Page 50 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“You’re expanding?”

Embarrassment colors my cheeks.

“I don’t know. Things have been wild these last few months. It’s the hockey effect.”

Calvin chuckles.

“We’re booked out with wait lists as long as our arms. I don’t know if Bea is interested, but I think we could easily book out another salon, or possibly move to a bigger location.”

“I think it’s a smart idea,” he tells me. “If the opportunity is there, you should go for it.”

I smile, pride racing through me.

“What other options have you come up with?’

I grab three more pieces of paper and hand them over.

“Oh shit, this one is nice. That space is huge.”

“It has so much potential,” I explain as he looks at the massive, empty space. “We could build the salon of our dreams in there. It would come at a huge cost, though.”

“Yeah, but it could bring in a fuck load if you got it right.”

“It’s probably a step too far.”

Calvin lowers the paper and stares at me.

“Your dream is never a step too far, darlin’.”

I blink at him, his words catching me off guard.

“I mean, assuming it is your dream.”

“It is. There isn’t anything else I’d rather do. I’d love to have my own place, but I don’t have the kind of money required for that.”

“If you did, what would you do?”

I sigh as I picture my ideal salon, and before I know what I’m doing, I’m laying it all out for him.

“So it’s this place, then?” he says, holding up the old warehouse listing.

“Yeah. I just need to win the lottery first.”

“You play?” he asks.

“Uh…no. So I guess I’m hoping for a miracle.”

“They can happen,” he says, sounding weirdly positive for someone who admitted that he’s struggling at the moment.

“Yeah, I guess,” I mutter, taking all the paperwork back from him. “This all might be a bit too much, though. Bea’s already got enough going on with her pregnancy and Rett.”

“Yeah. Rett can be hard work. I reckon the baby will be a walk in the park compared to him,” Calvin deadpans.

“That wasn’t what I meant,” I laugh.

He shrugs.

“I’ve crunched the numbers. Getting a second place is the cheaper option. Especially if we went for one of these that have been salons previously. But⁠—”