Page 113 of Luca & Luna

“I can totally do that. You’re sure you don’t wanna do your teacher training so you can come work with me at the studio?”

“Don’t tempt me. I like being an architect for the most part, but some days I seriously consider switching things up.”

“Well, you’ll always have a spot at the studio if you change your mind. What am I supposed to do with myself all day?”

“Sleep? I’m pretty sure you don’t get enough of that.”

I pouted. “Don’t call me out like that.”

“You need to be called out sometimes. I would treat the next week like a vacation. Let yourself chill for at least a few days, and then you can figure out a new schedule.”

“I know you’re right. I’m just bad at rest.”

Allie gasped dramatically. “You? Bad at rest? I never would have guessed.”

“Shut up.” I stuck my tongue out at her.

She just laughed. “Promise me you’ll take some Luna time. You deserve a break.”

“I promise I’ll do my best.”

Allie sighed. “Workaholic.”

I went home with my box of personal items, dropped it inside my door, and took myself down to Auggie’s apartment.

He answered the door with a sweet smile. “Hey, babe, what’s up?”

“It was my last day at my finance job. I need you to talk me out of begging more shifts off Arthur.”

“Well, for one, you wouldn’t have to do any begging. You’re a headliner. Arthur would give you whatever you wanted. But for two, do you need to be taking on extra work right now?”

“That entirely depends on whether my new business flops or not, and I won’t know that for months. I feel like I need to squirrel away as many dollars as I can in case the whole thing erupts into flames.”

“Honey, baby—” Auggie cupped my cheeks. “—sweetie. How long is the waiting list for your aerial classes?”

“Uh, two-hundred-ish.”

“The place you currently work at could open more classes until your place starts. And you know all your students fall in love with you so a good portion of them are going to follow you.”

Auggie was being so logical, but that didn’t mean my anxiety brain was going to calm down even if I could stay afloat with aerials.

“But since you’re no longer working a full-time day job, I don’t see how it would hurt too much if you wanted to take on one or two day shifts at the club. Heaven knows you can’t sit still for five minutes. You’ll get all of the business people taking their clients to soften them up. Your regular nights are all the saucy partygoers. You could get a whole new set of clientele.”

“Have you worked the day shift before?”

“Yep,” he replied. “Ours is more fun, but it pays decent enough. They don’t ask for back room time as often during the day because they have actual jobs and stuff to get to. I still think it would be best to focus on your new business, though. You have a lot to do for it, don’t you?”

I certainly had plenty to keep me occupied. Plans and permits, safety certifications, designs and orders. A lot of it was difficult to do while construction was ongoing.

“I want to take a break, but I’m also super anxious,” I told Auggie.

“You’re always super anxious, in all fairness. You already have a good schedule for yourself. You have your three nights of classes, two nights at the club, and two days off. I have no doubt you’ll be able to fill your mornings and afternoons with an unhealthy amount of work.”

“I know you’re right?—”

“So listen to me.”

I opened my mouth to protest.

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