Page 131 of Spring Break Fling

I tilted my head, curious. “Go on.”

Marcus took a deep breath. “I fired you because I got scared. You know, all that drama with Samantha and the break-in. It felt like too much risk, and I panicked. But it wasn’t the right call. You’re family, Nikko. You’ve always been part of the shop’s success, and I want you back. I shouldn’t have let my fear get the best of me. I should have stood beside you. I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. I get it. I would have done the same thing. But that’s not why I’m here now. I want to do this on my own.”

Marcus nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. “I figured as much but I had to try. You know I’ll support you however I can.”

I chuckled softly. “Even if I become your biggest competitor?”

“Especially then,” he replied with sincerity. “Competition makes us better. But maybe we can figure out a way to collaborate instead of just compete.”

The idea lingered. “Collaborate?”

“Yes. I’ve got a proposal.” He leaned forward. “Co-owners.”

I blinked. “Come again?”

“I’ll help you open the new shop,” Marcus said. “We’ll make it an expansion under my shop’s name, but you’ll run it. I’ll front the money, take the financial risk, and handle the boring admin crap. You focus on the creative side, building the clientele, and making it a success. It will be your shop. I’m just the guy that gets a little piece of the pie and helps you get on your feet. You don’t have to stress about getting the business license and all that shit. I’ll handle all of it.”

I stared at him, trying to gauge if this was some kind of elaborate prank. “Let me get this straight. You want me to open a shop under your brand, run it my way, and you’re willing to bankroll the whole thing?”

“Exactly.”

“Why?”

“Because I know it’ll work. And because I owe you. I let my fear get in the way before, but I’m not making that mistake again.”

I sat back, processing. It was a solid offer. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted. Running my own shop had always been the dream, and this would give me a chance to do it without going broke or screwing it up.

“Why now?” I asked. “What changed?”

“Jessie,” Marcus admitted. “And maybe a little bit of my own guilt. You’ve been a big part of what we’ve built, and I want to grow. This is the next step, and you’re the guy to take it. I know you’re going to be the next big thing on the Miami scene. You’ve already made a name for yourself. I can’t tell you how many customers we’ve lost because you’re not there. Big customers that are addicted to ink. My revenue has already taken a hit.”

I looked at Marcus, processing everything. “This feels too good to be true.”

“Sometimes good things happen,” Marcus said with a grin.

“Not to me,” I said. “Never to me.”

I took a deep breath, considering Marcus’s offer. It was exactly the opportunity I’d been hoping for, but never thought it would actually materialize.

“This isn’t a small decision.”

Marcus nodded, understanding. “Take your time. But don’t take too long. Opportunities like this don’t come around every day. And that shop is perfect. We can get at least five stations in there. Maybe put up some walls and have two rooms for those people that want their private shit tatted.”

I chuckled. “I’m not sure there’s a big market for that.”

“Big enough. But if we’re the shop that’s got the privacy to do it, guess where they’re going to go?”

I tapped my fingers on the table, thinking. “You sure about this?”

“Yeah,” he said, holding out his hand. “What do you say? Partners?”

I hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

Marcus grinned. “Welcome back, buddy.”

I smiled, feeling relief and excitement. For the first time in weeks, things were starting to fall into place. Maybe this wasn’t the life I’d imagined, but it was a good step in the right direction.