Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“You need to go. I’m going to finish getting ready, and then head to my meeting.” Where I’ll find out if Steven thinks I’m worthy of investing in.
“Okay. I can take a hint. Good luck.”
“Are you going?” I ask him. Steven and I are meeting up before the Second Chances fundraiser, where quite a few people from our community will be. He shakes his head, blows me a kiss, and then walks out.
***
A good pool party is pretty high on my list of favorite things. Music, drinks, men showing a lot of skin. What’s not to love? Meeting with someone who has the ability to help you change your life and realizing it’s not going well, puts a pretty big damper on things.
There isn’t a part of me that thinks Steven is impressed.
He’s a nice man—looks to be about in his fifties, attractive with graying hair at his temples. He has the whole daddy, silver fox thing down well.
I discovered he’s been with his partner since he was twenty. He worked his way through college on his own, same as me, only he started at eighteen. He didn’t start one degree and suddenly change his mind and drop out—take a couple of years off, which is what it looks like I did. What it doesn’t tell him is that I’d gone to school for years for what my mom and dad wanted. That once I wasn’t their perfect son anymore, I had to figure out who I was, which included some time off, yeah, but that was because of finances. I’d had to put money away before I started my training to be a massage therapist.
But what I refuse to do is use my past and the shitty things that have happened to me to secure this deal. I want to earn this because he thinks I’m qualified, not out of pity.
“So, you’ve said you’ve only been practicing massage for about a year and a half?” Steven asks. People are swimming and dancing and talking all around us. Might as well call this meeting a wash now and join them.
“Yes, sir.”
“Steven. Call me Steven.”
Fuck. I forgot he’d told me that already. “Yeah. I worked at a shop for about a year, and then I went out on my own.” Translation—I don’t always work well with others. “It’s been six months, and I’m doing well. I have a steady clientele. I have an eighty-five percent return customer rate.”
I wring my hands together, waiting for him to reply.
“Considering how many clients you said you’re averaging per week, that’s an impressive rate. Very promising.” Steven pushes to his feet. “Walk with me for a second.”
Fuck. This isn’t going well.
I stand and head his way. Steven crosses his arms. My eyes scan the crowd, and that’s when I see him—Gary, standing off to the side by himself. He’s wearing a red speedo that I’m pretty sure he’s not comfortable in if the way he’s trying to hide against the wall says anything. He has no reason to worry. He really is fucking cute, in a quiet Gary way.
“I like you, Travis.” Steven’s words pull me out of my thoughts of Gary before he continues. “I do, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m a little nervous. I’m where I am in my life because I take my business seriously. This is a lot of money, and I have a few concerns. Looking at your experience, you haven’t done anything long-term. What happens to me if you decide this isn’t what you want?”
“I won’t,” I tell him. We stop moving and I face him, attempting to plead with my eyes. I’m not good at asking for help, at asking for anything, so I try to do it the only way I know how. “There’s nothing I can say to prove how I feel. I get that. And I know this is your money, and you have to make the best decision for yourself, but I believe I’m that. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I love what I do. It’s the only thing in my life I’ve ever wanted, and I’m good at it. I’m good with people. On paper, I know I don’t look like an ideal candidate. All I have is my word and my future actions that can prove it. I work hard. I’m honest, I’m loyal, and I know what I’m doing. If I wasn’t sure this would be a good deal for both of us, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“I’m not saying no,” he tells me, and I finally feel like I can breathe. “I’m saying, I need a little more incentive. I need a little more time to make sure this is a good deal for both of us.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way. If you jumped in headfirst, I’d have reservations of my own.”