Page 11 of Under the Ink

“That’s a crappy way to start.”

“Yeah, but you know what? In a million years, I never would have thought to try to get a job like it—so it’s kinda cool just to be asked.”

The two women started walking across the parking lot toward the front door of the coffee shop. “I can see that. But…”

“But what?”

“But isn’t that band all guys?”

Something Naomi hadn’t quite thought about—but it didn’t matter. The job could be her escape from Winchester. She could spend the time on the road checking out different states, different cities, and find a good place to move—all while getting paid.

So big deal if she had to work with a few men?

“Don’t worry. I’ll have my pepper spray with me.”Andher safety keychain, whistle, and her spiked bracelets. No guy would ever touch her again. She’d long ago made sure of that.

Ginny pulled open the glass door to the Coffee Stop, Naomi’s employer—but not much longer if she decided to take the new job. Being a barista had turned out to be good for her in a lot of ways, but the job offer might be a sign that it was time to go.

“If you go…just be on your guard, Nam. Lock your door. Watch your drink.”

“Iknow.” Of all the people Ginny knew, Naomi was likely the most paranoid, the most cautious. After everything she’d endured in the past, the last thing she’d let happen to her would be another sexual assault. “I’ll be fine.”

Ginny continued to frown, though. As they approached the counter, a young man said, “Hey, ladies. How goes it?”

Naomi wouldnotmiss being called alady.

Wait. Had she made up her mind already?

“Hey, Kev!” Ginny greeted, not even seeming to hear the word her best friend considered a slur. “How are you guys feeling about possibly losing Naomi?”

Naomi widened her eyes at Ginny. “I haven’t said anything to them yet.”

“Wait. What?” Kevin said. “Are you leaving?”

“I don’t know. I—”

“She’s pondering a job offer—and I’m trying to talk her out of it.”

“Do what you want. If you leave, that’s more shifts for me. So,” he said, shifting his attention to Ginny, “you want your usual?”

Ginny laughed. “Oh, no. I have a usual?”

“Yep. You’re a regular,” the barista said. “So when are you leaving?” he asked Naomi.

“I haven’t accepted the job yet.”

“Yeah, I get that,” he said, taking a jug of milk out of the cooler. “But if you did, when would you be leaving?”

Naomi couldn’t be angry with her friend…but she didn’t want to talk about this. So why had she asked to get coffee? It was like she’d brought it on herself. “In two days.”

“Are you serious? You wouldn’t even give two weeks’ notice?”

“They need somebody who can start in two days. I wouldn’t have any say in when it started.”

“Like I said, more shifts for me. Dan’ll be pissed but he’ll get over it. He’s always pissed anyway. There’s no way to gauge when it escalates.”

Ginny laughed again, but Naomi nodded. Their manager had a short fuse but underneath it all was a nice enough guy. She’d learned to live with it—and would hate disappointing him if it came to that.

“Youcan get your own,” the barista said, pointing at her. “Last I checked, you still work here.”

---