“Hey,” Damien says calmly.
Emette nods once in acknowledgment before turning his attention back to me.“Ready?”
I blink.“Ready for what?”
He gestures vaguely toward the front of the store.“To leave.”
“I’m not done shopping.”
“You’ve been here twenty minutes.”He looks at me like I am crazy for needing more time.
“I still have things to get.”
His jaw tightens slightly.“You can come back later.”
I stare at him.“I’m already here.”
“And I’m ready to go.”
The irritation creeping into my chest makes my voice sharper than usual.“Well, I’m not.”
For a moment the air between us feels heavy, like a thunderstorm building on the horizon.Out of the corner of my eye, I see Damien subtly step back, clearly trying not to get caught in the middle of whatever this is.
Smart man.
Emette sighs dramatically.“Fine.”
He grabs the handle of my cart and starts pushing it toward the front of the store and I grab it back.“Emette.”
“What?”His voice is also laced with irritation.
“I’m not finished.”
“You don’t need all this stuff anyway.”
I glance down at my cart.Flour.Sugar.Eggs.Butter.Basic baking ingredients.
“How exactly do you suggest I make cupcakes without flour?”I ask.
“You don’t need to make cupcakes.”The words hit harder than they should.
“People like them.”
“Yeah,” he says.“Those tattoo guys.”
There’s that tone again.Like House of Ink is something dirty.Something beneath him.
“They’re my friends.”
“They’re losers with needles.”
I feel Damien stiffen beside me and something inside my chest snaps.“That’s not fair.”
Emette shrugs.“Just telling the truth.”
I shake my head.“You don’t even know them.”
“I know the type.”
