Free SECRET BABY (A Billionaire Romance) by Mia Carson Page B

wasn’t old enough to drive yet. When I pulled into the school parking lot, I still hadn’t received a reply and tried not to let it bother me, reminding myself that I was a grown-ass woman, not a teenage girl. Sighing, I grabbed my bag and my lunch and hurried into the building to prepare for first period with my dance team class.
     
    We rehearsed with the band two days a week and worked on competition dances, pep rallies, and Friday night performances, which were sometimes either exactly the same or similar, three days a week. Second, third, and fourth periods were dance classes for kids who wanted a PE credit but didn’t want to play kickball or dodgeball like elementary school kids. Lunch was fifth, and my sixth and seventh periods were tech classes, where I taught students how to edit music, create mashups, and produce new works all together. Luckily, I had experience with not only dance, but computers and choir as well. I sang as much as we worked on the music. And because I often had to leave early for competitions, the schedule coordinator had been kind enough to give me last period off.
     
    At five minutes to eight, the bell rang for first period. The speakers in the gym were playing the music we used to stretch for the first eight minutes of class. The girls knew they were to walk in ready to practice. Stretching first, then announcements from me, and after that, whatever dance we needed to work on.
     
    They walked in, chattering, and deposited their books, bags, and other paraphernalia near the score table where I sat and ran the music once I’d taught them the moves. Cara walked in with her best friend, Jill. When she reached the table, she made sure to catch my eye and winked broadly. Jill giggled and hurried past when I narrowed my eyes at her.
     
    I returned my gaze to Cara, and she winked again. I rolled my eyes and put my finger against my lips in a shushing gesture. She smiled, nodded, and joined the other girls in the center of the gym to stretch.
     
    The story Madison had told me pushed into my mind, and I glanced at Denise’s daughter, Brittani, who sat with her two friends. The three were separated from the others—only slightly, but the separation was there. These three were seniors and leaders on my team. I liked all of them, and again, hoped no ugliness would disrupt the closeness of our team.
     
    The stretching music ended, and I let the next track play as the girls gathered around me for announcements. “All right, ladies, we’ve got a pep rally this Friday, and the cheerleaders asked that we dance after them.”
     
    Brittani piped up. “Of course they want us to dance after them. They don’t want to look bad.” She smirked, and the girls tittered.
     
    “Brittani, our egos need to step about five paces back. Thanks.” I deadpanned. Another tittering of laughter. “I’ve got the music ready for Friday, and we’ll do the same dance Friday night at the game. So, four days to get this learned. Ready?”
     
    A chorus of yeses answered me. I quickly put them into the formation I had planned for this dance and showed them the dance twice before breaking it down into eight counts. The class passed quickly, but by the end, they had the moves. The rest of the week would be spent cleaning the dance until they were perfect. God, I loved my job!
     
    ***
     
    Having last period off sounded amazing, but it was a long time to wait for a break. My thirty-minute lunch sometimes wasn’t enough. Today, though, I was filled with energy as I bounded into the teacher’s workroom where I ate with a group of teachers, including Nikki.
     
    “Hey!” she gushed as she rushed up to me. “I want to hear about your date!”
     
    “Me, too,” Millie called from the refrigerator.
     
    “Don’t start until we’re all seated and ready to pay attention,” Becky ordered.
     
    “Nikki!” I hissed as I stepped next to her. “Why did you tell everybody?”
     
    Nikki grinned. “Was it a secret? You