A girl like Sloan needs constant attention to feel important. That would explain why when Perry got in trouble, waiting for him was out of the question. I can only hope that he’s smart enough to realize that. He never did when we were kids, but there’s always hope people can change. I hope he did.
9
Love Robbery
Perry- Now
I make it to the dealership only five minutes late. This isn’t anything new for me, so it won’t raise any eyebrows. I will, however, have to explain why I missed dinner last night and never came home. Even though I’m twenty-three, I still feel like a child living next door to my parents. I need my own place. I wish I could get a decent job to facilitate that. All the money we made is already spoken for. I’m just waiting for the right time to make the drop.
I’m just finishing up detailing Mrs. Jensen’s Lincoln when I see my dad waving me into his office through the glass window. With a sigh, I drop my rag and walk over.
When I step in his office, he’s pacing behind his desk. Never a good sign.
“What’s up?”
His eyes meet mine and I already regret this conversation.
“Is there a reason you didn’t show up for dinner last night?”
I cross my arms and lean in the doorway. “I got busy.”
He laughs once. “Busy, huh? Your mother was really looking forward to you coming. I know you’re right next door but she would like it if you spent some more time with the family.”
This causes me to laugh. “Why? So you can keep an eye on me?”
“No,” he says defensively. “We do like to see you from time to time. Working with you and spending quality time are two different things.”
“So quality time for you involves sitting in awkward silence over a meal? Sorry, I had other plans.”
I turn to walk out of the room and he stops me with his voice. Saying my name in a manner I’ve been accustomed to. Anger and disappointment.
“I’m not finished yet.”
I pause, not turning around. “Well, I got work to do.”
“That can wait. Sit down and close the door.”
He uses his authoritative dad tone, which hardly ever comes out, so I concede. I sit in the chair across from his desk and fold my hands in my lap. “I’m all ears.”
His eyes flare in annoyance. “Why do you always have to be such a smartass?” With a sigh, he takes a seat as well. “I got a call from Phil this morning saying that you closed the bar down last night. You know you’re not supposed to be in there until you complete your classes.”
One of the many drawbacks of living in a small town. Everyone is always in your fucking business.
“I know. I only have two left.”
“So, don’t mess up now. You lose your temper and get in a fight, you’ll be thrown right back in prison. Is that what you want?”
I grit my teeth. “You know it’s not.”
He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest, looking me over. “I know I said you and Sloan had a history, but I didn’t mean you should try to start things up with her again.”
I can’t hold my barely contained rage in anymore. I stand up from my chair. “I’m done with this conversation. What I choose to do with my life, is my choice.”
“You’re right. It is your choice. I’m trying to make sure you make the right choices.”
I throw my arms out. “And what’s that’s supposed to mean?”
“Every time you’re with her you start acting like an asshole. It’s like that girl takes every rational part of your brain and scrambles it so you can’t think clearly. You have a chance to make your life better now. Don’t waste it over some girl who obviously doesn’t care about what happens to you.”
There really is no response to that. It’s true that Sloan hasn’t always been the best girlfriend, but I have to believe that her intentions, for the most part, come from a place of love. She wouldn’t keep coming back if she didn’t love me.
I nod tersely and turn for the door again. “Good talk, Dad. I can always count on you to be on my side.”
Without another word, I slam the door behind me. So much for quality time.
Tess’s shop closes at eight so I arrive a little before. She’s in the back cleaning up her supplies when I stroll through the front door. She must have changed at some point, because her hair is curled in ringlets down her back and the red lipstick she has on matches her halter top. She looks like a fifties pin-up model.
“I hear you walking around back there,” Tess calls to me over her shoulder. She gives me a quick smile. “I’m almost finished and then we can talk.”
I walk around the counter to the back and take a seat in one of her chairs. I grip the handrails with a grin. “Have time for one more?”
She raises an eyebrow. “You want a new tat?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.”
Tess leans back on her stool and surveys my body. “What did you have in mind?” Her hand travels down my arm that I have almost completely covered. “You don’t have much room left.”
I grab her wrist and flip it over. My fingers trail along the tattoo we all share. “I want to get one that means something.”
She watches me trace the edges of her tattoo and sadness flashes in her eyes. “Walker was so excited when he got that tattoo gun.”
I laugh, removing my hand from her. “Yeah, I was pretty fucking nervous to let him at me with that thing.” I turn my own wrist over. “He did a good job though. It’s still my favorite.”
Tess appears thoughtful for a moment before she speaks. “Why didn’t you ever do it full-time?”
My eyebrows pull in. “Do what?”
“Tattooing, I mean. You only worked with us one day a week and I swear you had more clients than both of us combined.” She gives a pointed look. “I know you hate working with your dad. It can’t be because you want to be a part of the family business.”
My lips purse. “It’s not that…”
I let my words trail off because I don’t know how to answer her. The reason I tried to distance myself toward the end had nothing to do with my passion for this career. It was about doing what was best for all of us.
She shoves me in the arm. “Come on. You’re the best artist I know. No one can free hand like you do.”
I laugh again. I was the one who drew our first tattoo and Jeremy was the first to receive it. He was too nervous for Walker to try, so he made me do it. Why he trusted me more, I’ll never know.
“I need to do something. My dad is driving me fucking crazy.” I sit up straighter and run my hand along my head roughly. “He thinks Sloan is a bad idea.”
Tess lets out a dark chuckle. “Yeah, when is Sloan a good idea? You honestly think she lost sleep while you were gone? No, she shacked up with Johnny the moment you left and hasn’t looked back. Now for some reason she wants to play with you again.” She leans forward and meets my eyes. “Because you let her.”