Page 35 of Heart Taker

“Yup.”

“That won’t be too strenuous for you?” I asked.

“All I can do is try. If I get a flare up, I’ll find something else. Something remote. I’ve been working on a graphic design course online.”

“All right. But you tell me if it gets to be too much,” I insisted.

“Stop worrying.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“You better hurry up and eat,” Jo insisted. “You don’t want to be late.”

I quickly ate my breakfast, downed another mug of coffee, and hit the shower. Once I was dressed, I grabbed my backpack and keys and headed for my truck.

The drive to Burlington was the relaxing kind, no traffic jams. With the windows down and the tunes blasting, it was just me and my music. The only time, except for sleep, that I hadentirely to myself. I wondered how many more drives like this I’d experience. Once I got drafted, I’ll probably live in a big city, and all this would be a distant memory. My mind began to whirl at full speed. I’d have to move my father with me, and Josiah too. Then again, my brother only had a year of high school left, and then hopefully, college. If his health continued to improve, he’d be moving out on his own soon.

When I arrived in Burlington an hour later, the parking lot near Verdant Ink was almost full.

After I opened the shop, I disinfected each station, I made sure the room supplies were stocked, did some inventory, and checked the bookings.

I was replying to emails at the front desk when the door opened, and familiar faces appeared. Henny and Coulter were the co-owners of the shop, a couple in their thirties who were as colorful as their tattoos. Coulter carried a tray of coffee, and Hen, a box that I recognized from a local bakery.

“Maple cream donuts and blueberry Danish,” Hen announced with a flourish and popped the box on the counter. “You look like you need both, Silas.”

“And coffee,” I muttered.

“No question.” Coulter chuckled and placed the tray beside the box. “Help yourself.”

“Thanks,” I replied with a yawn and grabbed one of the cups.

“Partying too hard?” he asked me. “I remember those days.”

“You mean, last week?” Hen quipped.

Her husband gave her a knowing look, raising one pierced eyebrow.

“What?” She laughed and stuck out her tongue. “It’s the truth.”

“I was at that fundraising event for the firehall last night,” I replied. “When I got home, I found out Jo was sick, then I wasup doing school stuff until the early morning. Fell asleep at the kitchen table. Do not recommend.”

“You should’ve texted,” Hen insisted. “You’re entitled to a sick day.”

I shook my head.

“Nah. I need to keep busy or I think too much.”

“Tell me about it,” she replied with a smile. “What’s the calendar like?”

“Fully booked today, Tuesday, and Thursday.”

“Awesome, we better get ready then.” She started walking past me and paused. “Oh, by the way, Darby’s going to be late.”

I nodded but said nothing in response. I didn’t think Hen or Coulter knew about me and Darby hooking up occasionally, but gossip in this place wasn’t unheard of. Not that I was worried. If it didn’t interfere with the shop, no one here would care.

“Jo turns eighteen in September, and he’s decided he wants a tatt,” I announced.

“Cool,” Coulter replied and grabbed a donut from the box.

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