I shot up to sitting on the table. Owen had stepped into the back area where we worked with clients. In one of the side stalls, Caspian, one of our other tattoo artists, was neck deep in a session with a client, but they were engaged in their own conversation, not paying attention to my chat with Harper.
Owen had started this tattoo shop fifteen years ago, and he was every inch the tattooed, bearded hottie with some grays. Total Daddy vibes, even though he hated when I called him that. The guy came off gruff and sullen, but he was a fucking sweetheart. The way he watched out for us had kept me loyal all these years, even though people hopped around a lot in the industry.
Plus, the shop movie nights were pretty baller.
“About what movie we’re watching next?” I asked, earning myself an elbow in the side from Harper.
Owen raised a brow. “Yeah, that’s not it. Though the answer isBeetlejuice.”
“Ah, the ancient film of yore?” I teased, swinging my legs back and forth off the side of the table.
Owen flipped me a middle finger. “So, your avoidance aside, what did you want to talk about?”
Busted. I heaved a sigh, wishing I could pop out on the other side of the room. “Wouldn’t levitation powers be cool?”
Owen lifted his brow in a wicked arch that made him hotter. “I swear, Rory. The lengths you’ll go to in order to avoid is spectacular, but I’d still like an answer.”
I huffed out a sigh. “Fine, I wanted to know if we were doing a stall at the Philly Ink Convention and if I could go on the piercing front.”
Owen crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t have one planned. We tried it years ago, but I hate shows.”
“Well, duh. You loathe crowds,” I responded. “But that doesn’t mean the rest of us couldn’t go and rep Alchemy.”
Owen heaved a sigh, and my chest dropped. “Where’s this stemming from, Rory?” His eyes zeroed in on mine, as if he could peel back the layers and see my motivations.
“Clearly, the buffet of hot guys who’ll roam through,” I shot out on automatic, just to avoid the prickles running up my arms.
“Yeah, I’m not going through all those hoops so you can go on dick patrol,” he responded, a frown creasing his brow.
“IsDick Patrolthe X-rated version ofPaw Patrol?” I asked, trying to hide my disappointment.
Harper pinched me in the side. “First off, ew, and second off, tell Owen the real reason, dumbass.”
I swallowed hard. Hadn’t I done enough self-exposing this week? Fuck. It wasn’t even the naked kind like I enjoyed. “Fine. I’m looking to establish myself more in the industry. This is something I want to do long term.”
Owen’s features softened, and ick, I hated this emotional territory. Mostly because I was shit at regulating them, so avoiding was easier. “Yeah, I’ll agree on one condition. Get Nyx or Caspian on board, and you guys can represent Alchemy.”
“Why not August?”
Owen snorted. “The two of you forgot to pay your sewer bill three times in a row. Consider it balance in the force.”
“Are you calling me the dark side?” I accused. He wasn’t wrong, but it felt like he insinuated I needed a babysitter. And fuck, that stung a little. I knew I was a mess, but I could show up when needed. Hell, I rarely called out of work, unless I was deathly ill, and if I was a little late here and there, I always made it up with clients.
“Oh, so you’d be a Jedi?”
“Nah, dark side all the way, baby,” I teased, hopping off the table. Owen was giving me the chance. That was what really mattered. And I’d use it to prove to everyone I wasn’t flighty. Maybe no one here treated me that way, but school had been hell, a cycleof disappointed teacher faces. Just perpetual frowns and caterpillar brows. “You won’t regret this.”
“I know I won’t,” Owen said, clapping a hand on my shoulder.
Oh, ugh. I was going to cry. He was giving me the Papa Bear look and being encouraging, and it made me question who I was trying to prove my competence to anyway.
Maybe just myself.
“Well, Caspian’s with a client, so I’ll go harass Nyx, then,” I said, heading in that direction. I swallowed hard, ignoring the burning in my eyes. Away with all these nice fucking people. They were the worst…best. The blurst.
“I’m sure she’ll love that,” Harper drawled. “Though if you go, can you ask her for her girlfriend’s email?”
“What, gonna try to steal Becky away from Nyx?” I waggled my brows.
