“Yeah, Kari said that Sally was called out sick today, and she couldn’t cover it herself.” I nod and glance between Toni and Styxx while introducing them. “Styxx, this is Toni. She runs the front of this dance studio. Toni, this is my . . . um . . . my boyfriend.” I didn’t know if those were the right words to use. Is that what we were?
“Nice to meet you,” Toni says and looks at Eabha. “And you have a little dancer today with you as well. She’s a little young for our tykes class, but you could swing it.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Eabha’s just gonna hang with her dad today and get a feel for it. Maybe next time.”
Toni’s eyes widen slightly when I refer to Eabha as Styxx’s daughter, but she recovers quickly. “Well, it’s great to meet you both. Your first class starts in fifteen minutes, Hope. I’ve got the room set up already.”
“Thanks, Toni, I appreciate it,” I tell her and start down the hall to where I’ll be working with several classes today.
“Class?” Styxx remarks.
I peek up at him while worrying my bottom lip. “I teach classes here twice a week, usually. Sally needed me to cover today, so that’s why we had to come here.”
“What exactly do you teach?” he asks, adjusting Eabha in his arms.
“I teach ballet, hip-hop, and contemporary dance to my students, depending on what they’re signed up for. I also do a class that’s a mixture of all combined. Today’s class, though, is simply teaching ballet to our five through eight group of girls, the little tykes that are two through four, and nine and twelve.The thirteen to eighteen-year-old group of girls is tomorrow’s classes.”
I watch Styxx’s expression through all of this, seeing the curiosity and possessiveness I’ve grown accustomed to.
“You like teaching,” he states.
“It’s what I want to eventually do full-time, but closer to home,” I admit softly.
“Then you should do it. If that’s your passion, do it.”
“It’s not that simple. I have a plan, though. I was going to try and get it going after Promise finished high school.” I knew if I started it up now, I wouldn’t be able to pay for everything I pay now for Promise. Her education always comes first.
“Right,” Styxx grunts, not arguing as I thought he might.
I suck in a breath, not sure now that it was a good idea to have him here. Maybe I should have told Kari I couldn’t do this today. Though she would’ve known that it was my day off from the strip club and I typically never have plans. Not ones that I couldn’t fit teaching kids how to dance.
Fifteen minutes pass in a blur, and so it begins.
“See you next time, Miss Hope,” the last girl calls out, waving as she joins her mom.
It’s been a long day, and it’s actually only been six hours. Mondays are the longest days of classes—that and Thursdays.
“You’re a brilliant teacher,” Styxx murmurs, setting Eabha down on the floor.
She’d been amazing throughout the whole day, and all the girls in my classes loved her. She’d squeeze and clap from Styxx’s lap during sessions, and she tried more than once to squirm out of his grasp.
“Thank you,” I utter and let out a breath. “We better get on the road if we’re gonna get back in time to get Promise. We’ll barely make it there as it is.”Thankfully, she has practice today, so I won’t be right after school pick-up time.
“I’ve got her covered on pick up,” Styxx states, wrapping his arms around me. “You should definitely open your own studio at home. You would have classes booked out in no time.”
“I can’t,” I whisper. “Not until Promise is out of school.”
“Why not until after she finishes school?” he asks.
“Because working where I do now, I make enough to cover her tuition and the rent on our house. Not to mention the other bills I have to pay.”
“Hope . . .” He trails off and seems to contemplate something before shaking his head and not finishing what he started to say. “Just think about it.”
“I can think about it.” I’ve been thinking about it. Have for years. It’s my dream, and I won’t lose it. I have a little over two years to get through before I can follow through.
“Good.” Styxx nods. “Let’s get back home, and we’ll figure out dinner for the night since you don’t have to get to Keeper’s Temptation.”
I might not have to get there tonight, but I do need to figure out dance moves for this week’s shifts. I hate doing the same maneuvers each night. I like to change things up when I can.
