“I didn’t know you have an apprentice,” he says happily, still fidgeting. “That’s an important relationship, right? You’re close?”
I rub my jaw, not sure how to answer the question or how we got into my business all of a sudden. Sure, Rafael and I are close. He’s my apprentice, and when we’re not talking work, we enjoy exchanging notes on the sci-fi movies we’re watching.
That, and some nice long silences.
Like everyone at the shop, I show Rafael how I feel instead of talking about it all the time. I took him under my wing, gave him a home at Blade, and taught him what I know. Back in the day, that would be more than enough to show that he’s special to me, but I wonder how Rafael would answer the question if he were here.
“He’s a good artist,” I say, although I know it doesn’t answer his question. “Good worker.”
Drew turns suddenly, then holds up a little figure of a ghost, a man in tattered rags. He’s made out of some kind of transparent blue plastic, with flashing red eyes, and he’s got a creepy grin on his face. “Boo,” Drew says, then laughs as he hands it to me.
I study it. The design is actually pretty great, campy and stylized.
“Isn’t it cool?” Drew asks, then gestures into the machine. “But the mechanics are even better. See, right there? The coil is still great. These connections are corroded, but I can find replacements for them.”
I turn my eyes to the machine, filled with intricate mechanics and moving parts, most rusted out but some still in good condition. As Drew keeps talking me through it, his voice rises, excited. He’s not thrown off by the fact that I don’t say much, and honestly, it’s a relief to be with someone who is chatty.
His enthusiasm builds, and soon enough, I realize I’m smiling, too. When I have to talk, I enjoy hearing about people’s passions. It comes with the territory when you’re inking clients for a living. But it’s especially rewarding that Drew seems so excited to share his geeky obsession with me.
I think about Drew, back in his hometown and working away on his arcade machines all by himself. There’s something lonely about it, sure, especially knowing that his mom was sick the whole time. But I understand the comfort that comes from making something with your hands, adding it to the world.
Inking zombies and dragons and faerie queens might not seem like serious work to most people, but it’s kept me going all these years.
“It’s a shame I can’t just haul both of these machines home,” he says. “They’re in much better shape than I expected.”
I frown as I glance between the machines. Something inside me really wants to help him out here. At first, I thought this urge just had to do with Mack, like treating his son right could fix some of his mistakes. But as I spend more time with Drew, and the more he keeps smiling at me and flirting, it seems less about his old man and more about him.
“Oh, perfect,” he says, then pulls another ghost out of the machine, which he offers to me. “I already have this one, actually. So here! You can keep it.”
I take the plastic ghost. “Keep it?”
“A souvenir of our day together,” he says with a laugh, then pokes my arm playfully. “I know you won’t want to forget it.”
I grit my teeth. I know what I’m about to say, and I wish I could keep my damn mouth shut. But Drew just gave me this fucking plastic ghost, and now I’m a mess again.
“I can borrow a truck,” I say bluntly. “Store the machines in my garage, if you want.”
Drew jerks his head around to face me again. “Caesar, really? You’d do that?”
I lick the back of my teeth. “Guess so,” I answer.
Drew laughs loudly. “Wow!” He throws his arms around my shoulders, catching me off guard. I don’t hug him back, but his smaller body presses to mine anyway. “My softie has a soft spot for pinball machines. I love it!”
My softie. The words wash through me, like throwing back a shot of whiskey and feeling the fire everywhere.
“I’m not a softie,” I grumble, but he just laughs.
“Sure, whatever you say.”
Anna clears her throat, interrupting us. When we turn, she’s standing at the entrance to the garage, frowning. I wonder how much of the last moment she caught, and when the sour look stays on her face, the answer is clear.
“Have you finished?” she asks curtly.
Drew steps away from my side. He’s obviously trying to keep her happy as he smiles warmly. “Yes, thank you.”
She waves her hand at the machines. “The more you can take, the better. I do have other engagements this afternoon, though.” She turns her eyes from Drew to me, and the frown on her face deepens. “If you don’t mind making haste.”
I want to tell her to make haste and fuck off, but for Drew’s sake, I bite my tongue. “I can get both machines out of here,” I tell her. “I’ll come back with a truck. Tomorrow?”
