“I just got drinks with Jack from the old shop last week. He said they’re booked solid,” Shane said.
“Jack does sloppy work,” I grunted.
“Hey, watch it.” Shane rolled up his sleeve, showing off a bulky gray skull piece. “I got this piece from him last year.”
I just shrugged. “You should have asked me to do it.”
Shane winced and examined his arm. “You’re probably right.” He rolled his sleeve down before slipping one of his arms through his backpack and shouldering it on. “But isn’t that even more reason why we should be getting more business than him? No one does cleaner line work than you, and my shading is impeccable.”
“It’s just an off month,” I said.
“It’s been an offfewmonths,” Shane mumbled under his breath.
“Is that helping?” I barked.
Shane snorted with laughter. “You know, I think it’s the charming owner that has people beating down the doors to get in.”
“Piss off.” I halfheartedly waved my hand to brush his comments away. Business had been undeniably slow and I wasn’t sure what to do about it, hence the reworking of thewebsite. Web design and running a business weren’t my God-given talents, but no one could ever say that I didn’t work my ass off to make up for that. I grabbed the disinfectant cleaner from the back cabinet and started to wipe down my area.
The chime of a bell sounded through the shop, signaling someone walking in.
Shane perked up first and spun around on his feet. “Why, hello there. What can I help you with?”
“I’m looking for Harrison.”
My head whipped up at the sound of that familiar soft voice.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Hello to you, too,” Lila greeted me. She wore a confident smile, but I could practically see her shaking in her perfectly white tennis shoes. And...overalls? What kind of grown ass adult wore overalls?
“Oliver told you I was coming by, right?” Her voice faltered this time.
Fucking Oliver.I should have predicted he’d do something like this.
Shane looked between the two of us with a spark of interest.
“And who would you be?” he asked, returning his attention to Lila.
“I’m Lila.” She offered him an outstretched hand and Shane shook it enthusiastically.
“And you’re here to see Harrison?” he asked, disbelief evident in his voice.
“She’s Oliver’s friend.” My comment was meant to be dismissive, but Shane just looked all the more interested.
“Oliver’s girlfriend?”
“Just friend,” she quickly corrected.
“So, you’re saying you’re single?” Shane leaned against the glass desk and placed his chin in his hand.
“Um, well...” Lila glanced nervously back and forth between Shane and me. It took all my willpower not to roll my eyes. She was so desperate for a boyfriend that she’d go on a hundred online dates a month, but the second someone covered in tattoos showed interest she practically clutched her pearls.
“I’m sorry, when did this become a singles mixer?” I demanded, glaring at both of them. “Oliver didn’t say shit to me. What are you doing here?” I asked, although I already had a hunch. Oliver was hellbent on getting me help, whether I wanted it or not.
She cringed. “Oliver really didn’t mention it to you?”
After a few moments of letting her sit in her discomfort, I finally blew out a breath and slumped on the front counter next to Shane. The glass needed to be wiped down, anyway.
