Page 18 of Until the Ink Dries

He took another sip of his drink. “Honestly, I didn’t really need your apology. I wasn’t offended.”

“So, you let me sit here and spill my guts for nothing?”

He smirked. “Who was I to stop you from doing what you felt?”

“Now you know my business, yet I don’t know yours.”

“Why do you need to know my business?”

I scoffed. “Damn, Benny. I thought we were friendly at one point. I mean, this is like catching up.”

“You sought me out, remember?”

I shook my head. “Nevermind.”

I thought I saw a smile play on his handsome face.

“If you stick around long enough, maybe you’ll learn a few things about me, Willow.”

“Maybe we’ll actually become friends this time around. Are you coming to the reunion tonight?”

“Hell no.”

“Oh, come on! It’ll be fun. Me and Shirah will be there.”

“I live in the same town as Shirah. Trust me, I see her enough.”

I pointed at him. “Not too much on my girl, now.”

“Your girl is a mess. You know she’s crazy.”

I laughed. “She’s a good time and I love her, so you better chill on her.”

“Or what?”

“You don’t want to find out.”

He chuckled. “A’ight. Anyway, why should I go see the same people I see on the regular?”

“Like I said, it will be fun. You’re coming. Don’t make me and Shy pull up on you at the shop and drag you out of there.”

“I like how you think you can tell me what to do.”

“All I know is I better see you there.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

I found myself smiling hard. I wasn’t sure why I wanted him to come so bad, but I could and would make good on my promise to pull up if he didn’t. What could it hurt?

The steady buzzing of the needle was a sound that had always relaxed me and kept me focused, but the shit didn’t seem to work today after the lunch I took with Willow. I don’t know if it was the thought of going to the damn class reunion, my shit with Tierra, or that Willow was wearing the hell out of those ripped jeans. Either way, the usual peace that settled over me was nonexistent.

I lifted my hand to survey my work and this dragon piece I was working on was turning out dope as hell. All I had to do was add some shading and I could wrap this up. Before I leaned back in, I checked on my client.

“You straight?”

He nodded and looked at his shoulder the best he could.

“I’m cool. From what I can see, this shit looks fire as fuck. I can’t wait to see the finished product.”

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