over with. They had finished the competition and had walked out winners!

The curtain fell and the rest of the contestants came over to congratulate them but Cara kept her eye on Daniel. Because of him her immediate future was secure. She had money and would be able to look for a job instead of worrying about her housing, or having to leave the city. Because of him she was going on tour and performing in front of thousands. Because of him she had found love. He caught her eye and winked as they were surrounded by the other couples which she returned with a knowing smile and a little wave. Life couldn’t get any better than it was right at this moment. Finally, Daniel pushed his way toward her and grabbed her up in a big hug, spinning her around wildly until she burst out into laughter. “We did it, Cara! Can you believe it?”

“No, I can’t,” she said breathlessly as she slid down his long form, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Oh my god, we have really pulled this off.”

Daniel just grinned as he kissed her all over her face, his excitement palpable. “I’ve got one more surprise.”

“You do?” she asked hesitantly. “Please don’t tell me we have to do this all over again. I don’t think I can take it.”

“No, I don’t think I could either,” he chuckled, looking into her eyes. “I know this relationship hasn’t always been smooth nor have we been together long but I don’t think I am half in love with you, Cara.”

“Y-your not?” she asked, her heart plummeting. Had she read him all wrong this entire time?

“No,” he said. “I know I am totally in love with you and I can’t imagine my life without you.” He then knelt down and reached up, grasping her hand in his. “Will you marry me?”

A chorus of gasps and awws from their fellow contestants erupted around them backstage but Cara only had eyes for Daniel, and right now he was pretty watery as the tears started to fall down her cheeks. “Oh yes! Yes, I will marry you!”

Three months later

“Come on, lazy bones. You got to get up. We have to be at the studio in an hour.”

“No, I don’t wanna,” Cara groaned as she buried her face in the pillow, enjoying the feel of the comfortable bed around her tired body. Daniel chuckled and ran a finger down the length of her naked back, causing Cara to squirm. “That’s not fair.”

“What about this?” he said as his lips replaced his fingers.

“That will not get me out of this bed any faster,” she laughed, turning over to face him. “You don’t play nice.”

“No, I do not,” he responded, kissing the tip of her nose before climbing off the bed. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Cara watched his tall, naked form cross the hotel room and disappear in the bathroom before sighing happily. Ever since they had won the competition their life had taken off in leaps and bounds. The tour started shortly after the show had aired and ever since they had performed in cities that Cara had longed to visit but never had the chance to. The theaters and auditoriums were filled with adoring fans and Cara always marveled in the fact that they knew their names and wanted her autograph after the show was over. She and Daniel had become an overnight success and they had enjoyed, with some embarrassment, watching their relationship unfold on live TV when word got out that they had gotten engaged. Suddenly everyone wanted to interview them and learn of their story beyond the competition. The plus was spending this time with Daniel, who she had spent every waking moment with since he had proposed to her on that stage three months ago.

The sunlight caught her ring and Cara took a moment to examine it for the hundredth time since Daniel had presented it to her, a good-sized diamond oval solitaire that she absolutely adored. Life with Daniel was better than she could have anticipated and every night, when he pulled her close to him as they drifted off to sleep, she thanked her lucky stars for bringing them together. Job offers were also piling up after their tour as well, both of them already had been approached about a Broadway production in New York to begin right after they finished the tour. After all the ups and downs, the competition and the win kept paying dividends for both herself and Daniel, and Cara couldn’t be happier with her personal life and professional career. Mostly her personal life because of her handsome fiancé.

Cara heard the water of the shower cut on and she threw the covers back, stretching her body before standing. If there was one thing she loved more than lounging in the bed, it was the idea of joining her fiancé in the shower. She couldn’t imagine her life turning out like it had, from her failure with the academy to competing in front of thousands of people and winning the competition. Most of all, she had never imagined that she would end up with a wonderful guy such as Daniel. She couldn’t wait to be his wife and spend the rest of her life with the man she loved. Life couldn’t get any better than it was right now.