favor.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“Can you run the store for about a week?”
He stared at him incredulously. “Wait. What? I don’t know how to ink. I’m make your clients bleed to death.”
“I sa id run the store, not draw ink.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Take care of the money. That’s it.”
“So I take the money and you ink?”
“Well, no. I won’t be around. I’m having a friend of mine work for me. His shop has been pretty slow. He’ll take eighty percent of the commission. I need you to make sure he doesn’t take more.”
“Where will you be?”
“In New York.”
“Why?”
Ryan paused for a moment. He was never a good liar. “I’m meeting Janice’s family.”
“For a week? Can you wait until the weekend?”
“Her—uncle died,” he said quickly.
“Oh,” he said sadly. “Sorry, I didn’t know.”
“Yeah.” Ryan averted his gaze, unable to keep a straight face.
“Why can’t Scarlet run the shop? She’s done it before. No offense, but I already have a full time job and I have Monnique who really needs me right now.”
“Please just do it,” Ryan said.
“Hire someone.”
“I don’t trust anyone. You are the only I can have complete confidence in.”
Cortland shifted his weight to the other foot and thought for a moment. “Yeah okay.”
Ryan clapped him on the shoulder. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
“You owe me.”
“You want me to teach Monnique a few things?” he asked with a smile.
“I can still change my mind, you asshole.”
Ryan raised his hands. “Sorry, sorry.” He walked back to the table and sat beside Monnique, listening to her talk about her mom and the funeral. I felt bad for not being able to attend. Monnique wasn’t just Cortland’s girlfriend. She was part of our family.
Cortland stared at me, gauging my features. “Where’s Sean?”
“He’s at work,” I lied.
“Why can’t he watch the store?”
“He’s coming with us.”
“Why does everyone need to meet Janice’s family?” he asked with a laugh.
“Sean and I are gonna see his parents while we’re out there.”
“But you were just there.”
I shrugged. “Well, Sean misses them.”
I could tell Cortland was n’t buying it. He studied my gaze, looking into my eyes. “Scar, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly, looking away.
He stepped closer to me then wrapped his arms around me. “You can’t lie to me.”
“I’m—I’m just upset right now. It’s nothing.”
He hugged me to his chest, running his fingers down my back. When he held me I felt safe for a short moment in time. Cortland and I always had a unique relationship, different from any other. We were lovers before we were friends and were somehow stronger because of it. He was like a second brother to me.
“Is it Sean?” he whispered.
“Yeah,” I said quietly.
“Another fight?”
I hated lying to him but I couldn’t tell him the truth. I loved him too much to let him screw up what he had with Monnique. “Yeah.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“We’ll work it out.” I pulled away and looked at him. His hands were still wrapped around me. I was glad that Monnique was cool about our relationship. She was never jealous when Cortland hugged me or called me. I suspected it would be different when she knew the truth—that Cortland and I fooled around. “How are things with you?”
“Awful.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I hate seeing my girl in pain. There’s nothing I can.”
“Just be there for her. Holding her hand and being attentive is all you can offer her right now.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you meet her mom?”
“Once.”
“What was she like?”
“She’s was really nice. She made jokes about me being so white, but I know she liked me.”
“Was she fine like Monnique?”
He smiled. “She was a fox.”
I giggled but it was weak.
Cortland’s gaze turned serious. “Are you sure there’s nothing else