I crane my neck back. “Keep ’em coming. What else is she saying?”
“That you didn’t actually complete your requirements. You stole from the shop on several occasions, and now, bear with me—she apparently found out about me supervising Lucie’s tattoo. She’s spinning it that she was underage.”
“Ay,wonderful. That’s just perfect.”
“Listen, don’t give in. I’ve stayed here way longer than I need to, and you telling Tally ‘no’ was the nail on the coffin for this place. I hate that it comes at your expense, but I see I’m going to have to play my exit smartly.”
I damn near want to laugh. “Glad I could show you what leaving gets you.”
I want to scream and rage break everything in this place, but they aren’t deserving of that reaction from me. I refuse to give them any more ammunition, especially one that would be true.
“I’m going to continue trying to run interference for you the best I can in the meantime. Maybe lie low on the tattoo places for a bit, let them get their fit out. If you need a place to stay while finding a new apartment, I can offer up my couch. Gotta warn you, though, I have shit roommates.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Might be my last resort.”
Blake sits back on his rolling stool. “Hey, as long as working here isn’t above that. I’m serious, Jen, don’t back down. I should have left a long time ago.”
“It’s not on the table, I swear. Thank you for sticking it out while I was here.”
Blake shrugs. “Don’t mention it, I would want someone to do that for my sister.”
“I know the feeling. I owe it to my sister to keep going, so I’ll figure it out. Lies will only get them so far, I think completing this apprenticeship is proof that I’m patient enough to outlast their bullshit.”
Blake hums. “There’s a silver lining if you want to look at it this way, but they have to lie to ruin your hard work and reputation. Truth would ruin theirs, and there should be peace in that.”
“Bad fruit falls from every tree eventually, doesn’t it?”
“Sure does.” Blake clicks on his phone. “You might want to head out, Hank’s got someone coming in half an hour. I wouldn’t want to risk?—”
I hold my hands up. “Consider me gone. Hope your exit goes smoother than mine.”
Blake chuckles. “Plotting and planning it as we speak.”
I muster up every bit of strength I have left to make it to Lucie’s dinner. I wanted so badly to cancel, but Lucie sent out a “no bailing” text to the group chat with about five different threatening emojis.
If this had been anyone else’s party, I might not have cared about canceling, but Lucie is my girl. I love Callie and adore Emma—Reagan is just as aggressive as I am, but Lucie is my favorite. We all have favorites, whether we admit it or not.
After my talk with Blake, I called my sister and we worked out an extreme budget for me to be able to make my rent. Granted, it also calls for me to up my hours at Winedown, but thankfully that job is practically locked in place. Tally wouldn’t get ahold of a person in charge through the phone to save her life, and if she showed up, I think Mia would laugh her lying, tacky ass out the door.
We made small adjustments to my five-year plan. When she pulled out the tarot cards, I was practically begging her to hold off on them. Diving into anything of my past, present, and future after the day I’ve had really might’ve sent me over the edge.
Walking in Dex’s penthouse, I know I’m bound to be the last one here, and with the sound of all the voices coming from the living room, I’d say that’s a pretty accurate assumption.
I hang my bag and coat on the racks by the door when it swings open.
“Well, if this isn’t perfect timing,” Beck says with a smile.
“Hey,” I grumble. I don’t have it in me to be anything but tired with him right now. All my energy is being reserved for faking it around Lucie. She’s already Stella’s twin flame, just take out the burn. I don’t need her mother-henning me. If she knew, she’d have already sent me an astronomical amount of money or moved me in.
Before I can even make a full turn to the living room, Beck lightly grabs my arm. “Whoa, Jensen, you good?”
Beck softly rubs his thumbs back and forth. I can see the genuine concern written all over his face. For a solid two seconds, I consider unloading everything, but by the third second, I come to my senses and pull my arm tight.
“I’m fine, Beck. Just a long day, and I don’t have the energy to entertain you on a normal one, so…”
The corner of Beck’s mouth turns up. “I guess you can call me on a lazy day then.”
Don’t smile. Don’t smile.
