And what were they talking about?
Dex shrugged, glancing back down. His mouth was set in a fine line, something in his expression telling me that there was something he wanted to say but nothing came out. Just like nothing had come out of his mouth the night before after I'd told him he hurt my feelings in the parking lot.
Which was right before I called him a princess.
A-w-k-w-a-r-d.
Finally, he looked over at Sonny instead. “I’ll let you get back to what you two were doin’. See you at the shop later,” he spoke to me, glancing down at my legs one last time before nodding a goodbye at Sonny and making his way back to the building he’d come out from.
The moment he was out of earshot I asked, “What was he celebrating?” I didn’t care, I swear, but I was nosey.
“He just paid off the loan Luther gave him to set up Pins.”
I focused on big, bad Dex paying off the money he’d been loaned to set up his tattoo shop. “Huh.” I’d spent my entire adult life trying to balance just having a lease, medical bills, cell phone, and random things to pay for; I couldn’t imagine the responsibility of having a business to worry about on top of that when I could barely afford my minute sized expenses.
"Is it always that awkward between you two?" my brother asked.
Crap, was it that obvious? "Always." I made a face.“I probably made it worse when I called him a princess last night.”
He busted out a laugh that had me giggling at the absurdity of what I’d done.
“Goddamn, kid.”
“He made me mad and it just...came out.” I didn’t bother telling him Dex had called me a princess first. The phone conversation I’d overheard two days ago was still fresh in my mind. No need to fuel that fire, right?
Sonny nodded, dropping to his butt in front of my car before sliding back underneath it. “You sure you don't want me to have a talk with him?"
The sneaky turd. I didn't even need to think about it. "You already had a talk with him."
Sonnysnickeredbut didn't apologize or make any excuses for the conversation he'd had following thefit he'd thrown in his bedroom.
"I do want to look for another job though if you know anyone else, " I offered him up. "Preferably one with someone who reminds you of unicorns and rainbows."
I heard him laugh from beneath the car. "Kid, I don't think anybody in theclub would remindmeof unicorns and rainbows," he replied, still laughing.
"Glitter and tutus?"
He snorted. "Hell no." Thinking better of it, he added, "Maybe Trip."
~ * ~ *
I was bored out of my friggin’ mind.
Thirty minutes in, and I was ready to get the heck home.
Sonny had finally told me about the "party"—it really just seemed like an excuse to go to the bar—and on top of that, I’d found out that the guys from the shop were going to be there, I’d been relieved. While hanging out in places where I didn’t know anyone usually freaked me out a bit, I’d mentally prepared myself for the fact that I was practically starting my life over. New city, new job, new home, new friends.
New, new, new, new, new.
I’d decided a few days ago that all this new stuff needed a solid commitment from me if I wanted to make it work long term. My hermit days of working to scrape by needed a positive boost. Plus, Sonny wouldn't let me get away with the same stuff that Lanie had. Like staying in, eating Ramen noodles, and watching PBS on Friday nights because wecouldn’t affordcable.
So I’d thrown a tough smile on my face and driven to the bar after work. Pins wasn’t set to close until one but business was slow, and I’d already clocked in over eight hours, Slim had told me to go ahead and go. Was I going to argue with him about staying? No way.
Things all day had been awkward. Dex The Dick had been in a surprisingly good mood with everyone. He wasn’t grumpy or aloof like usual, and I wasn’t sure whether to thank the fact that he paid off his loan or the fact that he’d gotten laid—gag—last night, for it.
The thing that got to me though was that not once had I heard any of the guys complain about his previous shit-titude. Back at my old job, if my boss was having a bad day and was on an ass-ripping mission from hell, we’d all talk about him the moment we had the chance. Or at least I’d roll my eyes.
But did anyone say anything about Dex?
