"I don't know, Kay. But I feel like you should be here. He's kind of a big deal; I looked him up. He has a few popular parlors everywhere. He might become your regular on a bigger scale than us."Wow, I’m impressed. As far as social media goes, TJ is an infant. He doesn’t follow anybody and doesn’t know anything.
“Wow. Okay. Wow.” And I’m speechless. If TJ thinks I might have a shot, that’d be freaking awesome. It’s my dream come true—to make a living out of my drawings. Wow, just wow.
“Yeah, can you take a day off and come here?”He sounds impatient.
“As a matter of fact, I’m off today. I can be there in an hour.”
“Fuckin’ awesome. See you, kid.”And he hangs up. He never stops to listen to what else somebody has to say, but that’s just how he is. So hyperactive. His mind thinks twenty steps ahead, making him always in a rush. I still have no idea how he manages to ink people being… justhim.
Well, if it isn't a sign from above, I don't know what it is. I go back home to collect my bag and check on Justin. He's still asleep, but he's changed his position. I take it as a sign that he's about to return to the land of the living. I don't have time to wait for that—and, quite frankly, I'm not sure I want to. Considering what we were doing before he crashed and the animosity that still exists between us, I'm not sure I can face him just yet. Or myself, at this point. So I'll just run away, especially when the opportunity to do so just knocked on my door.
I stop by the diner and get a cup of coffee to go. Marina's happy for me even if she doesn't show it.
The drive to TJ's shop is uneventful, and that's how I like it. I park my car and walk to the building. A familiar masculine laugh meets me at the door. I see broad shoulders and long, lean legs covered in tight black jeans.
“Here she is!” TJ, a big burly guy with a long, black beard with a few salty strikes down to his chest, exclaims like an overly excited cheerleader.
The shoulders turn, and here he is.
“Hi, Archie.” I greet him with a tight-lipped smile.
“Kayla?” He looks stunned for a moment, then he recovers quickly. “You are the artist?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but if we’re talking about the phoenix design, it’s mine, yes.” I don’t play coy—I just don’t consider myself an artist yet. I’d like to be one, though.
He smiles, and his face changes in an instant. What did I just say?
“About back there,” he waves his hand behind him like it should explain anything.
I narrow my eyes. “Where?”
“Back at Alex’s place… That felt…weird. I just want you to know that whatever happened, he felt really shitty about it.” He scratches the back of his head, looking extremely uncomfortable.
“Do you know what happened?” I squint at him.
"No." He looks coy. "But something was in the air?" He half says, half asks. I smile as I shake my head.
“You guys know each other?” TJ’s eyes volley from Archie to me.
"We actually met a few days back," I answer, moving my attention to TJ.
“I should have known.” Archie snaps his fingers. “The tats on your arms… they’re the same style.”
I look down automatically. “Mmm, yeah, they are kind of the same, I guess."
“Fuck.” He wipes his face with the back of his hand. “Man, I’m blown away by your work. I want more. I want you to create more designs for me and my team.” He shakes a phone he’s holding in his hand. I guess TJ just showed him my drawings.
I blush like a schoolgirl—I don’t get praised very often, especially for something I’m so passionate about.
“Why don’t you ink your designs yourself?” His brows are pinched together.
“Because I can’t afford school. Plus, I can’t afford to be away for school. So double trouble there.” I shrug. Because duh, there’s no shame in being poor. There’s only shame in being an asshole about it.
"I'll pay for it if you work for me." He says like it's no big deal.
“Em… no, I’m fine just drawing.”
“You could be drawing for yourself and becoming a super-mega fought over artist. You’re fuckin’ raw talent.” He’s cursing a lot, something I get the feeling he doesn't often do. He sounds a little… British? How on Earth? But he's so emotional right now, so maybe his real ancestry’s coming through. And besides that,I get the cursing, Archie. I so do. In the last few weeks, all I’ve wanted to do and come out to the street and yell ‘fuck’ so loud that they’ll hear my roar on Mars.
