Page 40 of Rise After Fall

“Good.”

He walks away, and I turn to see Morris giving me a look of disapproval.

“What?” I ask.

“What’s your problem with hugs?” he asks.

“I don’t have a problem with hugs. I have a problem with men in a mentoring position touching girls in any unwelcome manner.”

“She didn’t seem upset,” he notes.

“Yeah, well, sometimes, girls pretend not to be bothered so they don’t seem unreasonable. And since men have historically been unable to correctly read when a girl is uncomfortable, we’re going to nip the need for you to decipher anything in the bud and not handle the females any differently than we would the grown men clients. Is that okay with you?” I ask.

“I guess.”

“You guess? Morris, I need you to have my back in these situations. Like it or not, these guys look up to you because you’re Langford’s brother. So, when I’m correcting them, I need you to stand with me and back up my decisions. No exchanging quizzical looks with them or defending their actions. If you have the urge to oppose me, do it behind closed doors. I need them to know that they have to abide by my rules.”

He nods. “Okay, Zoey. I’ll have your back, but you need to consider the individual when you single them out. Clay meant nothing by the embrace. The girl was clearly not disturbed. Next time, perhaps you could make a mental note and then address the issue to the staff as a whole and not make it feel like a personal attack.”

I know he’s right.

“Fine. I can do that, but, Morris, when you’re here, you have to remember that they’re your coworkers. Not your friends. They can be both, but there will be times you have to put on your business hat because some issues are more pertinent than others and need immediate attention. If your goal is to advance one day, you’ll have to learn that.”

“Understood,” he says.

I give him a stiff nod.

“I’m assuming this rule applies to you and Joanna too?” he asks.

“Absolutely.”

“What if the student hugs you? Can you hug them back, or should you push them away?” he asks.

My eyes snap back to him. “If they are children who initiate it and their parents are around, then, yes, you can hug them back. Asshat.”

“Got it.”

Thankfully, he has a last-minute client and has to hurry away, and I escape to the locker room.

“You heading out?” Joanna asks as I stuff my jacket in my locker and grab my purse.

“Yeah, I was invited to this thing tonight, and Langford’s wife is supposed to be picking me up soon,” I say.

“We’re all going to the Summit Bar tonight if you want to come meet us after,” she invites.

“Who’s we?” I ask.

“Me, Scooter, Clay, Morris, and I think he invited that girl who’s taking a lesson with him.”

That gets my attention.

“Who?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know her name. She came in for a beginner’s lesson about thirty minutes ago.”

“And he already invited her out. Wow, that’s fast,” I quip.

“Yeah, I thought so, too, but Clay said it seems like they know each other.”