I set the glass down. “Wait, seriously?”
“Just for walk-ins. You’ll only have time for a little flash. But the experience will be good, and you can put a little extra cash in your pocket. Maybe even impress that boyfriend of yours.”
My head is swimming. This is a serious sign of trust from Billie, both in me and my art. Sitting there under the Blade sign will tell every tattoo artist in the city that I’m serious.
I feel like I just made it to the next level, but then my brain catches on the last thing she said.
“Fake boyfriend,” I grumble into my beer.
“That’s all you’ve got say to me?”
I tilt my eyes back up and sigh. “Fine,” I say. “I’m not totally straight, but Matty and I aren’t hooking up, I swear. I went home alone after the movie night.”
Billie bursts out in a laugh. “I meantthank you, Billie, for this life-changing opportunity, but I don’t mind the confessional.”
I close my eyes, deeply embarrassed to have shared. “Sorry. Thank you, Billie.”
“My pleasure. And I guess that answers my other question.”
“Whether I’m gay?”
“No,” she laughs. “You be you, Stone. I was just trying to figure out how much interference I’ll need to run at the convention. Can’t have Jeremiah fucking with you while you’re working my chair.”
“You think he’s going to mess with me?”
“If he notices that you’re goo goo gaga over your date? Probably.”
I squint at her. “I’m not goo goo… whatever.”
Billie flexes her bicep, the strong muscle popping under her bright ink. “It’s okay. I can take Jeremiah if he tries to make a scene.”
I laugh. “I’m sure you can, but really, I’m not pining.”
“Stone-face, I know you about as well anyone in this city does, is that right?”
Not that I like to admit that I lack friends and family, but I nod anyway. “Pretty much.”
“You’ve found a way to bring up Matty every day for the past two weeks. The only other time I can remember seeing you smile this much was when you found that $100 gift card to your favorite pizza joint.”
“I don’t talk about him every day. I don’t talk about anyone like that. It clashes with my loner life strategy.”
Billie laughs loudly. “Whatever you say. Just promise, if you’re feeling too shook up at the tattoo convention, you’ll let me know so I can take over your time. Doesn’t matter if it’s Jeremiah or Matty who gets you distracted—”
“Or free pizza,” I interrupt.
“Or all the pizza you can eat. If anything takes you away from your best work, just let me know, no harm, and I’ll give you a breather.”
I nod. This is the lesson I’ve been most trying to learn from Billie, but it’s also one of the hardest. I need to take my art seriously, and that means getting my house in order, always showing up with a clear head.
“I’ll make the shop proud. I promise.”
“I know you will, Rocky. Now let’s get those burgers.”
CHAPTERNINE
MATTY
“Fake date number two.”I greet Stone with a big smile as I wave my fingers in the air. “I painted my nails for you.”
