Chapter 7
Bryan
I was typing some paperwork into the system for business while I toggled around the internet. I was looking for a way to make all this shit more automatic while reminding myself of why I was doing it. I’d flip between the endless amount of data entry and all the electronic systems available to me, cursing myself that I hadn’t listened to Drew before. He was the one who’d wanted to make this system electronic from the beginning, but I thought that would tack on way too much money for us to eventually owe back to a bank. Raking my hand through my hair, I sat back and sighed as a knock came at my office door. “Come in,” I said. “Realizing I was right, aren’t you?” Drew asked. “Hey there,” I said, smiling. I rose up from my chair and rounded around to give him a hug. Drew had spent his first full week out of the office, so needless to say, he was a sight for sore eyes. I had yet to tell him about the dinner I had with my parents nor had I gotten an update from him on how things with the tattoo parlor were going. “Got some news for ya, man,” he said. “Hit me with it,” I said. “I signed the official papers for my tattoo parlor building.” “Holy shit, man. That’s awesome! Congratulations.” I gave him another hug before I furrowed my brow. “Wait, I thought you already did that?” I asked.
“Well, yes and no. I was trying out a few places, really scoping them out to find the right one for me. I’ve been doing some market testing this week. You know, getting out into the public and asking them questions on what they want.” “So that’s where you’ve been,” I said. “And here I thought you just abandoned us.” “Nope, actually working, dude. Anyway, I found the neighborhood with the most promise and signed the papers on the building yesterday.” “Have you sent everything over to Hailey?” I asked. “Didn’t she offer to help you decorate or something?” “She actually already got me her stuff. She gave me some ideas on how to make the environment cozier for people while they were there and then gave me some awesome color schemes to choose from. She’s a hell of a woman. Didn’t charge me a damn thing.” “That’s Hailey for you,” I said, grinning. “I take it things are going well for you two?” he asked. “For the most part, yeah.” “What does that mean?” “Eh, it’s along story and is probably born out of my paranoia of losing her. No big deal.” “Dude. Anything with you is a big deal to me. Sum it up in a few sentences,” he said. “I just get the feeling she’s hiding something. She isn’t drinking wine anymore, and she’s looking a little tired. She backed out of moving in with me because we’re both so busy, and she’s been canceling a lot of dates recently.” “She pregnant or some shit?” he asked. “Nah. She’s been on birth control for a while.” “Doesn’t mean she couldn’t be. That shit fails all the time.” “I know, but that’s not what’s going on. I know there’s something
“Maybe she’s stressed with work. The two of you have gotten a lot of attention since that showcase,” he said. “I know.” “Look, I’m never one to go against intuition. That shit’s powerful when it happens. If you think something’s wrong, then ask her about it. She loves you, and you love her. She’ll confide in you eventually if something’s up.” “You think?” I asked. “I know, dude. Look, I know things are rolling quickly with this parlor, and we aren’t seeing as much of each other as we used to, but I’m here for you, man. Seriously. You need to talk, just call. We’ll get a beer or something. Food. A burger. Speaking of, there’s a great burger joint across the street from the building I signed for. New lunch spot?” he asked. “Sounds like it,” I said, grinning. “I’m sorry I’ve bailed hard on this week,” he said. “No, no. It’s not a problem. I need to get used to running that kind of schedule anyway. Plus, with you gone, that opens up a lot of potential to hire more homeless men who need work. Especially with the influx of interest in our company with other areas outside of San Diego.” “Well, technically, it’s just your company now,” he said. “I submitted the liquidation papers last week and everything’s been approved.” “Drew, no matter what you do, this’ll always be our company. You built this shit with me. You leaving doesn’t change that fact.” “Thanks, man. That means a lot.” “So, what are these suggestions Hailey gave you?” I asked. “Just color schemes and potential designs for the building. I gotta go by her gallery and drop off my portfolio of tattoos and sketches so she can do whatever she wants with them.” “Well, she’s always there, so I’m sure you’ll catch her,” I said. “You couldn’t have been any saltier saying that,” he said, chuckling. “I just don’t understand why she doesn’t hire some help. I know she’s got the money, and she’d be less tired that way.” “Dude, I’m telling you. Talk to her. Sit her down with some lemon water or some shit and ask her outright what’s going on.” “But should I have to do that?” I asked. “Haven’t we been through enough to where she could tell me what it is?” “If you want to be real? The last time she held something back from you for your own good, you proved to her why she did it in the first place once you told her. She was probably anxious you’d blow up at her or some shit. Then when it all came tumbling out, you did.” “That happened because she held back something about my brother from me. Shelied to me, Drew.” “So if she had told you, say, day four of the construction project that she knew your brother and he was actually murdered and she had all his paintings, you wouldn’t have stormed off her property?” “I mean, it might not’ve gone down exactly how it happened,” I said. “But you would’ve been upset. You most certainly wouldn’t have gone out to dinner with her, right?” “No. Hell no, I wouldn’t have.” “Then you could argue that her holding that shit back from you is the reason you guys stood a chance in the first place, man.” I thought long and hard about Drew’s train of thought and wondered if that’s what was happening. I wondered if Hailey was scared of talking to me because she thought I was going to blow up at her again. The thought made me nauseous. “I’m not saying holding shit back from you is right on her part,” he said. “I’m just saying you’ve given her a reason to with the way you reacted the first time, warranted or not, dude.” “Shit,” I said, groaning.
“Yeah, well. Relationships are shit. It’s why I don’t do them often,” he said. “Anyway, it’s gonna take a few months to get the building ready. There’s a lot that has to be done to it, but it’s gonna look awesome.” “No segue, huh?” I asked. “Just going to hop right back into you and your stuff.” “You’re bad at dwelling on shit. I’m trying to make sure you don’t. I wanna thank you for supporting me in this, though. I really feel like I’m moving forward with the rest of my life and settling into a lane I’ve wanted to take up for a while.” “I’m glad I could help,” I said as I patted his arm. “We can usher in your opening with a new tattoo somewhere on my body.” “I’m not doing it for free,” he said. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I want to be your first customer.” “Deal,” he said, smiling. “Now, time to talk about you.” “Didn’t we just do that?” I asked. “Have you ever thought about leaving this place behind?” he asked. “Now you sound like my father. What is it?” I asked. “Whoa. Harsh words. Let’s tone down that language a bit,” he said, grinning. “All I’m saying is, I could see you starting a foundation or something like that, dude.” “A foundation?” “Yeah, like a charity or something. We all know your true passion is helping people, not construction. The only thing that makes this job bearable for you is that you’re helping people.” “I like helping people. Why can’t I do that and have a business?” I asked. “No one’s saying you can’t. I’m just saying that my happiness lies in tattooing. Yours doesn’t lie in construction, but it lies in a facet of the business we’ve built.” “I guess if we’re talking candidly, then yes. I’ve thought about handing this over to someone else, keeping a slice for myself, and doing something else. But it’s way too fast, especially with you just now leaving. My relationship with Hailey is a bit strained at the moment because we’re so busy, and there’s this looming shadow that keeps following us, and that’s enough for me to deal with right now.” “I still think you’re worrying too much,” he said. “I don’t think I am. In fact, I know I’m not.” “Strong words coming from you. Why don’t you go out and do something fun? You know, get your mind off things.” “Fun,” I said. “Like a bouncy house or a ball pit.” “No, you asshole. Like a fun date with Hailey or an impromptu weekend road trip. Something like that that gets you out of the city for a bit.” “That actually doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Think Hailey would go for it?” I asked. “Sure, and if she doesn’t, I’ll go with you. Been a while since we’ve done something like that. It can be fun even if the girls aren’t there. Speaking of, you talked to Anna lately?” “Why would I have talked to Anna?” I asked. “Well, the two of you seemed to develop some sort of pseudofriendship. I figured if something was up with Hailey, you would’ve bugged her about it.” “Nope. I actually haven’t talked to Anna in a week or so. Why?” I asked. “Just wonderin’.” “Uh-huh,” I said, smirking. “Just wondering. All right. I take it you haven’t called her yet?” “Nope. Haven’t had the time. This parlor’s taken up most of it, and then sleep gets the rest.” “I’m sure. Well, if you want to know how she is, dig out her number and ask her yourself.” “Dude, it was just a passing question. Chill out.” The way Drew was trying to play this all off was funny to me. I could tell he was curious about any information I had on her, and the truth was, I had talked to her recently. I ran into her in the grocery store and talked with her for a little bit, but there was this dubious stare she was giving me the entire time. She was looking at me with pity in her eyes like something had happened to me that required her sorrow. It only confirmed to me that something was wrong with Hailey, but I knew better than to press her sister for that information. “Hey, I got an idea,” Drew said. “What’s that?” I asked. “Why don’t the four of us get together?’ “The four of who?” I asked. “Dude, don’t be a dick. Look, it’s obvious you’re worried about Hailey. If we all get together and just eat and hang out, you’ll get a fresh pair of eyes on her. I still think you’re being weird about it, but if it’s as obvious as you say it is, maybe she’ll talk about it with more people around. Especially if one of those people happens to be her sister.” “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” I said. “And then you can ask Anna how she’s doing yourself.” “You’re gonna be a dick about this, aren’t you?” he asked. “The entire time,” I said, chuckling. “I’ll give Hailey a call and see what I can arrange. I’ll let you know.” “Thanks, dude. Well, I’ll leave you to this torture chamber you seem to have set up for yourself. You convinced to go electronic yet?’ The look I shot him pulled a chuckle from deep in his stomach. “I’m tellin’ya, we should’ve done it from the beginning.” “Yeah, yeah. Get back to that parlor of yours and slap some paint on it or something,” I said. “Better than what you’re doing here!” He shut the door behind him, and I sighed. I didn’t know what to do from here. There was only so much I could do if Hailey didn’t want to talk to me, and I knew Hailey well enough to know she wouldn’t talk in a group setting like that. I got the feeling Anna already knew, which made me a bit jealous even though Anna was her sister. I mean, what was so terrible and so risqué that she couldn’t tell the man she proclaimed to love? Even the way she told me she loved me a few days ago sounded so ominous. I shook the thought from my head as my cellphone started ringing. I picked it up and put it to my ear, not bothering to look at who was calling me. “Hello?” I asked. “Hey there,” Hailey said. “Such a sweet voice pouring through this phone,” I said, smiling. “Drew and I were just talking about you.” “Oh, Drew was there? Did he say anything about the parlor?’ “Just that you were a damn fine woman for doing what you’re doing for him,” I said. “Well, he’s more than welcome. I’m glad to be able to help.” “Listen, Drew is wanting me to set up a double-date between the two of us and him and Anna. Think she’d go for it?” “Go for it? She’d get ready for it and then wait by the door like a sad, lost little dog. She’s been on my back about Drew for the last few days asking me if I’ve heard from him and all that crap.” I smiled at how chipper she sounded. It was the first time in a while she’d sounded this happy. “So, is that a yes to the double-date?” I asked. “It’s a double yes,” she said. “I see what you did there.” “Well, wait until you see what I wear to dinner.” “As long as it matches my floors, I don’t care what you wear,” I said. “Such a shame. I wanted it to match my lingerie.” I shivered at the thought of her luscious, supple curves stuffed into throngs of silk and lace.
“Mmm, what an image,” I said.
“Down boy. I still need to talk to Anna about it. When were we thinking?” she asked. “This weekend?” “I could do this weekend. Saturday night?” “Aren’t you doing your art therapy classes Saturday night since the showcase was such a hit?” I asked. “I’ve only begun to advertise them. I still need to get people to sign up before I declare a start date,” she said. “Then this Saturday it is.” “I’ll give Anna a call and see what she’s doing, though I have a feeling she’ll be free, even if she has to call out of work.” “Then I’m looking forward to our fun little evening,” I said. “Me too,” she said. And had I not known any better, I could’ve sworn I heard a smile in Hailey’s voice. “You know I love you, right?” I asked. “And there’s nothing that could ever change that?” A silence fell on the conversation, and for a second, I thought she’d hung up the phone. “I know,” she said lightly. “And I love you too. No matter what.” Though for whatever reason, I didn’t feel like my stating that was going to change anything. “I’ll let you know what Anna says,” Hailey said. “I’ll be awaiting your phone call. I love you, Hailey.” “Love you, too, Bryan.”