“Yes. Right here.” He motioned to the setup behind him. “He was one of my favorite clients back then. Now he’s my favorite student.”
My face screwed up in confusion.
“You teach him?”
Ciro nodded simply.
“I'm an apprentice here,” Theo explained. “Until I open my own spot.”
Ciro scoffed. “Tuh! You wish. Daddy Clayton would flip a lid if you eventhinkof starting a business that doesn’t involve cement.”
“Stop saying Daddy Clayton,” Theo groaned.
Ciro laughed again before his eyes fell on me again.
“You’re even prettier than the way he describes you,” he said, winking at Theo. “And he talks about you alot.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Ignore him.”
I looked around, brow raised. “I’m not surprised. You always talk about me.”
“Alwaysis a stretch,” Theo snorted as he opened a drawer and grabbed random tools. “I’m gonna go set up to practice. Coming?”
I floated behind him like a lovesick idiot, excited to see my man work.
When we got to his station, I crossed my arms as I watched him.
After a few moments passed, I asked, “So, what’d you tattoo first?”
He paused, holding a needle cartridge in his hand. “Myself. On my ankle.”
“The bird that’s flying backward?”
He shot me an annoyed look. “Yes. Thephoenix. It was stupid. Didn’t mirror it properly.”
I stepped forward to get a better look at him as he prepared the tray. “Why didn’t you tell me you did this?”
He shrugged, not meeting my eyes. “I don’t know. I liked the quiet of it. Plus, having something to myself makes me feel likea whole person. It’s not just you, though. No one else knows I do this.”
I stared at him. “Your dad doesn’t approve.”
“No, he does not.”
I sighed. “You’re not in college anymore, Teddy. You can do something for yourself without his approval. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, but. He still owns the company. I technically still work for him, and that work is demanding as it is. I wouldn’t have time to do my own thing. Not yet. I’ll just…wait until he retires. Then I’ll start my shop. Swear.”
I tilted my head, and he shuffled under the weight of my gaze. I didn’t know why he tried to hide things from me because he broke the moment I asked. “Is that all?”
He sighed. “Maybe. Deep down. I just don’t wanna start a problem with the one parent I don’t have a problem with.”
I nodded in understanding. “Uh-huh.”
“Ugh,” he dragged. The thought of this conversation already overstimulated him. “Can we change topics?”
“If that’s what you want, sure.”
He sighed in relief. “How’s your dad doing?”
