“Um, that’s a lot of stuff for a wedding.”
He nods. “And she wants me to sleep over for the actual wedding. So, it will be a two-night stay.”
I gulp, wondering what I have gotten myself into. “That’s okay. I can get a cat sitter.”
His lips twitch. “Are you really sure?”
“I am.”
He groans and runs a hand over his face. “Fuck! Landon is going to kill me.”
I wave him off. “He’ll be fine once he hears it’s not real. And he’s your friend. He doesn’t hurt his friends.”
He looks at me like I’m crazy. I’m used to that look. “If you say so.”
“What is this room?” I blurt out, needing to change the subject.
“I’m not sure yet. I’ve never filled it.”
An idea forms in my head. “What do you think of strippers?”
He begins to choke, and bends forward, banging his chest. “What?”
“My friends, they need somewhere to train and this would be perfect,” I tell him, taking a look around. “It just needs a few poles.”
“Um.”
“And you could keep them in here. A lot of women use pole dancing to exercise. It could bring in more clientele.” When he continues to stare, I begin to feel self-conscious. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
“You want me to let strippers come and practice? In here?”
I nod, wondering if I was clear enough. “I’m sure they’ll even pay you for the space. Or you could ask if they will teach a few classes for you.” I shrug. “It’s an idea. It’s not my gym.”
“And these are your friends?”
I beam. “Yes. You’ll like them. They’re lovely.”
“Let me run it by Landon. I can’t see why not and your idea about teaching classes might come in handy. They could do it in exchange for the cost of rent for the room.”
I clap my hands together, jumping up and down. His gaze drifts down to my chest. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“I’ve not said yes yet,” he warns. “Landon now owns a percentage of the company.”
I wave him off. “He’s their friend too.” Sort of.
“Landon has stripper friends?” he chokes out, his lips twitching in amusement.
“Yeah. Kind of,” I tell him, then a thought occurs to me. “Unless you’re only saying this because you don’t want to say no to my face. It won’t upset me. Well, a little, but only because I don’t want that Trixie working them into the ground with crappy dance routines. She just wants to keep all the tips. But if you say no— and you can say no— I’ll just find them somewhere else.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Let me talk to Landon. And then we will set a meeting up with your friends.”
“This is so exciting. I’d love to be able to learn to dance on the pole,” I tell him, then chuckle at the reminder. “I tried once and it ended badly. The manager who owns Tease got my foot in his face and I landed on a bunch of tables. It hurt.”
His eyes bug out. “You stripped?”
I shake my head. “Just once. And I kept my clothes on. I just wanted the experience, you know?”
“Can’t say I do.”
I eye his physique. “I’m not sure if you’d be able to do it. You’re so tall.”
“Um, I’m good,” he tells me, his lips twitching.
“So, where do you want me now?”
“What?”
I gesture to the door. “The class.”
“Um, I think we should call it a night, but if you’re free this time next week, we can pick up on the next step.”
“When will you be doing the group ones?” I ask.
“Let’s get you taught first,” he tells me. “But if you want to join, they are on a Sunday night.”
“I’ll come on Thursday and work my way up to Sunday. If you want me to help teach it, then it might be best for me to know what I’m doing first.”
“Yeah,” he rasps, glancing away.
“And the wedding— I’ll message you my number later,” I tell him, grabbing my bag. “I guess I should go.”
“Charlotte?” he calls out when I take a step to leave.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t forget to talk to your mum, and family.”
My shoulders slump. “I won’t.”
“And I want you to stand in front of the mirror each morning and night, and say, ‘I’m worth it’ three times.”
My brows bunch together. “Why?”
His expression softens and his lips pull up into a smile. “Because one day you’ll stand in front of that mirror and you won’t need to say it. You’ll see and feel what everyone else around you knows.”
“And what’s that?” I whisper, my heart racing.
“That you are worth it. That you’re special.”
I’m stuck for words, my throat tightening with emotion. I continue to stare at him, my eyes welling with tears.
That’s… I don’t have any words.
“I should go,” I whisper.
His eyes widen. “Shit, let me grab my keys.”
“Huh?”
“I’m taking you home, remember?”
I laugh. I forgot about that bit of information. “I’ll be fine walking.”
He waves me off. “Not a chance. I’m heading home now anyway,” he explains.
“Okay,” I reply, pushing my bag further up my shoulder.
I wait for him to finish turning everything off and follow him outside. The wind is chilly tonight and I tug my jacket together, warding off the chill.
A blush rises over my cheeks when he holds the door for me. “Thank you.”
I take a seat, tucking my bag down by my feet. He folds into the car and turns to me. “I’m sorry about my mum tonight. I know she can be full on.”
“Have you met my family?” I tease, not wanting him to feel bad. “They can be a little full on.”
“Yeah, but in a crazy good way,” he murmurs.
“How come your relationship is strained?”
He pulls out but I see him glance at me briefly. “I’m a disappointment to her.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
He chuckles dryly. “No, it really is. She wants me to be something I’m not.”
“And who is that?” I ask, watching him closely.
He has really nice lips.
And a deep, husky voice.
“Someone who makes more money than they could ever need in a lifetime. She wants me to be this upstanding citizen and I’m not. I’m not someone who kisses someone’s arse to get further in my career. Who she wants me to be is not who I am.”
“And who are you?” I whisper, shifting in my seat.
“Someone who swears a lot, likes getting tattoos, and loves running my gym. I prefer a beer at the pub rather than a glass of champagne at a charity or family event. I prefer paving my own way but it’s not good enough for her. I’m not good enough. She’s constantly trying to mould me into the son she always wanted.”