Page 65 of Last Letters to Ara
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After a lot of consideration, I’ve decided to make the workshops free until they gain some traction. It’s a bit of a risk, meaning the return on investment would be dependent on the students becoming customers, but offering the classes for free will encourage more attendance. Once it becomes more popular, we can charge a small entry fee to keep them going.
The main things I need to figure out is how to get instructors and how to get attendees. I can figure out the when, where, and what later. The most straightforward way is to start advertising to the customers we already have, who are either already experts in their field, or people who want to learn. Plus, I don’t need any money from Jane to do it. Just a laptop and printer.
I grab my phone.
Me: I need to borrow your laptop.
Theo: Need some new material to work out the tension from last night?
Theo will be the death of me, my poor underwear being collateral damage.
Me: *eyeroll*
Me: Are you free or not?
Theo: Jane’s?
Me: Yep.
Theo: On my way ;-)
I need to buy my own goddamn laptop.
The bell dings about a half an hour later, indicating that someone has entered the store, and my stomach drops to my feet. Every cell in my body spikes with awareness, as if my body is already so attuned to him that it canfeelhis proximity. I don’t have to look to know it’s Theo.
Closing my eyes, I try to clear my thoughts. I simply need his laptop. Nothing else.
“Imagining all the interesting things we could do against these shelves?” Although his tone is teasing, there is no stopping the shiver it sends down my spine.
“Theo!” I scold, slapping him on the arm.
Not thirty seconds in and I’m already touching him.
He gives me an apologetic smile, a ceasefire. “Weapons down?”
“Weapons down.” I sigh in relief. “I need your help with something important.”
“I’m all yours.” His simple words send me straight to the top of that roller coaster, stomach flipping out of control as I hang just over the edge, ready to fall.
“Let’s go next door, they have Wi-Fi and coffee.”
I leave Jane a note, saying that I’m working on the proposal next door in case she comes looking for me. We grab a table outside, enjoying the last few weeks before the Florida weather turns into the fiery rings of hell.
Theo orders a hot black coffee, and I get my usual iced coffee with extra cream. I don’t waste any time, diving straight into an explanation about my project. For some reason, I don’t feel as nervous explaining it to Theo. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve already been reassured of its validity, or if it’s because I’m always a little bit braver when he’s around.
“Ara, you realize this is incredible, right?”
I blush. “You really think so?”
Theo nods. “You should share your ideas with the world more often.”
I’m bad at taking compliments, so I wave him off and continue with business, though his words remind me of what Dad used to say. I never listened, but maybe he was right. Maybe peoplewouldlike what I have to offer if I ever become brave enough to do the offering.
“I needed the laptop because I wanted to make posters and put them up in the store, one seeking instructors, and one to let our customers know that the workshops will soon be available.”
Theo nods his agreement. “You should also ask Jane if they have any sort of an email list or social media profile. If they don’t, you could start one to reach new people that way, maybe even set up a live stream of the workshops.”
