"You look stressed." Was the first thing Tyree had said when I walked into Inksation.
"I'm tired." I replied. "Why are you even here?" He was off today but he was clearly in the building.
"I just wanted to see Sterling's fine ass."
"You're a whole mess." I laughed.
Sterling was one of the tattoo artists and Tyree had a crush on him.
"Girl, I am so ready to give him the boogina. Pop it for a real nigga." He bent over and started moving his butt.
"Get your life Tyree and that man is straight."
"That man wants a taste of my boogina and you need to get your gaydar fixed."
"Please go home because I am not paying you for being here nor am I paying you to be a thot."
"Siani, Thot is my middle name." He popped his lips. "Tyree Thot Moore." He did a spin before grabbing his purse and leaving out.
"That child is a whole entire mess." I said to myself while I checked the time. I had an early appointment this morning and if I finished in time then I would be able to buy lunch for Quan and take it to him.
The door alarm chimed letting me know that someone was entering the shop. I looked up and saw Ev- my ex best friend. I hadn't seen him since we were nineteen.
"Hey." I smiled. We weren't friends but I had to be professional.
"Siani, I wasn't expecting you to be here." He was shocked.
"Well, this is my shop and I am guessing that you are my nine o'clock appointment?"
"Yeah." He nodded while scratching the back of his head.
I stepped from behind the counter. "Follow me." I led us to my room and allowed him to get comfortable.
--
I knocked on Sterling's room door and opened up. "Hey Sterling, can you keep an eye out on the front? Tay should be here soon and I have a client."
"No issues." He told me before going back to his client.
"Thanks." I made my way back to Ev. "So what are you getting?"
He pulled a picture of an Anubis and it was really plain and simple. "Do you mind if I flex this a bit? Put my own twist and add to it?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
"It may take more than this one session though."
"Go ahead."
I decided to just freehand it onto his back where he wanted it and went on to get started.
--
"How have you been?" Ev asked me.
"Just fine, doing big things, being a mom, and all that good shit."
"A mom? The Siani I knew used to hate kids."
"Well I love my daughter to death." I said.
"That's good." Ev told me. "I thought about you all the time."
"Okay."
"Why'd you stop talking to me?"
"Because," I moved the needle to dip in more ink. "You and Tati were moving funny and I don't and won't fuck with funny acting people."
"You replaced us."
"Evan please. I was miles away from home with no friends so you guys really thought that I couldn't make any new ones?"
