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He closes the iron door on the stove and twists to look at me. “A what?”
“A badass bitch,” I sigh, “like Lennon, Cora, and well, everyone I know.”
Cautiously, almost like he might spook me if he moves too fast, Deacon sits next to me on the couch. “I don’t understand.”
Blowing out a puff of air I spill the thoughts that have been nagging at me for months. “All the girls have careers. Not just jobs, actual careers that they’re in charge of. Lennon, Ali, and Sloane own their own businesses, and the others are at least managers of something. I’m the only one who’s still working the same job since high school with no other options.”
“Do you want to do something different?”
“Maybe? I have no idea what though. It’s not like I’m qualified to do anything more than I am.” Despite trying to sound like that doesn’t bother me, even I hear how soft my voice goes with that admission.
“Forget about qualifications, what are you interested in? What do you like doing?”
I’ve never asked myself this question—I seem to get hung up on thewhat I’m capable ofpart—so I don’t have a ready answer. I don’t even know where to start. Deacon must sense my distress, reaching out to tug me onto his lap.
“There’s no wrong answer. Just think about what makes you happy.”
I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes, trying to recall moments that made me smile or laugh. “I like talking to people. Customers that come in the restaurant and stuff. I like watching the kids get all excited when they learn something new.”
“So, you like teaching?” His fingers stroke up and down my arm.
“I suppose.” I try to wriggle closer even though there’s already no space between us. His arms tighten around me in response. “There aren’t enough kids interested in dance in Katah Vista to make a living at that, though.”
“What about the next town over? The one you went to school in growing up?”
“They already have a dance studio.” I run my fingertip over the hard muscle beneath my head.
“What about other things? Mountain biking maybe. You know how to do that.”
“Blake and Becca already teach that. And before you say dirt biking, Axel and Jace have a plan to teach that. Plus, I don’t actually know how to dirt bike.”
Deacon chuckles, jostling my head. “Okay, so there are already a decent number of programs for kids. How do parents find out about them?”
“Well, since everyone pretty much knows everything that happens in town, I assume they call whoever’s in charge. Or just show up.”
His fingers wander along my arm again. “Okay smartass, what if someone has a brand new program to offer? Or what if it’s a new family or a tourist looking for information? Where do they go?”
“The Internet.”
“Yes, but how. Do they have to know what they’re looking for before they search, like where to find a soccer team, or can they just ask what their kid can do in Katah Vista?”
I’m all set to give him the same answer I did earlier—everyone knows everything going on in town—but the words get stuck in my throat. Howdonew people find programs? How do people find out aboutnewprograms? The rec center only advertises what it offers. Same with the resort. If you don’t go directly to those sources…
“Word of mouth, I guess?”
“That’s hardly efficient.” He snorts. “What if you consolidated all the available programs into one spot? A real-time directory of the available programs to help people find the right program for their kids.”
“I…” On the surface that’s brilliant. It’s also incredibly daunting. “I don’t have the first idea about how to build something like that. You’re talking about websites, and other technical stuff that I have no idea how to do. Plus, how would that even make money?”
“You charge a fee for people to advertise with you.” I feel him twirling a strand of my hair in his fingers, like the solution is so obvious he doesn’t have to focus to think of it.
“Why would they do that when they don’t have to advertise now?”
“Because they’re probably missing out on a lot of customers by relying on town gossip to spread the word.”
I sit up so he can see me roll my eyes. “I’m sorry, have you not seen how fast gossip can spread?”
He sighs heavily. “Fine.Idle chit chatcan spread like wildfire. Verified information might not travel as fast. If you have a website with a directory of activities, current information about them, and maybe even a calendar to show where and when those are taking place, you’ll probably bring those businesses more customers, and make parents’ lives easier in the process.”
