Page 10 of Fox
“Sorry, I was thinking about what you would look like without a beard. Please don’t shave it off. I think your beard might be like a push-up bra. What did you say?”
Fox huffs and throws the same shirt back at me again.
“I said, put it on over your long-sleeved shirt if you are that insistent on long sleeves. I’ll pull one from storage for next week… If you make it that long.”
I crack a grin as I stare at him. “Oh, don’t worry, I will. You are stuck with me for the next fifty-two weeks, buddy. Hell, I might enjoy it so much, I’ll just stay on as your partner.” I watch as his witty smirk falls, and the light vanishes from his eyes. Smiling triumphantly, I hop off the stool and head to the backroom, shirt in hand.
Yep, I totally got this.
FIVE
fox
“Give me five minutes,” I say to Ash as my fourth client of the day walks up front to check out. “If I don’t go now, I’m going to end up pissing my pants,” I mutter before walking to the bathroom. Today has been beyond exhausting. Janie overbooked me today. She swears it was an accident, but I doubt it. And while I’ve been lucky enough to stay mostly on time, my following two clients are bigger pieces that will take up the final five hours of the day.
I’m tired, starving, and every joint in my body hurts so fucking bad I could cry. I could kill the brat for doing this to me. Iknowshe overbooked me on purpose. She’s trying to get me to slip, to crack, to turn away a client. It won’t happen. I will die before one of my clients leaves here unsatisfied, which may very well happen today.
I nearly plow into the hellion on my way out of the bathroom. “Oh Fox! Perfect, I was looking for you! So I see you have about ten minutes between your last two clients; I got a call, and someone’s coming in around that time for a consultation.” An image of me shoving her against the wall and snarling at her like a wild wolf flashes through my brain, and… what the shit? AmI…getting an erection?I could quite literally chop my dick off for this act of treason.
“Tor—Janie,” I give her a defeated look, and fuck do I hate myself for it, but I’m so tired, and I still have two tattoos left to complete. “Listen, I… I can’t. You have to call them back and tell them I’m booked.” Janie raises a brow at me.
“Oh? And what will you be doing in that time?”
“RubbingIcyHoton my fucking back and eating a Reese’s Cup!” I bark out before brushing past her. I stop and turn back to her. “And the next time someone calls for me, you give them tome.You don’t touch my schedule again, brat, you got it?”
“Wow, one busy day and Papa Fox gets all pissy.” My hand’s twitching as I smack it against the wall.
“I hope your lunch today gives you the shits.” I grind out before walking away while she cackles behind me. Fuck, I’m exhausted.
“Here.”Janie drops a plastic bag on my table, and I raise a brow.
“What is it?” I ask slowly while trying to rub the knot out of my shoulder blade.
“Corner store was out of regular Reese’s, but I got you the thin ones.” I stop rubbing as I peer into the bag. Oh my god, she actually went to the store and got me the thin Reese’s. I chuckle lightly while shaking my head.
“Ya know, Torch, you could’ve been nice and gotten me the candy I wanted, or you could’ve just not gotten me anything. Butthis,” I hold up the bag, “This petty shit is going to cause ahuge problem. Like if you were hanging off a ledge, this might be what causes me not to save you.”
She looks around as if in shock, “I’m telling the truth, you old grouchy fart!” Atlas snickers from his table, and I shoot him a glare before standing up, my back screaming as I do so.
“Sure, just like you didn’t intentionally overbook me? You realize that my job isn’t like your made-up one, right? I have to actually be here tomorrow, able to do the same thing again.” She huffs before crossing her arms over her chest.
“Okay, fine, I overbooked you because you’re a jerk. Happy? Now go home and shut up,” she snaps while snatching the plastic bag.
“I would love to!” I call after her retreating figure. “But someone booked me a two-hour calf piece.”
“Oh my god! There is no calf piece, you big baby, I made it up! Now go home before I fire you!”
“You can’t fire me! I don’t work for you!” I yell after her while grabbing my bag.
“That’s not how the line goes,” Atlas mutters, and I have to resist the urge to smack him as I walk past him toward the back door. I’m about to head out and put this shit day to rest when I see Janie isn’t in the break-room or storage like I thought. She’s standing at Tony’s office door, staring at it.
“Torch?” I say softly, causing her to jump. She turns, and I swear I see a glassy look in her sapphire eyes. “You alright?” For a second, I feel like she’s going to open up, but as quickly as one can blink, her eyes return to normal, and her annoyed expression is back on her face.
“Ew,” she shoves past me and walks back toward the tattoo area. “Don’t you dare start growing emotions or some shit.”
“Never, Torch,” I huff as I walk out of Hel’s and down the stairs leading to the parking lot. Once in my truck, I look at the reflection in the rearview and have to force the small smile offmy face that’s peaking through my beard. Great, a smile and a boner? I need a night off.
SIX
