Page 124 of Broken

“Do the job from Baltimore. I can commute to oversee it when I need to.”

She clenches her fists, trying to contain herself. “I knew there was a reason I chose you as my best friend. Smart and gorgeous.”

My mind is elsewhere, but I thank her. Sin gets up and tosses her empty cup into the trash can beside the bench.

“What are you doing?” I ask as she walks away.

“Going to Blackhawk Ink, of course. Are you coming?”

“You’re too nosey for your own good.”

“Well, on the walk over, I still have time to explore this idea of yours to build your dream without having to go away and leave us. Me,” she amends with another wink.

I’m too busy worrying about Garrett to correct her. It’s the perfect solution. If Tim Vasquez really wants me back, he’ll agree to those terms. If he doesn’t… Well, that’s a choice I’ll have to consider another time.

When we arrive at Blackhawk Ink, Shane is tattooing, and Sumner is talking to a heavily tattooed guy at the counter while Katja sits on a stool reading a book. There is no sign of Phoenix or Garrett. Shane looks up when we walk in and waves, then goes back to working.

Sumner finishes up with the guy, who eyes both of us, Sin a little longer, before heading out. Sin is smirking when she turns back to see us watching her.

“Must be my walking shoes,” she shrugs and moves to the counter beside Sumner. “So, tell me, Irish, where is your fearless leader?”

Katja looks up from the book and gives me a concerned look. Sin is not subtle. I seem to have surrounded myself with people who have no chill.

Sumner turns to face me. Something in the way he looks at me says he knows more than everyone else. “I’m hurt you’re not here to see me,” he tells Sin.

“Sorry.” She sounds the furthest thing from sorry.

Time to take over. I excuse us from the counter, and we walk to Sumner’s station.

“I’m looking for Phoenix,” I tell him.

Sumner’s face changes and he grips the back of his head, rubbing it up and down over his shorn hair. “That could be a problem right now, lass.”

Before I can ask why, shouting comes from the back of the shop and Lucky storms in. Phoenix is behind her, his face is like thunder.

Sumner and I exchange a glance. I guess that’s what he means.

“Fuck you, Phoenix. Just… Fuck you!”

“Lucky for fuck’s sake, you don’t need to make a big deal out of this.”

She pivots around and Phoenix has to draw up fast to avoid barreling into her. It would be comical if this didn’t look like a serious situation. Sin looks over at me and I shake my head, telling her to stay out of it.

“Don’t tell me what I don’t have to do. Your opinion means fuck all to me right now.”

“This had to happen, eventually.”

“Not like this!” she yells.

If she notices us all looking, she doesn’t care. She grabs her jacket and storms out of the shop, slamming the door behind her.

“Fuck,” Phoenix bursts out, running a hand through his hair. He at least notices us all. He frowns at Sin and then sees me. His expression changes. “What are you doing here?” he asks.

I don’t know if it’s because he is still mad, but I don’t appreciate the tone.

“She came here to see G,” Sumner says for me, and I appreciate him stepping in. If I say anything right now, it’ll piss him off more.

“He’s not here.”

---