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ChapterTwenty-One
Shay
Rhys had ignored allof her texts and calls since the shitshow last weekend and Shay would never have even given him the push if she thought that things would go down the way that they had, with Rhys telling Declan he was leaving Heartache Melody and to find a new keyboard player. Sinéad had told Shay when she showed Shay around her and Jameson’s next place, the couple having decided to move in together.
“Everyone’s in complete shock. Jameson isn’t sleeping and now that Rhys isn’t answering anyone, not even Andi, it’s a complete circus. They have to go into the studio to do some additional work for the album but Declan has told Jameson and Luna that unless Rhys changes his mind, he doesn’t have the heart to continue with the band that Rhys helped found.
Shay felt like she was responsible for Rhys gut reaction and if he would just speak to her, she could apologize and try and get him to see sense. She was worried he would do something even more stupid and put a halt to his progress.
Cathal had asked her to come to Rebel Ink early this morning and to come up to the newly refurbished apartment upstairs. Shay climbed the stairs that lead to Cathal’s apartment, knocking on the door before she opened it with her key.
Walking into the apartment, Shay was confused to see that not many changes had been made to Cathal’s existing room, and she called out her friend’s name. Cathal emerged from his bedroom, a strange expression on his face and Shay’s stomach flipped.
They hadn’t discussed what Rhys had said to Cathal, but Cathal had asked her if what Rhys said was true, and Shay had just nodded, before Declan had stalked after Rhys, and Luna had come up to Cathal, halting the conversation.
Today was the first day that Shay and Cathal would be alone and she guessed he would want to clear the air.
Cathal smiled at her then, raising a brow. “Why do you look like you think I’m about to fire you?”
“Aren’t you?” Shay asked and Cathal rolled his eyes.
“Rhys was right when he said I didn’t want to lose you at the shop. I have been selfish about a few things and I thought you’d speak up if you weren’t happy. So I dropped the ball on that, Shay, and I’m sorry.”
Shay was already shaking her head. “No, it was me. I love what I do but I should have made it clear that I wanted to apprentice. I was afraid I wouldn’t be good and then you’d have to tell me I was shite.”
Cathal chuckled softly, folding his arms across his chest. “We are both as bad as each other. it’s why we gel so well.” He let loose a sigh before continuing. “But first things first. I want to show you something.”
Shay followed after Cathal as he walked down the hall, unlocked a door and stepped inside, holding it open for Shay. Beyond the door was another smaller apartment, with it’s one entrance and kitchen. It had blank walls and no furniture and was easily bigger than her own hovel.
Confused Shay turned round and looked at Cathal. “Did you decide to rent it out? Or do you plan to have one of the new artists move in?”
Cathal leaned against the kitchen counter, and looked Shay dead in the eyes. “I want you to move in. You’ll have your privacy and the joining doors lock, but this place is yours, if you want it.”
Shay was shaking her head. “I can’t afford a nice place like this, Cathal.”
“You can afford it, Shay. It’s free.” Shay must have looked shocked because Cathal laughed. “You can actually thank Luna because it was her idea. I told her I didn’t need all the space and the builders said there was enough space for another apartment, then Luna said that I should just let you move in instead of paying rent on the shithole you were renting.”
“But you could make money renting the place out, Cathal.”
“Money doesn’t matter, Shay. I’m looking out for my sister.”
Shay really didn’t know what to say, because the money she saved on rent would really help if she did want to apprentice. But how could she even consider leaving when Cathal was being so generous. Her vision blurred, tears threatening to spill out but Cathal shook his head.
“Hey none of that. It’s yours, if you want it. You can do whatever you want to the place. I left it blank so you could make it your own. Now...come with me.”
Shay followed mutely after her friend, her brain addled as Cathal locked the door to the apartment, handed the keys to her, then showed her how the two apartments were separated. The original staircase that led down to the shop was now between the two apartments, and Cathal went down, leading her into the shop.
Cathal bypassed his new larger room, then past Isaacs and Darren’s, to one of the new additional rooms, heading in and Shay was as confused as ever. Inside the room, the area had been already cleaned down and set up, with two chairs and an arm rest put into position. A tray with ink and what looked like a brand new tattoo pen.
“What’s all this? You tattooing me?”
Cathal grinned, chuckling softly. “No, dumbass. You’re gonna tattoo me.”
“No I’m not.”
“Ya,” Cathal said as he sat down on the chair and placed his arm on the arm rest. “You are. If you wanna be an artist, then you gotta get some practice in. Shay, you already know how to set up a tattoo machine. You know all about hygiene and care. You’ve watched us long enough to be able to skip all the grunt shit we had to do. You get to tattoo me first. Then Darren and Isaac...Isaac and Darren flipped for who would be second. They fought all day about who got to go next.”
“Probably didn’t want to be tattooed by a fucking novice.” Shay muttered as she sat down on the chair in front of Cathal, slumping in the chair and frowned.
