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“I nicely said it was none of his business.”
“Oh.” Touched, I just stared at him. The man who was so concerned about what people he cared about thought about him had stood his ground.
“Shall we?” He gestured to the door of the theater.
“Right.” He didn’t know I was coming to ask him if he meant it. Was he willing to date a poor-as-hell dance teacher who wasn’t sure if she had students? I juggled the keys, found the one for the deadbolt, and opened the door.
The glass square on the wooden door was frosted with dark paint. I tried a light switch, and a dim bulb in a round fixture on the ceiling cast a sickly glow over the interior. A musty smell enveloped us as soon as we walked in.
“Well,” I said.
“So,” he said and started laughing.
I giggled. “It’s not...bad.”
“It’s not good, Tova.” Smiling, he tapped on the wall and walked through the lobby. His steps echoed on the wooden floor, but the squeaks were at a minimum. “It’s sturdy enough.”
An old concession counter was against the far wall, facing the door. A ticket window with no plexiglass was to our left. The bathrooms flanked us, one on each side, and a hallway disappeared on either end of the concessions counter.
“Definitely has promise,” he said, and I wanted to sag. I saw potential but also a lot of work. He felt the same, and my stomach unknotted.
“You think so?”
“You said Kali’s grandpa took care of the plumbing, the electricity works, and I don’t see new stains from water damage on the ceiling.”
“The owner said a new roof was put on ten years ago.”
“There ya go.” He disappeared down a dark hallway to our left. A light flipped on, no brighter than the entry.
“It needs a makeover,” I said, following him. “But I like the character.”
So much wood. Like an old theater with history. I was enchanted. I’d treasure the one night—two with the rehearsal—I got here.
I faced the raised stage. Two sections of red padded chairs spread out between me and the stage. The wood could use a finish and some stain, but the heavy red velvet curtains hung proudly on either side. On the ceiling, there was missing paint and exposed wood beams where the old movie screen had once been anchored.
“He said the curtain doesn’t move anymore. There are two changing rooms backstage, and the wings are small, but they do the job.” I followed Cody to the edge of the stage. The lights weren’t any better in here, but it was perfect for a performance. “And a large storage room at the very back.”
“It’ll do the trick.” He pressed his hands onto the edge of the stage and leaned over to look around. “It’s not bad once your eyes adjust.”
“I might have to find a couple of standing lamps to keep on stage so the audience can see clearer. I’ll look a little more, but I don’t see any obvious hazards.”
He turned and propped his ass against the edge. He folded his arms. “You wanted to talk?”
I licked my lips again, a nervous move. Usually, he tracked my tongue, but his gaze was steadfastly on mine. “Yes. Um...” I pushed a hand through my loose hair. My hair tie was around my wrist. I’d had to get out of the apartment before I talked myself out of facing Cody.
“Tova, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you, whatever you decide.”
He continued to say the right things when he didn’t have to try to catch me. In his mind, I was already gone, yet he was reassuring me. I paced in front of him. “But you can hurt me so much more than others because it’s not my pride or my money involved this time. It’s my heart.” I stopped to look at him. A muscle twitched in his forearm, but he didn’t speak. God, this was hard. “And Thelma called me stupid.”
“She did what?”
“Not verbatim.” I switched my pacing direction. “She called me a coward. Not exactly, but that’s the gist of it.”
“Why?” He snaked a hand out and gently cupped my elbow, pulling me toward him. With his hot skin on mine, I was helpless but to follow.
“Because I run like Mom did. I don’t trust. So when something good happens to me, I don’t believe it. I don’t have faith that I’ll be able to take care of myself no matter what happens. It’s why I gave up teaching dance. I thought I’d never be able to support myself with it. It’s why I was ready to leave. I assumed I can’t do it here, but I’m not even trying.” My heart was beating like I was in the middle of a marathon. “The truth is, I don’t want to leave. I want Mom up here with me. I want to be with you. I love your kids. But—but I’m scared.”
His gaze warmed, showing me nothing but support. “I’m fucking terrified too, Tova.”
