Chapter 6
Six
Wren
One thing I'm not prepared for is the late night. I expected us to close around eleven, but here we are at almost one in the morning, finishing up the last client. The shop in San Antonio had a strict eleven pm close. They wouldn't even let walk-ins come in past a certain time. I have a feeling I'm going to become a night owl.
I've got this, though. Out of any shop in Dallas, this is the one I want to be a part of. They are leaving a legacy, and they don't even know it yet.
"Okay, Mr. Barry, that's it. Follow me up front to take care of payment." She helps the elder man stand up, pulls her gloves off, and tosses them in the trash on the way out of the room.
I'm not sure what I should be doing. Do I follow her? Or do I clean up in here? I don't know her breakdown method, and screwing up on my first day is not something I'm looking forward to.
It's quiet in the rest of the shop. Only Bianca and Mr. Barry's muted talking through the door keeps me comfort. The rest of the team must have gone home.
Christian comes to mind, and I feel the urge to see if he's still here. I didn't even ask if he rode here with Bianca. That doesn't seem like a smart choice since she lives in another town. But you never know.
Before I leave the room, Bianca comes back in. "So, did you learn a lot today?"
"I mean, it's the standard at any shop. Except that y'all don't take payment individually."
"Oh, no, we do. It's just all in the safe box up front." She points through the open door. "And if we need to use the credit card machine, that's where it's hooked up. Charleigh, or Corey, pays us out as soon as the money clears."
That's definitely new. But I like it...I think. "Is there a certain way you clean up at the end of the day? I wasn't sure where you put everything, and I didn't want to intrude."
"Girl," she snorts. "You better learn how to be intrusive. Everyone else around here has no problem with that. We're like a huge ass family. I can't count how many times Charleigh has come in here and taken some of the ink. Or when Adrian used to grab my tracing paper." She crosses her arms and eyes the cabinets. "You know it's like when your sibling continuously borrows your clothes, and you have to go searching for them because they never bring them back."
"I've never had that problem."
"Consider yourself lucky."
"Don't you have brothers?"
Laughing, she nods. "Yeah, but I also wear badass band t-shirts and they take them every chance they get."
"Wow." Who knew having siblings could be so territorial? "Now, I'm kinda glad Walker was never into my clothes. Though I can't imagine him wearing my skirts, or frilly tanks."
"That would be interesting, for sure." She moves her tattoo gun to the counter and throws away the trays of ink. She's much cleaner that any artist I've worked with, and I'm happy I don't have to do too much after she's put her things away.
"Is that all we need to do tonight?" I had to clean the entire shop at the last one. They didn't care how long it took me.
"Yep. That's it," she grins. "Christian took care of everything else before he left. It's in his job description."
My face falls when she says he isn't here. I was hoping to talk to him. Things are awkward between us now, and I need to fix it. "That's good to know."
Bianca waits for me to leave the workroom and follows me. Before we get to the front door, where the neon sign is off, she gets in front of me. "Is there something going on with you and my brother?"
Okay, then. She is very clued into people, or she knows something I didn't until today. How do I answer this without sending her into defensive mode? "I'm not sure?"
Stupid Wren. That will not endear you to her. There's no telling what's going through her head.
"Pretty sure that's a yes or no question, but I'll let it slide." She shakes her head and pushes the door open. "I'll be honest, both of you suck at flirting. Or whatever it is you called that earlier. I don't have a problem if you like my brother. He's had a crush on you for years . Just don't hurt him."
We walk to the side of the building toward our cars. "I won't hu?—"
She holds her hand up to stop me. "Making statements or promises you don't know you can keep is dumb. Y'all figure shit out so you can work together in the same space without turning into klutzes. And whatever you do, do not bring any relationship drama into the shop."
"I feel like that shouldn't even be a warning you have to give." Talk about things being weird.
"I didn't think I would either, but Charleigh just couldn't help herself. She wouldn't answer her phone, and he came here looking for her."
"Oh, wow." Plus side, if Christian ever has to find me, he knows exactly where I am. If I'm not here, I'm at home. That may change once I let friends know I'm back, but a part of me wants to stay in my protective bubble a little longer.
"Yeah." She waves as she unlocks her car door. "Anyway, have a good night. Let me know when you'll be in tomorrow. You get to put ink to skin."
"Is there a certain time you need me here?"
"Just by noon. We don't have many customers before that, but Charleigh and I take turns coming in early to get the coffee and other items started up."
"Okay, I'll see you at noon, then." I wave as she gets in her car. Baby toys litter the backseat and I don't remember anyone saying she had a kid.
I slide into my car and start it. I hope like hell Walker left me some pizza. He said he was ordering a few to keep him fueled up while playing some game. I need to hang out with him more often so I can become accustomed to staying up late. This job won't be for the faint of heart, especially when I'm working the same hours as Christian.