“You can leave your hand at home, or you can bring it along.”
I look down at my hand before balling it into a fist and huffing out in embarrassment. “It’s alright. You don’t need to—”
“Oh, you’re coming. We already knew you worked there. Brooklyn’s got a big mouth. The first thing Anaise did as soon aswe walked through the door was jump on the computer to check Tek’s schedule and see when you were working.”
I can’t hide my smile, and I feel like an idiot.
“We look out for our own. Your brother’s an asshole, but he didn’t deserve what happened. So we step up when he can’t be here. Tek did, that’s why he gave you the job. But he’s got no room left to move, so now it’s our turn."
The last client of the day is a talker, the kind that needs everyone to hear what he has to say. Tek works best when he isn't forced to multi-task, so for the past two hours I've scarcely left his line of sight. Even with the music turned off it's been a struggle to stay focused while I pretend to be interested in hearing this guy rant on about his girlfriend and the local football scene. But his ego seems to benefit from my eye contact, and that's keeping him still for Tek.
By six-fifteen his arm is cleaned and wrapped in plastic.
I guess my acting worked because he leaves a generous tip then quickly exits; excited to go show his tattoo off to the same girlfriend he was complaining about an hour ago. But that's not my problem. He's gone now, and that means the shop is officially closed for the week.
I take out the cash draw insert and walk it to the back room to put it in the safe. When I return it only takes me five minutesto complete the end of day programming and switch off the computer.
I glance up to find Tek watching me as he breaks down his station. His gaze has always been intense, but it’s different now. There’s less judgement, more… holding something inside? I don’t know. Maybe I’m just projecting because anything is better than how he spoke to me yesterday.
“You’ve been smiling like an idiot all day,” he says as he scrunches up the used plastic wrap from the tattoo chair into a ball.
I intensify my smile, and beam, “Just happy to be contributing to society, boss. It’s so very wholesome.”
“You were definitely dropped on the head as a child."
I follow him into the break room, keeping extra close just to annoy him. “Is it so hard to believe that I enjoy being here?”
“I believe you enjoy finding new buttons of mine to push.”
“But is it really my fault that you're so darn pressable?”
Tek sighs, “Whatever gets you out of bed in the morning.”
“Maybe I just have the greatest boss in the world?” I say all sickly sweet.
“You’re insufferable.”
I can see how hard he’s trying to hold a straight face, and I want so badly to reach out and poke him in the cheek, but I refrain. He has boundaries, and now is not the time I want to cross them, so I make a show of sliding back from him while attempting to moonwalk.
His smile finally breaks. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Just getting warmed up for tonight.” I do a spin then casually lean against the reception desk like nothing happened.
As if summoned by my dance moves, the door flies open, and in walks Anaise, her voice preceding her by several seconds. “Let’s get our drink on bitches!” she announces, throwing up therock n rollsign with both hands.
Tek slouches against the break room door frame. “Aren’t you a bit old for that?”
Austin follows her like a shadow. “She’s not too old for anything.” It really is cute how loyal he is to her.
“So where are we going?” Tek asks.
Anaise drops her arms and looks at him. “Trivia at The Black Cat.”
“Isn’t that what you were talking about last week?” he asks me.
I nod. “It sounds fun.” And for a second, it looks like Tek wants to protest, but he bites his tongue.
The top of Anaise’s body is being swallowed by the biggest scarf I’ve ever seen, and she looks like an anime character as she puts one foot in front of the other, bends her knees, and points straight at Tek. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
