Under Locke Read online

  But it did.

  I'd gone from thinking about him once a year to all-of-a-sudden getting constantly bombarded with reminders of something—someone—I'd rather forget.

  And it must have been noticeable on my face because Blake had a guilty expression on his.

  "I'm gonna get a pop, you want one?" he asked, already pushing himself off of the couch he was on.

  Avoiding the awkwardness? I think I liked Blake already.

  "No thanks."

  He shrugged and was around the desk a moment later, his Meshuggah t-shirt draped loosely around his shoulders, faded jeans sagging, before he was out of my line of vision. It kind of made me feel like an old grandma, dressed in black work pants and an elbow-length lavender blouse that covered all my fleshly valuables.

  I just didn't feel like explaining my arm. Everything always changed after The Arm Conversation.

  As long as I could keep wearing my longer sleeved shirts, I could put that bomb off for a while.

  ~ * ~ *

  I'd been staring at the screen for the last hour. The notes that Dex had set down almost two hours ago seemed to be mocking me in mute delight.

  What I should have done was ask him the day before to explain to me one more time how to work the program.

  Half of it had been more than easy enough. Memos, dates, all that stuff I could guess. But I'd already gone through the same spreadsheet twice, and I swear two of the numbers on the balance were different than they had been originally.

  Holy crap.

  I had two options. I could go ask Dex for help. The other would be that I could look up instructional videos on how to use the accounting program because the Help button wasn't as helpful as I'd hoped.

  In hindsight, I'm really not sure why I chose to ask Dex instead of suffering through a thirty minute long video.

  But I got up and headed toward his office, feeling that same urge to gag as the day before, creep up my throat.

  Crap. Crap. Crap.

  The folder clung to my fingertips as I paused right outside of the opened office door. Dex was behind his desk, a sheet of paper spread out where the keyboard had been yesterday. A pencil bobbed back and forth as he stared at the sheet, two fingers pinched the bridge of his nose.

  Deep down I knew I was going to regret this. I really, really did.

  "Hey Dex?"

  Those two Crayola Blue eyes shifted up to look at me. Emotionless. Impassive. "Yeah?"

  I had to swallow back the urge to gag as I lifted the blue folder for him to see. My mouth, the traitor, lifted up into a nervous smile. "I'm having some trouble with that program you showed me yesterday, and I was wondering if you could show me how to use it one more time?"

  He didn't say anything. That concentrated, undiluted gaze stayed on me indefinitely.

  And the babbling kept spewing out of me. "I just don't want to mess it up any more."

  Dex's blink was so slow it could have lasted a day. The hand that had been up shielding his mouth while his fingertips pinched the bridge of his nose, dropped. He let out a deep, deep sigh straight from the monstrous caverns hidden beneath his chest and flat abs. "You already fucked it up?"

  Triple crap.

  I'd smiled at things worse than Dex, so the fact that my nervous smile stayed on my face wasn't a surprise. "I may have messed it up, but I haven't saved my work yet. That's why I was hoping you could help me."

  He looked up at the ceiling and closed those brilliant eyes. "Fuck me. Fuck me."

  Quadruple crap.

  Maybe I should have told him I was sorry for bothering him, but I wasn't. I really didn't know very well what I was doing, and I figured that I was saving him time now by asking for clarification and not waiting till later and causing a bigger mess. Right?

  "I already showed you how to do this shit yesterday, girl. I don't have time to hold your fuckin' hand through this, got it?"

  What. The. Hell?

  Something that wasn't exactly shame or humiliation rushed through me. I wasn't sure what exactly the emotion was, but it left this terrible, sticky layer over my skin.

  "I'll show you one more time, but if you can't handle somethin' as easy as that program then I don't think you have any business workin' for me. I need help around here. I don't have time to be helpin' the help, make sense?" he asked in that clipped, sharp tone that could saw off pieces of lumber.

  My fingers curled into themselves on their own just as something knotted in my throat. I was a spineless little wuss. Where had this person come from?

  I was pretty passive. Okay, extremely passive, but I could hold my own. I knew when to say no. I knew when people took advantage of me. Yet, there I was. Letting my boss get mad because I hadn't mastered how to do something on the first try.

  A spineless little wuss that went and sat right next to Dex, the wielder of the verbal whip, and let him show me how to use the damn computer program one more time.

  It seemed like the words went in one ear and settled gracefully deep in my memory. I'd just nodded through the entire fifteen minute demonstration, keeping my eyes directly on the screen and avoiding all forms of communication with him.

  By the time the impromptu tutorial was over, I high-tailed it back to the front desk to start the spreadsheet all over again. I mumbled out my thanks and tucked my tail between my legs. Embarrassed and a little pissed off weren't exactly my favorite emotions. I hadn't even been able to look him in the eye.

  I kept myself busy after that by asking Blake if there was anything I could help him with when he was free. He showed me how to sterilize the bottles they used to rinse off ink. He showed me where all the artists kept their business cards. How to use the thermal fax in the break room. Where the catalogues were for ordering supplies—I told him I didn't know how to do that yet and he grinned, promising that I'd learn soon.

  It was close to eight and the shop was dead, Dex still hadn't come out from his office and Blake had disappeared a few minutes before, when the urge to pee struck. I beelined toward the restroom, ignoring the open call of Dex's office as I did my business and closed the door on my way out, thinking of when I could ask Dex at what time I could take a break. I'd brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my purse and—

  "Even a fuckin' idiot can figure out how to do it."

  The tile floors carried the not-so-quiet conversation down the hall. I recognized the deep baritone voice as Dex's and my stomach revolted.

  There was a laugh. His. "I don't give a shit if she's hot. I'm not lookin' to get my dick wet. I need to get shit done around the shop that I don't like doin'," he snickered. "How hard is it to find a reliable bitch to help out around here?"

  I froze for a split second right there in the hallway. The words seeped into my pores, rejuvenating my blood cells and apparently my tear ducts as well.

  He thought I was a fucking idiot? All because I asked him a simple question?

  I wasn't stupid. I knew that. Knew it without a doubt. I hadn't gone to school any more because I couldn't afford it, not because I wasn't smart enough. And while I'd worked for a boss that was an asshole back at the cruise line, he wasn't an unfair asshole. He was simply an overzealous, hardworking asshole.

  He'd never upset me though, and here I was. Standing like a pathetic fool that wanted to cry. Then again, I always wanted to cry. I cried when I was happy, sad, excited, and frustrated with life. And I hated it. Especially now.

  Because I shouldn't let shit like Dex's skewed opinion bother me. I needed a paycheck like I needed my next breath. I shouldn't care what one delinquent biker thought about me as long as he paid me, right?

  Right. Why did it feel like I'd gotten stabbed in the gut, though?

  Chapter Four

  I checked my bank account at least three times after overhearing Dex's one-sided conversation. Unfortunately, the amount that showed up on my screen stayed the same each time.

  Seventy-eight dollars and thirty-nine cents cemented my fate.

  I needed gas,
I wanted to buy some groceries so that Sonny wouldn't have to buy them again, and I had to pay my cell phone bill in two weeks. None of that was even including the credit card I'd run up on the drive over to Texas when I'd stopped for gas. Did I have a choice? Not really.

  The only option I had was to bite back the ugly feeling that continually swam up the back of my throat when I thought of Dex's harsh words. Was this what I'd sunk to? I mean, the universe couldn't be that cruel.

  It couldn't be. There was no way that a handful of surgeries had led me to work for a man that called me a fucking idiot. I wasn't even going to touch his use of the word 'bitch'.

  Don't cry, Iris.

  Sacrifices were necessary sometimes, I knew that. After Dad had left, we'd moved from a house into an apartment. Downgraded the car. Quit going out to eat. And that was all before the universe and all its assurances of having a happily-ever-after went supernova on me. Life was hard sometimes and there was no book or movie that could prepare you for how harsh it could be.

  Except maybe that zombie television show where everyone died. That was pretty accurate.

  If it were Will who had found me the job, I wouldn’t have a problem shooting the finger at this place and walking out. I knew he’d forgive me if I made him look like a douche bag. He owed me for busting my butt to feed him and keep him clothed for years. But Sonny? God.

  I wanted to leave. Whether it was Pins and Needles, or Austin altogether at that point, I wasn’t sure, but the urge to flee was right on the horizon. Why hadn't I just gone up to Cleveland with Lanie?

  This terrible feeling of embarrassment didn’t work for me. Then again, I’d made the commitment to work here, and I really needed the money. Like so badly I was desperate to see just one more digit in my bank account balance.

  My pride wasn't going to pay my bills.

  But finding another job would.

  “What’s up, new girl?”

  I looked up to see Blake coming into the shop with a brown paper bag in one hand.

  I’m sure my smile was shaky because my hands were still trembling. I was nauseous too, and I was still seriously considering bolting. Knowing that Sonny worked around the corner if I needed anything, and that I needed a paycheck badly, were the only things that kept me in my seat. “Hey, Blake."

  "You got some lunch in?" he asked, coming to stand right in front of the desk.

  Lying, I nodded because it was all I had in me. The peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich I'd made that afternoon was still sitting in my purse.

  Blake’s sky blue gaze narrowed a tiny bit as he slid them over what I could assume were my wet, traitorous eyes. “Dex piss you off?” he wondered in a quiet voice.

  I had to keep from sucking in a ragged breath because that would definitely set off an alarm, and shook my head weakly. If I would have been paying attention, I would have taken in the fact that he suspected Dex was capable of doing something to upset me. Like making girls cry wasn’t out of the ordinary for that jerk.

  But Blake’s eyes were too perceptive. He opened his mouth to speak but his eyes slid passed my seat and he tilted his head up in the direction of the door.

  “Sup,” Blake called out, still keeping his spot directly in front of me.

  “Slim called in. You mind stayin' late?” Dex. The smooth, rich, melodic voiced dick-face spoke.

  "Whatever." My bald coworker shrugged and slid his eyes over to me discreetly, tapping his fingertips on the desk. “You want something to drink?” I kind of loved him for ignoring the jerk that had just made me feel like I was the dumbest person alive.

  I did want a drink but since I wasn’t sure what the hell was about to happen with Dex, I didn’t want to take the chance that I’d be mooching off a soda and have to walk my shamed hide back across the street, so I shook my head.

  Blake shrugged and walked around the desk to head toward the back.

  From my peripheral vision, I could tell Dex was standing just to my right a few feet away by that point. His black shirted blur told me so. Every instinct in me wanted to walk out, but I wouldn’t until he, the mean jerk, said something.

  Some small, sadistic part of me wanted to look in his direction, but I didn't.

  Will had always told me I wore my emotions on my sleeve. I was a terrible liar because of it. I was wary of looking people in the face when feeling crappy came more naturally than being in a good mood. It wasn’t a shock Blake could tell something was up, but he wouldn’t know what since he’d walked in after the unintentional verbal beat down had finished.

  "Hey—," the good-looking ass started to say before Blake saved me from further humiliation by calling out Dex's name a moment later.

  The last thing I wanted to do was stay. I didn’t want them to keep me either. I’d been someone’s charity case for half of my life, and I sure as hell didn’t want it to multiply now. I’d told myself I was staying because it wasn't just a matter of wanting a job. It was a necessity. Plus, Sonny was friends with these people, and I didn’t want to embarrass him. Maybe if I could suck it up a couple weeks, and then put in my notice it wouldn’t be as bad as just walking out. Just two weeks.

  I could do two weeks.

  I'd lived for years not knowing whether I’d even be alive to turn twenty. Two weeks of dealing with an asshole couldn’t be worse than a million other scenarios I'd already lived through.

  So even though everything in my heart screamed at staying and battled against my pride, I was going to stay, regretting with every inch of me ever having walked into the damn building to begin with.

  ~ * ~ *

  It was close to midnight when the second to last customer, an older man that Dex had worked on for well over two hours, made his way out with a wink and a “Goodnight, sweetheart,” in my direction. Blake still had a young girl spread out on his chair with her pants down to her crack as he tattooed a Monarch butterfly on the top corner of her butt cheek.

  I’d spoken to Dex twice throughout the last few hours. Each time went along the lines of, “Dex, so-and-so is here for their session.” In reality, I wanted to ask him if he’d sold his soul or if he’d never had one to begin with.

  But the minute the dollar signs popped up in my head, I forced myself to say what I needed.

  I was surprised by how consistent business was. Most of the customers were scheduled in advance but one had been a walk-in.

  A brief conversation with Blake had explained more of the things I'd be responsible for. Shop manager duties mainly consisted of reordering supplies—like inks, gloves, jewelry, etc.—filing expenses, paying utilities. Easy things. Dex handled everything else, any cash deposits at the bank, and settled accounts with the company they used for debit card usage.

  He and Blake had been busy, and I’d been busy talking to customers about random stuff while they waited. I was surprised by how nice everyone had been—with the exception of Dex's dumb face.

  There hadn't been a single biker in the shop either. Weird.

  All of this assured me that I’d avoided having to interact much with my boss. The owner. The bleeding mouth sore.

  The snot-faced asshole that I only kind-of, sort-of hoped came down with an infectious illness in his private parts. But you know, something he could get medicine for.

  I tried my best to keep from replaying the scenario in the office but it was impossible. It wasn't his tone but the words that had seared me.

  And each time, it made me want to cry. It didn’t get any easier or any less painful. How the hell could someone be so rude? I didn't understand and I couldn't get over it.

  Every cycle had me coming up with different things to call him. A dick. A slimy bastard. A slimy, small-dicked bastard. Right? Maybe he wouldn't be so mad at the world if his pubic hair wasn’t longer than his full-blown erection. God, I felt awkward thinking about what he had under his clothes but it was the best insult I could come up with.

  I didn't normally hold grudges. If something upset me, I'd get over it quickly. Being p
issed off took way too much effort and stressed me out, and I had no business stressing if I could avoid it. Plus, there weren’t that many things in life really worth being mad about.

  Until today.

  After cleaning up my desk and logging off the computer, I wiped off the coffee table, and put the magazines and binders of photographed tattoos back where they belonged. I swept the floor by the front just in case I was supposed to and started spraying the frames on the wall because I’d seen people touching the glass several times throughout the day. Up close, I saw that each frame held articles, clippings, or mentions of Pins and Needles, or Dex Locke’s work.