“That’s a hard test. Congratulations,” Dallas said, ignoring Tristan like everyone else seemed to be doing. Dallas had trained several golfers preparing for the brutal ability test. Many never scored high enough to make the move into professional. Chad’s was a sizable accomplishment.
“Thanks. I want to invest in this, Dad. I think it’s a good idea. Ducky was telling me they have an interactive mirror. They already have a prototype, and they’re working on something that can affix to an existing mirror. That’s their thing. They want to eventually sell equipment, but right now their focus is on turning any piece of exercise equipment into a trainer by using their boxes. Isn’t that right, Ducky?” Chad waited for Ducky’s confirmation. When he nodded, Chad said the words Dallas wanted desperately to hear. “What’s it gonna take to get in on this? I have a small trust fund.”
Dylan barked out a hearty laugh, drawing every eye his direction. “You don’t have a trust fund.”
“Well, I should have one. I want to invest in this. What’s it take?” Chad pressed, staring at Ducky, staying focused on the answer.
Skye chuckled at the exchange, causing Dallas to join in too, especially when Ducky’s head jerked around toward Dallas, giving his best deer in the headlights look.
“Don’t answer that,” Dylan said, his face moving closer to the screen. “Let’s all get together and talk later this week. I’ll have my assistant reach out to set a time. My schedule should be relatively open. This is mainly a family visit.” Dylan still seemed oblivious to the sulking Tristan, who remained tight-lipped.
“We’ll work around your schedule, for sure. Thank you,” Dallas said.
“Good job tonight. I look forward to talking to you soon.” Dylan smiled and lifted a hand, giving a small wave.
Skye’s excitement could barely be contained. She gave a little bounce in her seat. Dallas had worked hard to hold it together, be a professional, even as hope built at record speed as their future began to brighten. Ducky even broke character and extended a hand for a high five.
Dylan chuckled after watching them and turned his bright smile toward Tristan who wasn’t giving in to the excitement of the moment.
“Babe, really? Five days?”
“Maybe longer, Tristan,” Dylan said. He turned away from the camera, facing fully toward Tristan. “You know Chloe’s trying her first case. Cate has her runway show. I need to be there.”
“I agree,” Tristan said, as if everything Dylan said was obvious. “But they’re my kids too. Let me change my schedule. I need to be there. You know I don’t sleep well with you gone.”
“Tristan, you can’t postpone the Zurich project.” Dylan tossed out a hand toward Chad. “They know you would be there if you could.”
Ducky waved at Chad and reached over to push end to the video call. Both screens went blank. No one moved from their small cluster next to Ducky’s desk. It took several seconds of utter quietness, with the three of them looking at one another in disbelief, before anyone spoke.
“Say something,” Ducky said. When they didn’t, Ducky misinterpreted their silence. “I thought it sounded like a personal deal that we shouldn’t be listening to, so I ended the call.”
“No, that was good of you. The rest, well, I’m afraid to say anything out loud. I don’t want to jinx it,” Dallas said. His brain felt almost numb with hopefulness. “We can’t celebrate yet. We don’t know what they’re planning to offer. We need to manage our expectations.”
“But what if they want to invest?” Skye asked, her lip pushing between her teeth at the prospect.
“Or they might want to buy us out, and we’re not ready to let go,” he countered, playing devil’s advocate even as his heart clung to Skye’s far better idea.
“You’re right. Let’s not do this, but our little company had a great night!” Skye said, crossing one of her long legs over the other. “And let’s put out into the world what we want to happen. What is that exactly?”
“Serious capital,” Dallas started, using his fingers as a ticker.
“And connections,” Ducky said. Dallas lifted a second and third finger, when Ducky added, “We have to get material costs lowered. We need to make more money off each box, right?”
“Completely, right.” Dallas tossed out a fist bump to Ducky. He’d truly broken so many of his internal barriers tonight. “You’re the man, bro.”
Ducky beamed, causing Skye’s grin to widen and throw out her own fist bump. Ducky happily obliged. “I think we need to celebrate our successful day and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.” She jumped up, happy with her idea. “I’m gonna cancel my plans. Let’s go out. Dinner and dancing, and Ducky, you’re coming with us.”
“I don’t know,” Ducky hedged. Dallas could almost see his brother pulling back into himself, trying to hide from a world he truly didn’t understand. Ducky gave a hard shake of the head and started to turn away, reaching for his headphones.
“I do know. We’re going out at least for dinner.” Dallas pushed the button to turn off Ducky’s CPU and got the anticipated outrage.
Skye only laughed and headed for the door. “I can start teaching two classes every night. I think we need more variety. Are y’all good with that?”
“Sure,” Dallas said, stretching out his body as he got to his feet. “I think it’s a great idea. I’m teaching about three classes a day, but those are daytime hours. We need more evening classes.”
“Give me thirty minutes. You’re driving. I’m drinking,” she said and left their apartment, door swinging closed behind her.
Dallas decided right then this would be an Uber night. They all needed a drink to celebrate. Maybe Donny could meet them.
“Dallas, I don’t want to go. We don’t really have the money…” Ducky started. The squeak of Ducky’s chair, and the stomp following him made Dallas’s grin grow. Ducky always backed out of anything going-out related. He should let his brother celebrate however he saw fit, but not tonight.
“Go with us for dinner then you can come home if you want. We need to celebrate you, bro. You did this. Go shower first. I’m calling Donny.”
Ducky still hesitated. Dallas had to push his brother by the arm into their shared bathroom before going for his cell phone.
Chapter 5
No doubt with as badly as his body already hurt, Greer would seriously regret this workout in the morning. His legs ached as he padded across the room, running his fingers through his freshly dried hair. The blond strands were cut and styled in such a way they easily fell into place—good thing, because his biceps burned from the force he’d used to grip those handlebars.
Greer perused the clothing he’d laid across his mattress. They were designed to impress. The slacks and dress shirt he chose to wear tonight complimented his naturally tanned skin tone and were tailor-made to fit his body like a glove. He wasn’t entirely sure the quivering in his quads wouldn’t be seen under such a snug fit.
As he reached for a pair of underwear inside the dresser drawer, his cell phone rang again. He almost didn’t answer, maybe his silence would be enough to imply he and Skye should change their plans to another day. Since it actually hurt to lift his foot into the leg hole of the underwear, and that was technically her fault, he tossed the black briefs on the bed and went for the phone.