Page 11 of The Dance

My brow furrowed. “Why not?”

He lifted a shoulder and blew out a long breath. “He looks down on me.”

“Really?”

Blake thought for a moment. “I don’t know. He’s the successful one, and I’m just a bartender intheireyes.”

“You mean him and your parents?”

He nodded. “They want me to go to school and get a degree, and I just want to save money and open my own bar or club.”

“How’d he first open his gym?”

“I’m assuming a loan.”

“Then why can’t you get a loan?”

“I’m trying to build my credit up to get one. I’m sure it was easier for Brandon since he has a business partner.”

“And you don’t want a business partner?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I want to do it on my own, so I can prove to my family I know what I’m doing.”

“Oh.” Since I barely knew Blake, I didn’t argue with him, but to me, even if he had a business partner and the company was successful—like his brother’s—it should mean he knew what he was doing. If I knew him better, I might have offered him advice I’d learned from school since I was a business major, but it sounded like he didn’t want help from anyone.

“Enough about my family shit. So, you’re going to be a dancer after college?”

I nodded as I exhaled. “That’s the plan, but I’ll have a business degree if things don’t work out.”

“Oh, right. Business major and a minor in dance.”

“Yeah, but that’s if dancing doesn’t work out.”

“What kind of dance?”

“My dream is to be a backup dancer for a pop singer, but if I don’t get to do that, I want to own a dance studio.”

“That’s cool. I had no idea dancers have degrees.”

“I guess not all do.” I lifted a shoulder.

We continued to make small talk until we pulled up to a large, one-story ranch-style home with a lot of cars parked along the street. Blake cut the engine after he parked behind a silver Range Rover. I started to open my door, but he reached over and grabbed my arm.

“They’re going to ask if we’re dating. Just tell them we are.”

“Oh—‘kay?”

“Look.” He rubbed his hands down his face. “I don’t know where you stand on the matter, but I don’t date.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

“I’m sorry if you thought—”

“No.” I shook my head. “It’s fine. I wasn’t expecting anything. I mean, we haven’t even kissed.”

“We can change that if you want.” He smirked, not skipping a beat.

I rolled my eyes. “Do you kiss all yourfriends?”