Page 31 of I'm Yours

Apparently I was wrong.

Even with time and distance between us, I can’t outgrow Sadie Jones.

What scares me most?

I don’t think I want to.

Chapter Nine

Sadie

“Ready for tonight?” Kandace asks after we get done with our morning pole class. We’re both sweaty so I toss her a towel and we both start dabbing our skin. I bend over, remove my boot sleeves and boots and rub my ankles, placing them next to the office door.

A smile splits my lips. “Absolutely. This age group is so much fun.”

Tonight is the start of our kids’ classes for the year. Some of the more advanced level classes have met through the summer but this is the time of the year we get to see the little three year olds cling to their mama and daddy’s legs, afraid to go inside. Or they’re the opposite and they practically skip into the building. They’re adorable. Wearing their tiny leotards and ballet shoes.

“Erica is so excited, too. She said her new friend from school is going to be here and she can’t wait.”

We both work on changing into our street clothes while we talk. “Are they in the same class?”

“No. Her friend hasn’t danced before so she’s in the newcomer class but I think she’s just excited to have a new friend here.”

I lace up my Nikes and stand up straight, zipping my faded red hoodie. “So sweet.”

“I know. They’ve become such fast friends.”

We pick up our bags, ready to leave the studio for a few hours. My daily schedule isn’t typical. I open the studio for a yoga class that I attend taught by my friend Chelsea and then I teach pole dancing right after school drop-off. Sounds weird, I’m sure, but that’s when my students can come in. I have mid-day off and use the time to run errands or be a bum or if I’m unlucky, work on the bills for the studio. My nights are spent at the studio and I usually don’t walk in the door until after nine p.m., after I’ve taught my evening pole dancing class.

We get to our cars and I toss my bag in the back seat as she does the same. “What’s her name?”

“Whose?”

“Erica’s friend.”

“Oh! Ha! I need more coffee.”

We laugh together and I nod. “Want to go grab a coffee before you head home?”

“I can’t today. My laundry is out of control and the list of crap I need to get done is seriously anxiety-inducing. But I’ll be back tonight for class!”

She starts to get in her car and I call her name. “Kandace!”

“What?” she asks over the top of her car door.

“The name!”

“Of who?”

“Oh, good grief. Never mind. Maybe instead of laundry you can take a nap? Are you okay?”

She slaps her forehead. “Duh. I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep much last night.”

“Seriously, are you okay?”

Her face softens and she turns her head to the side. Kandace is a single mother and works four jobs. Aside from working for me when she can, she’s the cheerleading coach at the high school, works part-time at a local boutique on the weekends, and does medical coding out of her house. Not to mention, keeping two humans alive. I don’t know how she does it.

“I’m fine. First week of school wore all of us out.”

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