Adrian: Do you want to talk about it?
Sophia: Honestly, not really. It has been a weird night.
The bartender announces that it is last call. That is my cue to leave. Even in the middle of the week, drunken idiots still act like, well, drunken idiots. It's not something I ever like to be a part of. Rushing to the bar to get those last couple of beers that isn't that important to me. I’ve never understood that mentality, but to each their own.
Adrian: That sucks. I'm about to head home, so I will see you at work tomorrow.
Sophia: I may be coming in late, but I will see you tomorrow. Good night, Adrian.
Whatever happened to her tonight must be kind of important. She never comes in late, or takes the day off for that matter. I only hope it’s nothing too bad.
The streets are thinning out now that most people have gone home. I'm almost to my car when something catches my attention. The car that pulled out after Sophia is parked a couple of rows down from mine. Or, at least, it looks like the same one. The ball of worry I had earlier flares up again. Something definitely doesn’t feel right.
* * *
The shop is a ghost town when I walk in, except for one person. Corey is standing behind the desk in the lobby, and it’s odd seeing him there. He’s rarely come out of his workroom since hiring Sophia. “What are you doing out here?”
“Soph is coming in late,” he grunts. “Someone has to take care of the desk.”
Leaning against the desk, I laugh. “You realize that we were capable of taking care of our own clients before she came along, right?”
“True,” he nods. “But we weren’t as busy as we are now. Since Charleigh started tattooing, and doing all the marketing stuff, we’re booked out for weeks at a time.”
Shrugging, I look around the shop. There used to be days we would only have one or two people max. Now… we almost always have our workstations full with people trying to squeeze in between other appointments. “At least we’re bringing in clientele. It probably would have happened sooner if you’d promoted her when she should have been.”
“I was waiting until she wanted it bad enough.” He flips through the appointment book, seeing what our workload is for the day. “I couldn’t have her thinking the position was hers without working for it.”
“She cussed you out almost daily.” There’s nothing Charleigh hated more than having to clean up after everyone. But it was her job as an apprentice. We’ve all been there, and had to deal with the bullshit. It didn’t help that Bianca would give her hell. I was shocked when they became friends. Now they hang out all the time. I’m sure a lot of that has to do with them dating best friends.
At the thought of dating, my mind wanders to Sophia. The car from last night is still bugging me. Is that the reason she’s late today? “Do you know what’s going on with Sophia? Why she’s coming in late?”
“Not my business.”
“Surely you’re curious,” I argue. “She hasn’t missed a day since she’s started. She has a better work ethic than most of us.”
“I worry about all of you Adrian,” he replies. “But I try to stay out of your lives as much as I can, unless you come to me.” He shrugs, “It keeps me out of any shop drama that may creep up.”
“Is that why you let Charleigh and Bianca have their argument last summer?” Part of me always wondered why he didn’t step in. At least it happened after the shop closed and not when we had clients. That would have been bad for business.
“Yep. I’m not going to fight your battles for you.” He stretches his arms out wide. As if encompassing the entire building. “We’re family here. Always will be. And families fight.”
That’s no lie. I haven’t talked to my own family in years because of their lack of support. They didn’t like my profession, and I didn’t care for how they would talk down to me. In the end, they were toxic and I had to do what was best for me.
“Good point,” I knock my fist against the desk. “I’m going to get my room set up.”
“We’ve got a busy day ahead of us,” he closes the appointment book. “Hopefully the girls show up on time.”
“Doubtful,” I flip the light switch on as I walk into my room. It’s already clean, but I need to get the sketches out for my clients today. Prepared is always the best way to be. Otherwise, we have angry people to calm down.
Every few minutes I glance outside my door to see if Sophia has made it in yet. But she hasn’t shown up. I fully intend on asking her what’s going on when she gets here. I know I said I wouldn’t bug her about it. And, maybe I won’t. Maybe, I’ll take the opportunity to ask her on a date. There’s no point in fighting my attraction to her any longer. Even if it goes up in flames.