Foul Pole by Tina Gallagher

Chapter Five

Leo


“I really like this place,”Nori said as she snuggled next to Trey on the couch. “It’s so bright and open. You did a great job picking out colors.”

I picked her, Trey, and Crispin up at the airport a couple hours ago and brought them back to my house. After giving them the grand tour, we decided to just stay in and order Chinese takeout.

“You know that was all you and Angie.”

“Give all the credit to Angie. She asked for my opinion on her ideas, but she’s the one who picked them.”

“Speaking of Angie, did she send you an update on her ETA?” Crispin asked.

I glanced at my phone.

“No, but she should be here within the hour, unless she hits traffic.”

That led to a discussion of my sister and her missed promotion. The general consensus is she should find another job. I didn’t offer much to the conversation because Nori and Crispin seemed to know more about the subject than me.

That last thought made me smile.

I didn’t even know either of them last year at this time. So when Trey and Nori shared a ride from Fayetteville to Myrtle Beach, they not only found each other, Angie and I also gained some good friends.

“I’m so sorry if I started an argument between you and Angie when I mentioned we were coming here this weekend,” Nori said. “I thought she already knew.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I didn’t want her here, I just forgot to mention it.” I chuckled. “And it’s not like she’d need an invitation. Trey can confirm the fact that my family doesn’t wait to be invited to show up.”

“That is a true statement. They descended on us in college all the time,” he said. “And his house in New Jersey pretty much has an open-door policy.”

“Which is exactly why I bought this place.”

I saluted them with my beer bottle then took a long drink.

“We’ve met Angie and Chris. When do we get to meet the others? Especially your older brother?” Crispin bobbed his eyebrows as he added that last question.

“You’re in a committed relationship now,” Nori reminded him.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a little Marakis eye candy.” He glanced at me. “No offense, but now that we’re actually friends it seems creepy to appreciate your appearance like I used to.”

“No offense taken.” I patted my hair. “As long as you still appreciate my hair.”

I’m not being cocky when I say that I was blessed with a great head of hair. So was my entire family. We could all be in shampoo commercials. Of course, I’m the only one who actually is.

As a hairstylist, Crispin shares my love of my thick locks. When we first met, he begged me...yes actually begged me...to let him cut my hair.

His eyes skimmed over my head and he smiled.

“You don’t have to worry about that changing. In fact, I’m glad I brought my scissors. You need a trim.”

“Yeah, it’s getting a little long.” I dragged my fingers through my overly-long hair and nodded. “Speaking of hair.” I looked over at Nori. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

She had fuscia hair when we met, which Trey initially hated. But once they got involved, he liked it enough that when she mentioned going back to her natural color, he talked her out of it. So I was totally surprised to see her show up with blonde hair today.

“Yeah, I was sick of it. Thankfully I have a kickass stylist that got me back to my natural color gracefully.” She blew Crispin a kiss.

The food arrived and Angie pulled into the driveway just as the delivery guy was driving away.

“Perfect timing,” I said as she stepped out of her car.

She slammed the car door and walked toward me with purposeful strides.

“I quit my job.”

I quickly stepped aside when it was obvious she wasn’t going to stop to chat after dropping that bomb. Following her inside, I set the bags down on the kitchen island.

“Did something happen?”

Normally I can read her mood, but she seems to be a jumble of emotions right now and I’m not sure which one is prominent.

Trey, Nori, and Crispin joined us. After she hugged the three of them, she took a deep breath.

“I’m starving. Why don’t we sit and eat and I’ll fill you in?”

We settled around the table and once everyone’s plates were full, she told us what happened. The guy who got the promotion she was up for embarrassed her in a meeting by criticizing the work she did for some big campaign.

“I explained that the client wanted something totally different than anything else we’d done for them. I also said that I realized what I created was a little edgy, but the client liked the initial mockups.”

“So if the client liked them, what’s the issue?” Nori asked.

“He went on to mansplain that in his experience, a client may think they want something different but they really don’t. And that if we go with my crazy concept, we’ll lose the customer. Then he went on to talk down to me as if I didn’t have a clue.” She dropped her fork on her plate and put her hands out, palms up. “So I quit.” Blinking, she looked around at each one of us before dropping her hands on the table. “Holy shit. I still can’t believe I did it. ”

“You’re better off,” I said. “The fact that they passed you up for that promotion shows that they don’t value your talent.”

Everyone agreed with me and vocalized their own support.

“We can brainstorm artsy career options this weekend,” Nori said.

Angie nodded, then insisted we change the subject.

“Speaking of this weekend, what kind of things are there to do in this fair city?” Crispin asked.

“Well, tomorrow night we’re going to that pole dance recital at the studio in Clay’s building.”

“And on Monday night, we’re going to a class,” Angie said to Nori.

“I’ve never taken a dance class in my life so that should be interesting.”

“Neither have I, but it looks like so much fun and it’s supposed to be a great workout.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fun.” Nori chuckled. “I just hope I don’t kill myself.”

“I’m sure Anjannette wouldn’t let that happen.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted speaking them. My tone came out too friendly, too warm, too interested. And don’t think Trey and Angie didn’t notice.

My sister looked at me with narrowed eyes as a slow smile spread across her face.

“Who’s Anjannette?”

“The woman who owns the studio.”

I shoved a dumpling into my mouth and chewed.

“Is there something special about this Anjannette?” Trey asked.

That’s a loaded question. Mostly because I’m not sure how to answer it. There’s definitely something about her, but I’m just not sure what or why I’m so drawn to her.

Trey’s witnessed me with enough women through the years, so he’ll definitely notice my attraction to Anjannette when we’re in the same room. Hell, I knew he was interested in Nori just by the way he talked about her.

I thought about just ignoring his question, but I know that will only make him and Angie make the subject a bigger deal than I want it to be.

So instead, I said, “That, my friend, remains to be seen.”

Anjannette


“Stop looking at your phone,”Rosa said, her hand poised in front of my face. “You’re gonna end up with eyelashes on your brow.”

“Sorry. I keep getting texts and I don’t want to miss anything.”

“They can wait fifteen minutes while I finish your hair and makeup.”

I started to shift my eyes to look up at her but stopped myself at the last minute.

“Thank you so much for doing this. With the way my nerves are today, I wouldn’t trust myself with a hairbrush never mind liquid eyeliner.”

“Relax. Everything is going to be fine.”

She pulled back and studied my face then went in with a few more lashes. My natural eyelashes are short and pale so they need a lot of work. But Rosa is a professional and I trust her implicitly.

“I just want everything to be perfect.”

“You’re the master planner, so I know you’ve beaten even the tiniest detail into submission,” she said with a smirk. “Besides, this isn’t your first rodeo. How many recitals did you put together at the other studio?”

“That was different. It wasn’t my studio.”

“It doesn’t mean you didn’t treat it like it was.”

I shrugged as she shifted behind me and started on my hair.

Rosa and Keera and a bunch of the other girls followed me when I opened my studio, and I’ll be forever grateful for that. Starting with some students made things a lot less scary.

Although even if they hadn’t followed, I would have ventured on my own anyway. Like my relationship with Travis, my time at the other studio needed to come to an end. It was time for me to use my skills and experience to build my own dream instead of someone else’s.

True to her word, Rosa had me show-ready in less than fifteen minutes. I stood and checked myself out in one of the mirrors I’d propped against the wall. Clay had graciously offered me use of the unoccupied space directly across from the studio for people to get ready.

“You’re a miracle worker.” I shook my head and watched the curls she’d created bounce back into place. “The only way I get this much curl in my hair is if I use hot rollers. And even then, I’m lucky if they last an hour.”

“These will definitely last through your performance,” she said with a smile.

The door opened and a few of my students walked into the room. I took in a deep breath and blew it out.

“Looks like this party is really getting started.”

I walked across the hall and into the studio and immersed myself in last-minute details. Before long, people started to arrive. Much to my surprise, we “sold out” a week ago, so all the chairs should be full. Anyone who buys a ticket tonight will be designated to the standing section.

As my pre-show playlist sounded in the background, I checked the actual show’s music for the hundredth time, making sure it was all in order. I’d just gotten to the bottom of the list when Keera sidled up next to me.

“Your hottie is here.”

“He’s not my hottie.”

“Then how do you know who I’m talking about?” she asked with a knowing smirk.

I rolled my eyes and made the mistake of looking over my shoulder toward the door just as Leo walked into the studio. His eyes scanned the room before shifting in my direction and locking onto mine. I sucked in a startled breath at the heat that engulfed my body just from that.

A man stepped behind him and said something, pulling his attention from me just long enough to break the spell. I closed my eyes and took in a few calming breaths in an attempt to slow my pounding heart.

“Wow.”

I’d forgotten Keera was standing right next to me. Which is absolutely bizarre since we’d been speaking just a second before Leo entered the room.

I set the iPad back onto its dock, surreptitiously making sure my nipples aren’t visible through the thin material of my wrap dress.

Looking back at Keera, I raised my brow.

“Wow what?”

She shook her head and laughed.

“I don’t think I can find the words to explain.”

Leo and his friends sat in the row of chairs in the back against the back wall. A few people approached to talk to him and at first I wondered why, but then remembered he’s a bigtime baseball player. The man he’s with seems to be getting a lot of attention too.

“Who’s that guy with Leo?” I asked Keera.

“Trey Youngman.” At my deadpan look, she explained. “He’s a pitcher. Formerly with the Yankees. Now with the Waves.”

She raised her voice on the last word of each of those sentences turning them into questions. I shrugged. When it comes to professional athletes, I only know the really big names. Even then, I probably wouldn’t have a clue if I actually met them.

I’m more of a Buffy, Outlander, Lord of the Rings kind of girl. Now if David Boreanaz, Sam Heughan, or Jason Momoa walked into the studio, I’d know themfor sure.

“I’m guessing the girl with the long, dark hair is his sister,” I said.

“Yeah, they look a lot alike. The other one is Nori Somers. She’s engaged to Trey. I’ve seen her in pictures with him.”

I looked at the man in question. He and the tiny tattooed woman look as different as Leo and me. Before my mind coulddelve into that comparison, I turned to face Keera, putting my back to them.

“Do you want to go check on Sophie to make sure she’s ready?”

“Sure. While I’m over there, I’ll get into my costume so I can come over and introduce Mel while you strip.”

I’m wearing my first costume under my dress so it will only take me a minute to change and come back for my doubles routine with Keera.

“Sounds good.” I grabbed the microphone. “I’m going to let everyone know we’re going to get started in about five minutes.”

“You should be so proud of yourself.” She hugged me then pulled back with a big smile on her face. “What you’ve done here, the community you’re building, is amazing.”

I waved my hand in front of my eyes and blinked away the tears her words had caused.

“Don’t make me cry. Rosa will kill me if I ruin my eye makeup.”

With a laugh, she made her way across the studio and out the door.

I turned on the mic and announced that the show would be starting. Soon every chair was full and the standing-room-only section was as well.

Rosa’s husband Mason volunteered to play DJ for the night and he settled into his designated seat in the corner. Rick the videographer was in place and I spotted Sophie lingering in the doorway ready to start her routine.

I’d like to pretend my tight stomach, pounding heart, and excess energy are all in response to the excitement of the studio’s first recital, but I’d be lying. The sexy man who’s barely taken his eyes off me since he entered the room is definitely the root cause of some of those reactions.

But that’s something I’ll need to evaluate at another time.

Doing my best to ignore him, I stepped into the center of the room to start this show.