Page 79 of Renegade Roomie

I nod. “Done.”

I wish I could linger in the space for hours, but she has another appointment—and so do I. Catching the subway, I ride back to the city, and head to the women’s center, my excitement growing with every stop.

It’s really happening.

All my vision boarding, daydreaming, and late-night plans are finally coming to fruition. I’m not just going to be blending up products in my kitchen sink or hawking my products around the bodegas and local drugstores anymore. I’ll have real lab space, proper equipment, and soon, actual employees.

Which leads me to my next mission of the day.

“Hi Suze,” I greet the day manager, walking through the front door of the center.

She looks surprised to see me. “You’re early. I thought your workshop wasn’t until six.”

“It is,” I say. I run a monthly ‘closet angel’ session, helping our members put together outfits for job interviews and other important occasions. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”

“Sure.” Suze leads me to her cramped office, moving boxes and files off a chair to find me room to sit. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well… You know I have my business, creating makeup products,” I start. “I have an investor now, so I can really get things off the ground. I’m leasing workshop space, and I’ll be hiring some people to come work with me, making the products, dealing with shipments and fulfilment, that kind of thing.”

“Uh huh,” Suze nods, “That sounds great, but I don’t know where I come in.”

“I’d like to recruit through the center,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I know you have links to job schemes, helping women get back in the workforce. I’ll be training people anyway to create the products, and I know what a difference a stable job can make. I’d like the company to be a positive force at every level, from the employees up.”

Suze looks surprised. “Are you sure? A lot of our members would love an opportunity like this, but there is a risk of higher turnover for you. More instability.”

“I know.” I reply. “But I think it’s worth it, to build a company that’s really doing something that matters. The work is entry-level, but I’ll be offering basic benefits, and training. It could be a great fit.”

“Well…” Suze sits back. “This is unexpected. Do you know what positions you’ll be hiring for?”

I’ve spent the last seventy-two hours focusing on nothing else, so we get into the details, drawing up lists of the skills I’ll need, and what kind of on-the-job-training I can provide.

“This is just for starters,” I add, after we settle on three job postings for the center. “As we expand, I’ll hopefully be able to double, or even triple the workforce.”

Suze smiles. “Then I wish your lipsticks all the luck in the world.”

* * *

Turnout for my closet angel session is on the slim side, so after helping one of my regulars put together a sensible outfit for her first parent-teacher night, I head home. Dash texts, suggesting dinner, so I quickly shower and change into a date-night ensemble.

I pick my most badass black dress, the one that always makes me feel like a million bucks, and top it with my confidence boosting heels, because I’m going to need it.

Tonight, I’m going to ask Dash exactly what’s going on with us.

Because despite the fact he came after me in the street and kissed me senseless, and how we’ve spent the past three nights together, having an awesome time, I can’t ignore the fact we still haven’t spelled out what, exactly, is happening here.

Besides the fun banter and mind-blowing sex, I mean.

Sure, this whole ‘sexy fun’ phase is amazing, but I know myself, and it’s not just desire I’m feeling for Dash anymore. I know him. I like him. I maybe-more-than-like him. And unless I want to set myself up for a serious heartache down the line, it’s time to figure things out.

Is this a hold-over from our Florida hookup? Am I just a fling to him, or is he open to something real between us? The question has been growing in the back of my mind all week, and it’s time I act like a grown adult, bite the bullet, and actually ask the question.

Do you like me? Tick ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Well, maybe not that exact phrasing, but that’s what it feels like, as I apply my makeup and try to quell the butterflies in my stomach. I know, it’s ridiculous, I’ve been on a hundred dates, and usually have no problem speaking my mind and asking guys WTF they think is happening.

So why is this so hard with Dash?

The answer comes immediately. Because this could really be love.

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