“Right, so the girl who was supposedly Riggs’ girl wasn’t one of your hoes? If I’m not mistaken, when he was trying to get at Ny, he clearly said he was single.”
“You’re funny. You really think you hitting me with something? I have facts, you have assumptions. You were all up on another man like you didn’t have a man. Not just that, in a room full of people like you really didn’t give a damn.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong, so what does it matter? But, trust, I don’t have a man anymore, so maybe I’ll just see how things play out.”
Joi noticed something pass through Reg’s eyes. His nostrils flared and his spine stiffened. His entire demeanor changed within seconds and it made her nervous. She was instantly grateful that her next client was early, assuming them to be the reason why her door chimed.
“Hey, hey. Joi, you in here, girl?” Joi backed away from Reg but kept her eyes on him, still unsure of what his next move would be.
“I’m back here, Ly. Is that you?”
“Girl, yeah. I know I’m…”
“No, it’s cool. Come on back,” Joi instructed before she addressed Reg.
“You can go now.” The two didn’t break their stare until he chuckled and rubbed his hand down his face.
“Yeah, aight. I’ma see you, though.” He offered a devious, almost eerie grin before pointing to the check, which was still on her desk. “Keep that. Like I said, it wasn’t a loan. It was insurance.” Reg was on his way to the door but stopped, turning around to reconsider. Ten grand was a lot of money to piss away on someone who was acting ungrateful. “On second thought, since you don’t respect that I cared enough to look out for you, then maybe I will take this.”
Reg snatched up the check, issuing a hateful look to Joi before he walked out, brushing past Ly as she walked in. Joi’s body tensed from Reg’s last words and she watched his back until he was completely out of sight.
“Hey, you good?” Ly could feel the tension as she glanced at the door then looked at Joi, who planted on a big smile.
“Yeah, girl. You know how men like to act up.” She playfully rolled her eyes and smiled again. “Come on, so we can get started.”
Joi led the way to her work station with an anxious feeling, but she couldn’t worry about it right now. There were four more clients she had to handle for the day and money was her priority. Reg and his little tantrums and threats would have to wait.
“That’s bullshit,and you know it.”
East’s eyes lit up in amusement toward the conversation going on around him. His eyes were on his phone as he tapped through Joi’s story. He had done this several times already today but noticed she had added a new video of herself while in her car, singing along to some song he didn’t recognize. Her words were enunciated and performed with a bit of fire behind them, which had East curious about where her head was.
Did dude fuck up again?He and Joi had been talking since the night he took her home. A few calls and texting throughout the day, but nothing major. East wasn’t the type to be on the chase, and until Joi put effort into showing the interest he knew she had, then East would lay low with her.
“Who needs ink? Let’s settle this shit right now. East, you still want that piece on your back?”
He lifted his eyes to Rabbit. He was wearing a serious stare. His big ass teeth pierced his lip because he was waiting.Damn, this muthafucker really looks like a rabbit.
“If he does, he isn’t about to let you do that shit, so you can fuck it up. Trust, fool, I’m better than you. Why you think East only sits in my chair? This is his shit, he hired you, but he won’t even let you ink him.”
The shop erupted into a bunch of oohs and ahhs followed by laughter, causing East to chuckle himself. Rabbit was a dope ass artist, or he wouldn’t be in his shop, but Numbers was right. East only trusted his skills. The two had been down for years, which was why the second East considered opening a shop, Numbers was his first and only choice to run it. He was self-taught andtalented as fuck. East had even learned a few things under his watchful eye.
Yeah, East could ink a little, but nothing major. It wasn’t his thing, but he felt it necessary to learn. Even if Numbers was in charge, East liked to be hands on. Both men had humble beginnings and were self-made, but they shared a common factor other than street knowledge, which was their ability to adjust in the business world.East Side Inkwas doing extremely well because of the fact that Numbers’ street hustle had prepared him forlegalentrepreneurship. He ran a tight ship, no bullshit or half-assing. Under his watch, his team brought in clients, did good work, and acted accordingly. They still chilled when time permitted, so on a day like today, when appointments and walk-ins were slow, they all sat around and talked shit to each other, which was why Rabbit was in his damn feelings.
“He’s dope, or he wouldn’t have a station in here, but you know Numbers is my dude. He’s been inking me since he had a little set up in his mama’s basement, and I’m loyal.” East didn’t necessarily say it; however, everyone knew he would never let Rabbit ink him, but only because he meant what he said. He was loyal. Every tattoo he owned, and there were a lot of them covering his chest, neck, arms, and back, had been done by Numbers. There was no point in switching up.
“That’s fucked up, East.” Rabbit glowered like a spoiled child.
“Nah, that’s proof that I run circles around you in the skills department,” Numbers egged on.
Rabbit waved them all off and went back to scrolling through his Instagram until they heard the door chime. Joi walked in with her eyes darting around the group of men and two women. The fiery woman with sun-kissed skin, bright pink hair, and sarcastic smile who sat behind the counter scoped Joi out and smiled.
“What’s up, chica? You have an appointment?”
“No, I, uhh…”That voice.East lifted his eyes from his phone and noticed Joi staring right at him. He kept a stoic expression and waited for her next move. It took her a minute to find her words, but they eventually surfaced. “I’m here to see East.”
Pia grinned then slightly rolled her eyes. Of course, she was there to see her boss.
Joi’s eyes left Pia and moved to East, waiting for his approval. She hadn’t called or texted to warn him she was coming by, so she wasn’t sure how he would respond. Joi didn’t relax until she heard his voice.
