Page 20 of The Dance
I took a deep breath. “Yeah, but at least you’re getting money out of it. I slept with Blake and got nothing.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “You slept with Blake?”
“Yeah.” I buried my head in my hands. “I just needed some.”
“Was it good?”
I lifted my head and grinned. “So good.”
“Are you going to see him again?”
“No.” I shook my head. “It was just a onetime thing.”
“Okay, so no boyfriend, and you need a job.”
“Yep.”
“So?” she prompted.
“So, let’s set up a profile when you have time.”
Molly clapped excitedly. “We’ll do it tonight when I get back from dinner.”
* * *
While I waitedfor Molly to return, I did my homework, ate dinner, and took a shower. I talked myself in and out of joining Sweethearts at least twenty times, but then I finally concluded that it was just dating.
Dating to pay my rent.
Dating to buy food.
Dating to survive.
It was either that or drop out of college and move home, where my dreams of being a dancer would die.
7
Blake
Three MonthsLater
Me: How’s California?
It was weird,but I missed my brother, and I didn’t think I would. When he would leave to open his gyms, and be gone for weeks, I loved not hearing how great he was every Sunday at dinner. But since he moved almost two thousand miles away to San Francisco, I found I was thinking of him often. All right, so maybe it wasn’t so bad when he lived in the same state as me.
It didn’t take long for Brandon to text back:
Cold. How’s it going there?
Me: Good. Are you coming home for Mom’s birthday?
There hadn’t been a year when we missed dinner with Mom or Dad for their birthdays.
Brandon: I would never miss her birthday.
Me: Cool. Meet any hot California babes?
Brandon: A few.
