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Chapter 9
Thenextfewdayspassed in a blur of rehearsals, classes, and helping my parents with Katy. Scott and I didn’t get another chance to see each other, but our texts had definitely shifted into dating territory. He liked to wake me up every morning with agood morning, gorgeoustext, and we talked as I drove to and from the studio. Now it was Friday night, and Hannah, Amy, and I were meeting up for drinks at Mike’s, our favorite restaurant in Canyon Cove.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said as I slid into my chair.
“It’s okay,” Amy said with a smile.
Hannah patted my arm. “We ordered your drink for you.” She smoothed her long black hair over her shoulder, sitting prim and proper like she always did. Our little Japanese doll, she was beautiful and poised.
“You girls are the best,” I said. The relief of being there hit me like a truck, and I sat back in my chair, taking a big, deep breath.
“How bad was it today?” Amy asked.
I sighed. “Blake the Flake knew I was coming this time. So that was a little better. But she had no plan, and the girls seemed to catch on. It’s the oldest girls, the ones who will be going to college or professional programs next year, and they could tell something was up.”
“What about the parents?” Hannah asked.
I rubbed my forehead. “Even if they know how bad it is, they don’t want to admit it. They’ve been Blake’s groupies since day one.” I huffed a laugh. “Today, four of them wore the same giant sunglasses as her. They looked like flies.”
Amy laughed. “Did you get to actually help today?”
“Kind of. She kept taking these five-minute breaks to mess around on her phone, so I would jump in and teach the girls a quick combination or have them do a drill to stay warm and engaged.” I shook my head. “If I don’t step in, she’s going to humiliate our studio and ruin our reputation. I might end up needing to take over the whole thing.”
“That’s crazy,” Amy said. “But you’re working twice as much, and not getting paid for it. You can’t tell me that’s worth it.”
“The studio is my second home. I can’t let it go down in flames. Lisa’s struggling as it is.”
“That’s not fair to you,” Hannah said gently.
“I know.” I rubbed my forehead. “I’ve already let Lisa have it. But I love the studio and these girls too much to let it go.” I slapped the table. “Let’s change the subject. Amy, how was your meeting with Stella today?”
Amy beamed. “Really good. She loves the envelopes I addressed for a charity event she’s holding in a couple months. And she’s telling all her friends to use me for their parties, too. I never dreamed my business could blow up like this.”
“Uh, hello? I did!” I gave her shoulder a little shove. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been telling you for years that you could make bank off of your calligraphy.” I leaned into her and lowered my voice. “Do we all get to come to this charity event? I still think it’s unfair that I never got to go to your parents’ swanky galas.”
“You’re not missing out on much. Hannah’s wedding was way more fun than any of their galas.”
“Thank you, Amy,” Hannah said with a smile.
“Even though that was where you told Lucas that you could never be together? You must have some bad memories of that night.”
“Hey!” Hannah interjected. “Don’t taint the memory of my perfect evening.”
We all erupted into giggles.
“That wasn’t Hannah’s fault,” Amy said. “It was all Scott. If he hadn’t interrupted us, I think the night would have ended very differently.”
My face flushed at the mention of Scott, remembering the moment after he had broken up Amy and Lucas and returned to the dance floor.
“Where did you go?” I asked with a flirtatious smile.
His face was dark. “I had to handle something.”
“Yikes. Now you sound like you’re in the mafia.”
He gave me a tight grin. “What if I am?”
I shrugged. “I always had a thing for the bad boy.” A couple glasses of champagne, and I was letting the truth fall out of my mouth. But who cared? Maybe if Amy was speaking her truth, I could be a little more honest, too.
