Page 48 of Guilty Minds
I force a grin. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks, though."
“Are you a fucking idiot?” It’s the first thing TJ says since our conversation started.
“Excuse me?” I’m half offended, but only half. Knowing him, something good is about to follow.
“She’ll take it.” He turns to Archie, disregarding me. “She’ll go to that damn school even if I have to drag her ass to the class every single day.”
I raise a brow.
“I’ll help. We can switch shifts.” Archie shoots me his megawatt smile, and I can't resist smiling back. For real this time.
“About damn time," TJ adds with a nod.
I raise my hands in defense. “I don’t know what’s happening here, but—”
“Kid,” TJ interrupts me, “take this chance.”
“I don’t want to owe anything to anybody. I’m not some charity case.” My hackles raise along with my voice.
"Nobody said you are," Archie says in a business-like voice. "You will have to work for me. Exclusively. For five years."
“Seriously?” I narrow my eyes.
“Dead serious. Once I put your designs out there, they’ll fight me to get you. That’s why I need exclusivity.” He firmly holds my stare.
I chew on my lips. Sounds too good to be true. Yes, to be stuck in a situation doesn’t sound all that appealing, but my life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns pooping lollipops. Besides that, I’m stuck here anyway, with no prospects but a life forever paying my family’s debt and working at the diner. No offense to Marina, I love her, and she loves me; that's why she always encourages me to get the hell out of Little Hope. But now I have something to lose.
I have Freya and Alex. Well, I had Alex.
And I have Justin. Well, I don’t havehavehim, but after tasting those few tiny moments with him, I’m a sucker for more. I feel like we’re so close to breaking the ice. There are already a few deep cracks. His words, sounding so close to a declaration of his interest in me… yeah, that one knocked me off pace.
God, if somebody ever told me they're about to throw away their dream for a man, I'd throat punch them. And yet, here I am. Considering doing the same. Thankfully I have TJ, who looks like he's about ready to beat me if I don't make the correct decision.
“I don’t know, that’s—”
“Sudden. I know.” Archie takes a step closer and pokes my shoulder with his finger. “Take some time to think about it, but don’t disregard the idea right away. Alright?”
“What’s in it for you?” I squint my eyes at him.
He laughs. "So suspicious, aren't we?" My eyes narrow even more, if that's even possible. "Gathering talents is my hobby." He pokes me again. "Relax, Kayla." He says with a smile. "I wouldn't force you to do anything you don't want. But you're a big part of Alex’s life, and I’m planning to be as well. We’re almost family. And family helps each other. Think about it, okay?”
I scratch my nose, staring at the floor. "Okay," I tell them, feeling the weight of my decision on my shoulders.
“Good.” He claps his hands once. “Alright. Now, show me some of your newest work.”
I smile—that I can do. I pull over my recent work, and the men go insane over them. I don’t think I’ve ever received this level of praise in my whole life. Archie orders pizza for the entire shop, and he, TJ, and I retreat to the back room to talk business. He shares his idea of opening a parlor in Copeland, a city thirty minutes west of Little Hope, opposite Springfield. I nervously glance at TJ—I don’t know how he will take such close competition; the area doesn’t have that many people after all, let alone those who get tattoos—but he looks fine to me. Excited, even. Alrighty then.
Archie says it takes a long time to become an established business, especially in small cities where people like to resist change. Oh, I can attest tothat. And a tattoo parlor is definitely a change. Besides, it will attract more of a certaincrowd—like me, and I’m not exactly the most well-loved person in Little Hope.
After several hours of business talk, Archie clasps his hands together, sticking them behind his head as he sits back in his seat. “Alright, pleasure doing business with you. Time to get back to work.” He says with a sparkle in his eyes.
We bump fists, and he leaves. My gaze follows him all the way outside until he disappears. I feel TJ’s heavy gaze on me. “What?” I ask.
“He’s a lil’ better than that asshole you’ve been pining over, but still an asshole. Plus, he got some dark shit in here.” He taps his finger on his temple, his voice serious. Way too serious for him. In fact, I've never heard him speak that way before. Not with me, at least.
“What the hell, TJ?” I snap. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t mix business and pleasure. And don’t piss on the golden goose.” He’s tapping his furry chin.
