Page 166 of Breaking the Rules
"Studied business," he says.
That's vaguely familiar. He did it to make his parents happy. Started working as an artist soon after.
I guess he learned something, because the shop is doing well. And he's the guy who runs it.
"What are you taking now?" he asks.
"It's a two-oh-one class." I sell the confidence. Math doesn't come easily to me, but I pay attention and I work hard.
"You're a natural." He studies the numbers carefully. "You ever think about focusing on business?"
"Like an MBA or something?" I fight my desire to cringe.
He chuckles. "I was the same way when I was your age."
"What was it like, living before the invention of television?" I tease.
"Tough." He looks to me. "It doesn't have to mean working at some giant company. Could be this." He motions to the shop.
"Hate to break it to you, but I already have this," I say.
He just laughs again. "You could be me."
"Please God no."
Hunter laughs.
Ryan shoots him a look, but it's only for a second. His poker face breaks and he shrugs. "Fuck, no one would want that."
I nod. "No one." Ryan's funny. He's always been a good sport about mocking his misery. Even now that he's no longer miserable. He and Leighton are like… disgustingly happy.
"You could run a shop," he says.
"That's already what I want to do." Does no one listen? "I want to own my own boutique."
"You could run this shop."
"Isn't that your job?"
"Yeah. But it could be yours instead."
I stare back at him. "Like an actual, official Inked Hearts manager?"
He nods.
"The guys would kill you," I say.
He smiles. "All the better."
"You'd be good at it," Hunter says.
Ryan shoots me a look. "After college."
"That's almost three years," I say.
"We could make it official, you being assistant manager," he says. "But you'd have to commit more hours to the shop. Drop that other job."
I like my other job.
