wasn’t always that way.”
“Maybe not, but I bet you were never this way.” She pointed to herself. “I can’t imagine you shy.”
He tilted his head. “Okay, I’ll give you that. But that doesn’t mean—” His eyes brightened. “Hey, I could teach you.”
“Teach me? Jasper—”
“No, I’m serious,” he said, a crackle of electric energy in his voice. “I’m going to be giving improv classes here. They’ll be free to members. You could join up. Learn with your coworkers. It will help you to loosen up and move through the fear. You can practice in front of people here. You’ll learn to think quicker on your feet and won’t be so afraid of making a mistake.”
She stared at him like he was speaking another language. “Me? In an improv class with my coworkers? You’re out of your goddamned mind. I’d rather go to the dentist and get all my teeth pulled without pain meds or enter a cage with a hungry lion. That’s like worst-nightmare stuff for me. Black widow spiders everywhere.”
His enthusiastic expression dimmed, and he reached out and put his hand over hers. “Come on. It won’t be that bad. This could help us both. I need my group to get noticed. I want to buy a theater, but I need investors. You don’t want to lose this job, and you shouldn’t. You’re freaking amazing at it. We could help each other. Win-win.”
His hand was warm and heavy over hers, and she appreciated his earnestness, but the thought of getting up in front of a group of WorkAround people and trying to do improv was ludicrous. No way. Not ever. “I’m sorry. I can’t. People…freak me out. Performing in front of people might actually kill me dead. I’m serious. I’m in therapy for this.”
He considered her, brows knitted, and then he tipped his head toward her. “What about just me then?”
She tried to read his expression. “What do you mean?”
“Private lessons. Free ones. Just one-on-one,” he said, talking slower, like he was choosing his words carefully. “I can teach you some of the tricks of improv. We can get you practicing on video. But no one else has to see you or the videos yet besides me. Safe space.”
She stared at him. “Safe space. Embarrassing myself in front of you?”
That didn’t sound safe at all. That sounded horrible. Super extra horrible.
“Of course. You don’t have to worry about looking ridiculous in front of me. My job is to look ridiculous.” He lifted his hand from hers and braced it on the counter, leaning closer, his gaze fervent. “Do you know how much power there is in learning not to give a fuck if you look stupid?”
She wet her lips, his nearness making her all kinds of nervous. He smelled like dark roast and cinnamon. “I can’t…”
“It’s like a drug, Hollyn,” he said softly. “It’s taking control back from everyone else and saying, ‘This is who I am and I don’t give a damn what you think.’ When you get to that place, you hold all the chips in the poker game. They can’t beat you. The fear fades.”
She closed her eyes, the picture he was painting pure fantasy but tempting nonetheless. “I don’t think I’m capable.”
“What’s the alternative?” he asked, voice quiet. “Giving up? Quitting your job? Isn’t it worth at least trying?”
She gripped her coffee cup with both hands, looking down at her bloodless fingers, nerves pulsing through her. “I don’t know.”
“Hey,” he said, his tone cajoling her to look up. “I promise you’re safe with me. I’m not going to make fun of you. I’m not going to tell you you’re doing it wrong. If it doesn’t work, I’m not going to blame you.” He smiled. “And I swear, this isn’t some ploy to get alone time with the Miz Poppy.”
Her lips parted in surprise.
“I mean, I did tell you I loved her.”
Her. Like Miz Poppy was a different person.
“I wouldn’t think that. I know what you meant.” He meant not Hollyn. He loved the image of Miz Poppy like everyone else, not the reality.
“Classes will be a pressure-free zone. Just one friend teaching another.” He shrugged. “And if, in return, you can give my show an honest review, I’d be forever indebted.”
The look he was giving her was so openly earnest that she couldn’t look away. Take one-on-one classes with a guy she was hopelessly attracted to and embarrass herself trying to do improv in front of him? This sounded like the worst plan in the history