“They’re nice,” Brook said, her words quiet.
“Thanks, Tomes.”
Brooke bristled again, still not sure how she felt about this new nickname.
“I should get back to my store. I hope you have a good opening,” Brooke offered with a shy smile.
“Thank you. You’ll have to come over for the grand opening.”
“I’ll try and stop by,” Brooke smiled.
She definitely wasn’t going to come for the grand opening. Even being here now was too much. Too many peoplewith too much noise. She offered Drew a smile and wave as she left the shop. Brooke was determined to spend as little time in the Electric Pear as possible. Even walking through the doors was a reminder that her dreams for the space would never be a reality.
Chapter 2
Drew watched as Brooke walked out the doors to her shop.
“Hate to watch her go, but love to watch her leave, eh?”
Drew groaned loudly and turned to her friend, Tatum. The woman leaned against the front counter; her eyes trained on Drew.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Drew shrugged. She flipped a strand of brunette hair over her shoulder.
“Sure. Sure. It’s not as if Blondie is just your type or anything,” Tatum said mockingly.
“What type? The type that wants me to curl up and die,” Drew laughed.
“I don’t think she hates you that much. But let’s face it, you love having to win a girl over,” Tatum teased.
“Not true. I’d love for a woman to just find me naturally charming.”
“Ah, now where would the fun be in that?” Tatum asked.
“I’m all done with fun.”
“Really?”
“No more fun girls who only want a good time. No more girls who don’t see me as a long-term option.”
Tatum shot her with an incredulous look. But Drew stood her ground and met her eyes. The two of them had been friends long enough for Tatum to know that Drew was being serious. Tatum gave her a nod and smiled.
“Well, good for you. Honestly, it’s about time you insisted on being treated better.”
Drew knew that Tatum was being completely serious. She’d watched Drew stumble into one bad relationship after another. Her bad luck had culminated into her last disastrous relationship with Jess. She’d known from the beginning that things wouldn’t end in her favor. But Jess had been gorgeous and funny. She’d swept Drew off her feet almost instantly. Too bad Drew was the only one who fell. A year in and Jess was ready to move onto someone new. She’d left Drew brokenhearted with only a bonsai tree to remember her by.
She glanced at the doors Brooke had just left through. Drew forced herself to look away. Tatum was right, Brooke would typically be exactly her speed. But not now. Not anymore. From this point on if someone didn’t give her ahell yeah,Drew would pass. Brooke was beautiful and intelligent, but she definitely wasn’t giving Drew the impression that she was interested in more than disgruntled complaints.
“Where are you going to want this chair?” Tatum asked. She pointed to the black tattoo chair in the corner. It had been Drew’s first ever tattooing chair.
“That one goes by the window,” Drew answered. She couldn’t help smiling fondly at the chair.
“But this is the oldest chair here,” Tatum protested. Drew arched an eyebrow and Tatum threw up her hands in defeat.
“Okay. Got it. The old ugly chair goes by the window.”
“Thanks, friend.” Drew kept her voice singsongy because she knew it would annoy the piss out of Tatum.
Tatum somehow managed to wrangle the chair into place as Drew unpacked her inks and needles.
