Page 14 of Lucky Dance Date
Julian stood as well. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Ok.”
We were almost to the lobby when I spied a familiar head of red hair leaving one of the loan offices on the other side.
I froze. Wes was so close. Then I saw his expression. He was clearly upset, and it didn’t take much guesswork to understand why. He was leaving the side of the bank that dealt with small business loans.
“Wes…”
Julian followed my gaze. “You know him?”
I nodded.
He sighed. “Not as many business loans have been approved lately. Just part of that cycle.”
“He’s strong,” I replied. “He’ll figure it out.”
“I hope so.”
I turned to Julian and shook his hand. “See you at the closing next week.”
“See ya there.”
I strode out of the bank, both wondering what Wes needed a loan for, and if there was any way I could help him.
∞∞∞
“Not this again,” Alan said.
I looked up and met his eye. “Huh?”
“We just got Chase on track with his omega, and now you’re moping?”
I laid my cards on the table and sighed. “I’m just worried.”
“About Wes?” Lowell teased.
“What’s Sean told you?” I asked.
One of Lowell’s eyebrows went up. “Why do you think that Sean’s said anything?”
“Aren’t they still friends?”
“Busted,” Frankie laughed.
Lowell studied me for several seconds, then nodded. “The dance studio that Wes rents time at is closing. None of the other instructors have found a new space with available spots, and he might have to give up teaching for a while if he can’t secure a spot.”
“Oh…” my heart dropped. So he’d needed a loan to tide him over.
“Apparently he decided to just open a studio himself, and even found a building,” Lowell continued. “According to Sean, he’s confident that he can cover the lease if only two or three other instructors move over and rent their time from him. But he doesn’t have the budget for deposits and some light renovation.”
“So that’s why he was in the bank…” I mused.
Lowell nodded. “I guess you saw that. He’s been trying to get a loan to cover the difference, but nobody wants to lend to him.”
“That’s stupid,” Chase said. “It’s not been that long since I got the loans to open Jumpstart, and it sounds like Wes has done his homework.”
I sighed. “It’s one of the truths of lending, omegas are approved less often, for smaller loans, and higher interest rates.”
