“You mean you can’t tell?”
“Should I be able to?”
From behind the counter, I lean forward on it and closer to her. “You could just introduce yourself to me.”
Her mouth quirks and she holds out her hand. “Brooklyn.”
I shake it. “Carey.”
“I’m no closer to knowing who you are from that,” she says with a smile, and fuck me, it’s weapon-grade. The kind that has men falling to their knees. She’s in leggings that should be illegal with scrunch socks and a crop puffer jacket, and even I’m questioning why Tek doesn’t just give her the damn job.
“It’s in the jaw… And the nose,” Tek tells her as he grabs my chin and twists my head to the side.
I track her eyes, but they aren’t looking at me, they’re glued to Tek’s bicep. “I don’t see it.”
“Imagine dark eyes and long black hair.”
She blinks, figuring it out from the clues, then actually studies my face. “You mean your family isn’t the only weird one to have children a lifetime apart?” She brushes Tek’s hand away then leans closer. “You’re just a baby.”
“Thanks,” I say like it’s a question.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-one.”
“Shit.” She slaps her hands on her hips. “Has he got you working here?”
“I’ve got myself working here.”
Her head falls to the side and she looks up at Tek through her eyelashes. “Wouldn’t it be easier to have someone who actually knows the shop?”
Well that was condescending.
I stand up straight and pick up a pen, squeezing it in my hand.
Tek doesn’t look at her, he just moves behind the computer. “Didn’t you just start working at the spa in Daintree?”
Brooklyn shrugs, not losing an ounce of her momentum. “I did. But it’s only part time, so I’m still free half the week. Don’t pretend you don’t miss me.”
I watch a muscle by Tek's ear twitch as he clenches his jaw.
I grip the pen tighter and dig the tip into the top of my thigh.
“Look, I can do Saturday’s at least. Shawn’s obviously not coming back. I already know the system and how the shop runs. And I can help make the place a little less depressing.”
“Whats wrong with white tiles and grey walls?” I ask.
Tek’s jaw relaxes and he turns his head away, but not quick enough to hide his smirk from me.
“So what d’you say?”
Tek finally looks at Brooklyn with enough aggression in his gaze that she listens. “I told you, we’re fine. And Carey works Saturday's.”
Her smile flickers but doesn’t fall.
Tek’s eyes slide to me, as if I’m supposed to offer up some final argument. But I don’t say a word. I need to hear him say again that he chooses me over her.
“The position’s filled, Brooklyn.”
