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“Anytime,” I replied, cleaning up the workspace in preparation for the next one.
“Have room for any more walk-ins?”
That voice from behind me made me pause, and recognition flooded my entire body as my previous client moved on. Quick to turn around, a surprised smile spread across my face.
“Joey!”
Beaming back at me was my best friend, and everything felt right again.
“I just hopped off the bus, and I thought I’d surprise you with a visit on opening day. This is quite the turnout,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder.
“You certainly pulled the surprise off,” I said, chuckling at him and how grateful I was to see him. “How long will you be in town?”
“For at least a few days. I’m hoping to see more of the place where my best friend grew up. Plus, I was hoping to score a tattoo before I go back home.”
“Of course you were,” I returned effortlessly as if not a day had passed since the last time I saw him. “I’m glad you’re here. Take a look around and make yourself at home. We can catch up after if you’d like.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
Feeling like I was walking on clouds then, full of overwhelming hope and appreciation for everything I had going on, I ventured over to a group of new visitors standing around the portfolio.
Greeting them, I answered their questions and thanked them for coming. I was undoubtedly spreading myself thin, trying to be everywhere at once, but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by without trying to take advantage of it. They could end up being potential customers, after all.
When the door opened and the bell chimed above it, I glanced over my shoulder, only to freeze at the sight of her.
There she was. Cora.
Standing with a camera in hand, she glanced around and didn’t look overly thrilled to be there.
I could hardly find the words since I was surprised to even see her here.
But my stomach dropped the moment she met my eye, and her expression soured even more.
Aware that I couldn’t get out of it, I approached and put my hands in my pockets. Even if I felt incredibly awkward, I didn’t want to fumble the moment. I needed to keep up the energy for the grand opening.
“Are you hoping to get a tattoo?”
She didn’t seem overly amused and scoffed at me. While she appeared to do everything in her power not to look me in the eyes, each rare moment that she did made me feel like daggers were being thrown at me instead.
“I’m just here to do more coverage for the event since my boss thought it would be a good feature. I’d rather be anywhere else.”
Her words were dripping with venom, and while I wished they hadn’t, I didn’t entirely blame her.
I struggled to find the right words at first, far too aware of the obvious tension. I clearly did some damage by rejecting her, even if I didn’t intend for it to happen.
I really didn’t want to hurt her, but I also meant it when I said I didn’t want anything serious. Cora was an interesting woman, and our time together was incredible, but I couldn’t let myself be distracted by romance just yet.
Besides, relationships required full transparency and honesty, and I wasn’t ready to bare the less polished sides of me yet. I didn’t want to put her at risk, either. If I could help it, nobody would find themselves wrapped up in my baggage.
Guilt bubbled up within me at the sight of her clear disdain that hadn’t been there just a few days prior, but I couldn’t let it bother me.
Whether she knew it or not, me putting space between us was in her best interest.
“In any case, I hope you enjoy the event,” I offered, trying to at least build some cordiality between us.
Disinterested in any reconciliation, Cora rolled her eyes and moved on, looking around the place instead of speaking to me directly.
Sighing to myself, I knew there wasn’t much else I could do.
