Page 46 of Up All Night

“Thanks for all the workouts,” he said. “And for not refusing to train me, for continuing to bring me to the brink of death.”

Laughing, I said, “I’m still standing by the fact that our first session together only served to make you stronger, physically and mentally.”

He rolled his eyes playfully. “Yeah, okay.”

He was about to leave, and I still hadn’t asked him about helping me. It was now or never. There wasn’t going to be a better time than now.

I looked at a spot on the ground, wringing my hands together. “So, um,” I stumbled. “It’s obviously Friday, which means our last session together,” I continued but struggled to get the words out.

Of course he knew it was Friday and our last training—he’d just said thank you. Ugh. Why was this so hard?

He stood there patiently, waiting for me to continue.

“And since we won’t be seeing each other as much anymore…” Was it hot in here? Usually my clients were the ones sweating, not me. He gave me a puzzled look, as if he was wondering why I was acting weird, and I didn’t blame him. I was acting like I was nervous to ask him out or something.

Oh, my gosh, did he think I was asking him out? His face looked equal parts confused and nervous. I was making a mess of things.

Hurrying to get the words out, I said in a rush, “ I wanted to ask you if you’d be willing to look over my business plan for opening up my own dance studio.”

His expression smoothed out. “Oh, I had no idea that you wanted to start your own studio. That’s great.” His smile lit up his face, and he looked genuinely excited for me. “And yeah, sure. I’d love to help you with that.”

My shoulders relaxed. “Great. Um, what if we meet tomorrow at the coffee shop close to our apartment building, Deja Brew? I can buy you a drink as a thank you.”

His lips quirked up on one side. “You don’t need to buy me a drink. Looking at your business plan is my kind of fun.”

“You’re so weird,” I said with a smile. The awkwardness I’d infused into this situation was immediately gone, and I was grateful for his willingness to help me.

He grabbed his car keys and gave me a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nodded, a smile instantly forming on my lips.

I wished I could say my smile only had to do the fact that he was going to help me, but I was afraid it had a lot more to do with the fact that I’d be seeing him tomorrow.

I’d showed up at Deja Brew ten minutes early to make sure I was there before West, but when I walked in the door he was already there, sitting in a booth in the corner.

I sat down across from him, setting down my bag with my laptop and notes in it. “You couldn’t wait to dive in, huh?”

He grinned. “I could barely sleep.”

I gasped and placed a hand to my chest in mock horror.

He laughed. “Yep, you kept me up again.”

His words had me smiling like my high school crush had finally recognized me. Except that West wasn’t my crush, he was myneighbor. Obviously. My neighbor whom I didnothave a crush on.

I hadn’t gotten excited about our coffee date—I mean,meeting. And I hadn’t worn my hair down and a pair of my nicest jeans for him. I had just felt like getting ready and not wearing athletic clothes for once.

Okay, now I was just staring at him having this internal dialogue, and he was probably wondering why I’d spaced out.

“Okay,” I said way too brightly. “I googled as much as I could about business plans and bank loans, as well as using what I already know about running a dance studio.” I took out my laptop, opening it to show him the screen, where my plan was already pulled up.

He pulled the computer closer to him and began reading through what I had put together so far.

“I’m going to grab us some drinks while you look it all over,” I said. “What would you like?”

He looked up from the screen as if he was just now remembering we were at a coffee shop. “Oh, I can get us drinks.” He moved to slide out of the booth, but I stopped him.

“No, my treat,” I insisted. “Plus, you look way too excited for me to tear you away.”

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