Jesse rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck.“She didn't ask for your number.”
“Yes, she did!”
“She asked for the tattoo, and then you gave her your phone number.”
“Jealousy is ugly on you, man,” Ari said, grinning.
I was about to jump in with my own lineup when the front door flew open hard enough to rattle the glass.
Nerissa stormed in mid-argument, phone pressed tight to her ear, voice sharp and vibrating with fury.
“No, you don’t get to do that—are you fucking kidding me right now?”She stalked past us toward her station, pacing like a caged animal.“I’ve lived there for three years—three—and you’re giving me two days?That’s illegal and you know it—”
She stopped short, then snarled, “You know what?Go fuck yourself.”
The line went dead and the shop fell quiet.
She dropped her phone onto her station with a clatter and let out a low, feral growl that made Ari’s brows shoot up.
Jesse was the first to speak.“What happened?”
Nerissa blew out a breath, shoulders sagging as the anger gave way to exhaustion.
“My landlord.He sold the fucking building and now the new owners want everyone out.”
“What?”Ari scoffed.“That's bullshit!Just like that?”
“Just like that,” she confirmed.“Apparently, I was on ‘month to month’ so they couldn't give a rat's ass where I go now.”
“That’s bullshit,” I cursed.
Ari straightened, eyes lighting up.
“Well,” he said smoothly, “if you need a place, you can always stay with me.”
She breathed out a laugh, sharp and incredulous.“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”He spread his arms.“I’m charming.Low maintenance.Great in the kitchen… and other places.”
“You couldn’t handle living with me,” she shot back.
“I’d thrive,” he insisted.“We’d thrive.”
She shook her head, already moving past it.“I’ll just go back to my parents’ place.”
Jesse stiffened.“Nessa.That’s a terrible idea and you know it.”
She winced.“I know.”
“Then don’t,” he said simply.
She sighed, rubbing her temples.“I’ll figure it out.I always do.”
The silence that followed was heavy, the kind that sat in your chest.Nerissa hated being cornered; hated needing help even more.
She straightened suddenly, like flipping a switch, and pointed at me.“Anyway.Enough about my dumpster fire of a life.You—” she narrowed her eyes, “—are you ready for that interview on Friday?”
Ari’s head snapped toward me.“Interview?”
