Chapter 12 #5
I chew on my lips. Sounds too good to be true.
Yes, to be stuck in a situation doesn’t sound all that appealing, but my life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns pooping lollipops.
Besides that, I’m stuck here anyway, with no prospects but a life forever paying my family’s debt and working at the diner.
No offense to Marina, I love her, and she loves me; that’s why she always encourages me to get the hell out of Little Hope. But now I have something to lose.
I have Freya and Alex. Well, I had Alex.
And I have Justin. Well, I don’t have have him, but after tasting those few tiny moments with him, I’m a sucker for more.
I feel like we’re so close to breaking the ice.
There are already a few deep cracks. His words, sounding so close to a declaration of his interest in me… yeah, that one knocked me off pace.
God, if somebody ever told me they’re about to throw away their dream for a man, I’d throat punch them. And yet, here I am. Considering doing the same. Thankfully I have TJ, who looks like he’s about ready to beat me if I don’t make the correct decision.
“I don’t know, that’s?—”
“Sudden. I know.” Archie takes a step closer and pokes my shoulder with his finger. “Take some time to think about it, but don’t disregard the idea right away. Alright?”
“What’s in it for you?” I squint my eyes at him.
He laughs. “So suspicious, aren’t we?” My eyes narrow even more, if that’s even possible.
“Gathering talents is my hobby.” He pokes me again.
“Relax, Kayla,” he says with a smile. “I wouldn’t force you to do anything you don’t want.
But you’re a big part of Alex’s life, and I’m planning to be as well.
We’re almost family. And family helps each other. Think about it, okay?”
I scratch my nose, staring at the floor. “Okay,” I tell them, feeling the weight of my decision on my shoulders.
“Good.” He claps his hands once. “Alright. Now, show me some of your newest work.”
I smile—that I can do. I pull over my recent work, and the men go insane over them.
I don’t think I’ve ever received this level of praise in my whole life.
Archie orders pizza for the entire shop, and he, TJ, and I retreat to the back room to talk business.
He shares his idea of opening a parlor in Copeland, a city thirty minutes west of Little Hope, opposite Springfield.
I nervously glance at TJ—I don’t know how he will take such close competition; the area doesn’t have that many people after all, let alone those who get tattoos—but he looks fine to me. Excited, even. Alrighty then.
Archie says it takes a long time to become an established business, especially in small cities where people like to resist change.
Oh, I can attest to that . And a tattoo parlor is definitely a change.
Besides, it will attract more of a certain crowd —like me, and I’m not exactly the most well-loved person in Little Hope.
After several hours of business talk, Archie clasps his hands together, sticking them behind his head as he sits back in his seat. “Alright, pleasure doing business with you. Time to get back to work,” he says with a sparkle in his eyes.
We bump fists, and he leaves. My gaze follows him all the way outside until he disappears. I feel TJ’s heavy gaze on me. “What?” I ask.
“He’s a lil’ better than that asshole you’ve been pining over, but still an asshole. Plus, he got some dark shit in here.” He taps his finger on his temple, his voice serious. Way too serious for him. In fact, I’ve never heard him speak that way before. Not with me, at least.
“What the hell, TJ?” I snap. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t mix business and pleasure. And don’t piss on the golden goose.” He’s tapping his furry chin.
“Seriously, dude, what the hell?”
“C’mon, you know what I’m talking about.” He starts shoving papers around his table; the so-called back room also works as an office. I blink a few times at him. “Oh, c’mon!” It’s his time to snap. “That blond asshole you’ve been crushing on for years.”
“How the hell do you know about that?” No matter how long I’ve lived in Little Hope, I always find new reasons to be genuinely astonished by the power of the rumor mill.
“A small town.” He shrugs.
“You don’t even live in Little Hope.” My voice rises. Freaking small towns.
“I just know, kid. I just do.” He says it so tiredly, so sincerely, that for the first time, I look at him from a different point of view, not just as business associates.
I think he might actually care about me, and that realization makes me want to cry.
A year ago, I had only Marina, and now there’s a growing bubble of wonderful people around me.
“He’s no good for you. The dude’s pining after you, but he’s toxic.
No good.” He shakes his head while touching his long beard.
He always does that when he’s thinking. I watch him, speechless.
I don’t even think I’m blinking. How does he know that when I only found out about Justin’s thoughts myself?
“TJ,” my voice pleads, “I know, but I just can’t.”
“Can’t what? Follow your dream?” He pulls the drawer from his table out and rummages through the contents.
“It’s complicated.” I let out a defeated sigh.
“I’ve heard about your debt.” He shocks the hell out of me with this announcement and proceeds to pull a checkbook out. “I can lend you money to pay it off.”
“Oh.” I stand there completely dumbfounded. “How do you?—”
“Don’t insult me, kid.” He shuts me up with a raised hand. I swallow nervously, not knowing what to say. I was hoping the sins of my family wouldn’t follow me to the workplace. I’ve earned TJ’s respect through years of hard work, and I don’t want it to be ruined by the information he’s unearthed.
“Yeah.” My whole body loses pressure like a suddenly popped balloon, and I sag into a chair.
“How much do you need?” He’s smoothing his beard again—a clear tell that he’s deep in thought.
“Oh no!” I jump up from the chair. “I mean, I don’t need the money; I’m just embarrassed. How long have you known?”
“Since your first day here.” He taps a pen on the table. “Things like that don’t happen around here unnoticed.”
“True.” Unfortunately.
“It doesn’t change anything,” he states firmly.
“But—”
“It doesn’t change anything,” he repeats. “You’re not your mother; their sins are not yours.”
“Yeah, could argue against that one.” Most of the fine citizens of Little Hope would disagree with him, but my guilty mind does too.
“Let me know if you need help.” He begins shuffling through the drawer again. “I’m here for you through anything.” He stops moving and holds my eyes. “Anything. Got it?” He smacks the checkbook on the table.
“Got it,” I answer, swallowing a huge lump.
“Good. Now get outta here; papa has some shit to ink.”
I laugh and walk away, wondering what type of ‘shit’ he’ll be inking today. For the first time in forever, I allow myself to dream that I’ll be the one leaving permanent marks on people’s bodies. A positive mark for a change.