Page 18 of A Kickin' Karate Christmas
Sophia laughed. “You’re a smitten kitten.”
“Shut up!” I grabbed a few other things from the shelf and started preparing other games. “He’s just amazing.”
“And you’re going on the date tomorrow?”
“We’re hanging out after we’re done here,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.
I was prepared for her to tell me that this was a terrible idea. I was ready for her to point out all of the reasons we shouldn’t do this, reasons that I already knew. Instead, she just smiled and pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m happy for you,” she gushed. “He seems like a good guy, and you deserve someone who sees you.”
“He does.”
“Parents should be here in fifteen minutes,” Jake called out.
I pulled away from Sophia and groaned. There was still so much left to get done. The time for heart-to-hearts with my best friend was over. It was time to focus on my dojo now.
The event was loud.
It felt like every student at the dojo had come, and a lot of them had brought friends. Emerson came with her mom, and I watched the way Becca and Jake interacted. They chatted like friends, and I noticed that Jake seemed friendly with the guy she brought with him, too. I watched the way Emerson glowed as she bounced around the three adults and then laughed as she dragged me to meet her mommy’s boyfriend.
All the other children were dragging me around, too, introducing me to the parents and friends they’d brought who didn’t usually come to class. I caught Jake’s smile a few times. He mostly helped with the silent auction while I stayed in the other room with the kids. By the time the event was over, the children were tired, and the parents were happy.
I watched as kids left with their adults, including Emerson with her mom. When the last kid left, I collapsed in the chair behind the desk. Sophia and Jake, the only two people left in the dojo, laughed. “I think we should do something like this every month,” I declared.
“Are you insane?” Sophia exploded. “You worked your ass off on this. And do you really think everyone’s going to show up for another auction in a week?”
“She has a point.”
“I meant the kids part. A parent’s night out where they pay a cover fee. We feed the kids cheap pizza and play games, andthe parents have a night off. Then, they pick up happy, tired children, and we have more money to pad the bank account.”
Jake looked thoughtful for a moment. “As a parent, I think that’s a great idea.”
He sat down in the chair on the other side of the desk. I felt his foot nudge mine and smiled softly. “You two aren’t subtle,” Sophia groaned. Jake’s eyes widened in alarm. I reached out and smacked Sophia’s arm. She didn’t look at all bothered by my reaction. “What? You’re not.” She looked at Jake again and sighed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to say anything to anyone until you two do.”
Jake visibly relaxed. “As I was saying, as a parent, I think that’s a great idea. I also worry the novelty will wear off pretty quick for the kids if you do it too often.”
“Every other month?” I questioned.
“That sounds more realistic.”
“Sounds better from an employee standpoint, too,” Sophia piped up. “Figure it out and let me know. I’m going to get going. I have plans tonight.”
She winked at me, and I wanted to smack her again.
Because the insinuation behind that wink was clear. She knew we had plans that night too.
Chapter nine
Jake
Irelaxedbackintothe couch, groaning. “I think I ate too much.”
Mat laughed and stuffed another fry into his mouth. “You didn’t eat anywhere near as much as me,” he joked, “and I’m still going.”
“Yeah, but you worked up a sweat all night. I just talked to a few parents and stood around the silent auction,” I pointed out.
Mat grinned over at me. There was a mischievous look glimmering in his dark eyes. “You might need your energy to work up a sweat tonight.”
“Is that so?”
