Page 13 of Fox
“Is that like the Hades thing that is trending?” He asks, and my body deflates.The Hades thing that is trending?All my mind keeps screaming is, why is she with him? Better yet, why did Tony allow it? I get that she’s a grown woman, but I never once heard the old man complain about this boyfriend, and I feel like this would’ve been at the top of the list of things to bitch about.
“This guy is too stupid to breathe,” I mutter as Atlas air-high-fives me from his station.
“Sort of,” Janie says softly. Why is she so patient with this idiot? Fuck, if I were asking her that question, I would be scraping my pride off the floor already. “It probably wouldn’t interest you.” She flicks her wrist, waving the subject off, and I can’t help but feel even more annoyed at her behavior. I’ve watched her in the short time she’s been here, having lengthy conversations with customers over the deities. The girl knows her goddesses. So why is she pretending like it’s boring now? I don’t like it. In the last two weeks, I’ve gotten glimpses of what’s behind the mask she puts up for the world, and, well…thatperson is almost bearable. This version of Janie is something entirely different. I don’t know if I like it.
“Yeah, I don’t get the symbolism. But you may want to have a graphic designer do a new logo. That drawing is a little dated. I can give you the girl’s contacts who did my graphics if you want. I’m seeing her tonight at the meet and greet.”
How much can one person dislike another? I’m being forced to co-run a shop that is supposed to be mine with a woman that I can’t stand ninety-nine percent of the time, the other onepercent is reserved for moments like the break room or when she’s late to work, and I get more time without her. I’m literally in hell with the short, freckled, red-headed demon, but I think that even Janie hasn’t hit the lowest level on my hate list. But with his neon purple hair andsuggestions, Brody quickly plows his way there.
Janie’s mouth twitches slightly as she looks up at Brody. “Oh, you’re going to that meet-up?” Is that disappointment I’m hearing in her voice? I can’t for the life of me imagine why. If I were dating that wannabe know-it-all, I would be ecstatic that he chose to do something without me.
Brody scoffs as he rolls his eyes. “Uh yeah, Jai, this is important. Just because you don’t take your career seriously doesn’t mean I don’t. I have to network and see my fans.”
Wow. Brody really believes he’s a big deal. How adorable. I watch the two go back and forth for a few more minutes before Brody proclaims that Janie is gaslighting him because she wants to hang out tonight, and he leaves.
Janie, avoiding eye contact, marches to the break room and shuts the door.
Fuck, I’m exhausted, and it’s only been two fucking weeks.
SEVEN
janie
This is ridiculous.
I’m in total disbelief as I stare at my phone screen. I posted a selfie in front of this gourmet donut shop that is popping off on social media for its unique donuts and exciting owners. Getting in here is next to impossible unless you are willing to wait nearly an hour in line, which I was today. And while waiting, I took a candid selfie and posted it. I hadn’t thought about my wild hair or how my freckles would show through, even with the filters, because I don’t have makeup on. It was a rookie mistake. But I definitely wasn’t expecting the comments rolling in. Being an influencer with the following I have, the occasional hate or troll comment is normal, even expected. Not everyone likes the same things. I have tough skin and can handle it… Usually, but in the ten minutes, the selfie has been up, and all I’ve received are negative comments.
“She’s been kind of off the last couple of weeks.”
“I heard Brody was with Royce.”
“Ah, she is getting old anyway.”
“Like ??? You’re 30 GTFO here, grandma!”
“Here comes the binge train.”
“Ugh, it wasn’t cute to be this dumb at 15 and still not now. You are why we make less than men.”
My period hit me like a train this morning, and despite my bed singing me the sweetest siren song, I got up and headed to the shop. Well, I am heading there now, after some much-needed comfort food. I’m excited to go in today and talk with the guys. Last night, I came up with what I think will be a really cool idea for the shop, and I’m really excited to talk to them about it and get their opinions.
I had been scrolling, trying to get an idea for trends for the coming week to boost my ratings, when I got sidetracked. I started thinking about the shop, and before I knew it, I was looking into their social media footprint—or lack thereof—along with the Hel’s website that I made at seventeen that is so outdated, it doesn’t even have Ash on it. I went to work looking up social media tags for Hel’s and the guys, looking up events and what other successful tattoo shops on our level are doing, and compiled it all in this folder that I’m currently clutching to my chest while waiting for my turn in line. We have fantastic artists that need to be out there. Their designs could be on exclusive merch, or they could make one amazing ass revamped logo! Instead, we still have the old sketch that should’ve never been turned into a logo for a serious business and a website that is about as useful as a fishnet condom.
So, for the greater good, I will set my feelings aside for five minutes and talk to them about my ideas. But first, donuts. The fastest way to win me over is to give me baked goods or any food in general. Not that anyone ever tries to win me over. While waiting in line, I stare at all the different types. My eyes land on one called‘You won’t regret this,’and I laugh. It’s about twice the size of the other massive donuts, made of a chocolate cakedonut with thick peanut butter icing, fudge drizzle, and pieces of broken Reese’s cups.
As much as I like sweets, I’m not a chocolate fan. Fox is, though. I found this out the other day when the man threw a temper tantrum over wanting a Reese’s cup. God, he was such a freaking baby over that schedule. I mean, yeah, looking back, that was a dick move on my part, but to be fair, he was being a jerk and told me I could be a secretary. It pissed me off! But still, seeing how exhausted he was, I did feel like half a percent bad. So I went to the store on the corner to get him the damn candy, but they really were out of Reese’s. Which, I mean, yeah, that is such an odd item to be out of, I’ll give that to him. But it’s not like they didn’t have the thin version. When I came back with those, you would’ve thought I wrapped a turd up and handed it to him by the face he made. It was childish… even if the little pout on his face gave me butterflies. Well, maybe not. I did start my period this morning, so it was probably just pre-cramps… definitely notbutterflies.
Lost in my internal struggle, I chew the inside of my cheek while I think about the shop and Fox. I try to be thoughtful and give people things to be nice or just because, but Fox and I are enemies of the highest level. He is the Joker to my Batman, the Magneto to my Professor X.
No! Worse than that, he is the Toby Flenderson to my Michael Scott.A Toby who took care of me when I had a freak-out last week and didn’t make fun of my condition.
NO! Janie, this is how Toby wins! He gets inside your mind!
But god, he was so freaking sweet when I told him. I fully expected my Torch name to be retired forShakesor something like that. But he didn’t; he listened, respected me, and didn’t say anything to the guys. It makes everything about him that much more annoying because I need to stay firm in my loathing for him.
“Can I help you?” The feminine southern drawl pulls me out of my thoughts, and I look up to smile at the woman. She looks around my age, maybe a little older, and she is adorable. An aqua green long bob frames her soft face with black lowlights peeking underneath. A black ball decorates either side of her face, accentuating her dimples that match the black ring hanging delicately from the middle of her nose.
“Hi,” I say softly, pointing to the chocolate and peanut butter donuts. “I’m going to need a pretty big box.”
