Page 12 of Lucky Dance Date
“I think so too.”
∞∞∞
Hope. It was something I hadn’t truly felt in a while. But one night with somebody outside my existing friend group who saw my dreams as valid proved that it had been too long.
Maybe it was because Cameron was a new face, but it meant something. Sean, Scott, and other omegas always supported me, but alphas and my parents seemed to always brush off my goals as silly omega things.
The only other alpha who’d been so supportive was José, and it gave me hope that even if I couldn’t have the alpha I loved, I might find one who would be as good to me as him and Cameron.
Both Cameron and I knew that we were not meant to be mates, but that left open the door for friendship—a door we both walked through.
We’d spent the prior evening drafting plans, with me telling him how things had always worked for me when I rented time. He’d been able to take that information and help me figure out what I would need to do if I was to open my own studio. One dinner and I already had a better idea of what it would take to open and run my own business. There was a realistic path in place, assuming I could get one-third of the instructors to come with me, and Cameron knew what he needed to look for in a building.
A new position as the founder of a dance studio was within reach, except for startup funds. I didn’t have enough in reserve for deposits or necessary renovations.
That could be changed though. I had a conservative business plan that assumed realistic income, and I knew almost all the classes at the existing studio were full. The demand was there, surely I could get a small loan to cover the difference.
It was time to prove to myself that I was capable of more than my parents gave me credit for.
∞∞∞
“Hello?” I asked as I swiped to accept the call.
“Wes?”
I smiled. “Hey Cam.”
“Hey. I know this is short notice, but can you meet me this afternoon?”
“What’s up?”
“I may have found a space for you, and want you to take a look.”
“What time?”
“Four?”
“Text me the address and I’ll meet you there.”
“Great. See you then.”
I was excited all afternoon and could barely concentrate on my weekly tutorial video. I raced from the studio as soon as I finished filming and soon found myself standing in the parking lot of a strip mall.
“Hey Wes,” Cameron said as he walked over and held up a set of keys. “Ready?”
I nodded.
“This way,” he said, leading me a few doors down to a strange corner space.
I looked up to see the sign for a yoga studio.
“The floor needs work,” Cameron said as he unlocked the door. “But it has most of your other ‘nice-to-haves’.”
I walked in and the perfection of the space took my breath away. What appeared from the outside as a small, gloomy suite was roomy and bright. Large windows filled the front, one side and a bit of the back wall. A reception desk stood to one side and a linoleum floor ringed from the door, past the desk and around the windows to what appeared to be changing rooms and an office. The fourth wall had tall mirrors. But the middle was what sold it for me, with a gorgeous hardwood floor.
“How?” I breathed, taking several steps inside and noting even more details: speakers attached to the wall, sound insulating panels to keep noise from bouncing off the cinder block construction, and bright paint that gave it all an energetic feel.
“Like I said outside,” Cameron started, “the floor needs work. It looks good, but has some funny spots. The prior tenant couldn’t afford the work, and I think they ended up closing.”
