Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos 2)

“Crap? He didn’t tell you?”

“No,” Es snapped, crossing her arms beneath her chest.

“Ugh. He owns, Rain, babe.”

“What! So the entire interview process was bull?”

“No, if I didn’t like you or think you could hack it, I wouldn’t have hired you,” Kali stated.

Es believed her, but still. Embarrassed, she turned away from her friend’s kind gaze. All this time she thought she’d been making huge strides forward and becoming independent had been nothing more than a lie. He’d been in control of her destiny. She scowled.

“Hey, he was helping out a friend and his business. We did need a new bartender.”

“I don’t doubt it. But he should’ve told me. You can’t defend his way out of this.”

“You’re right. Of course, we both know men are giant idiots. So don’t hold it against him too much,” Kali said.

We’ll be talking about this later. Shaking her head, Es forced a smile. “I refuse to let him ruin our breakfast. Sit down I’ll dish it up.”

§

She was dressed for work when Snake showed up looking tired and stressed. She bit the inside of her cheek. Maybe I should wait.

“Did you have a good day, Sprite?” he asked. Sinking down beside her on the couch, he wrapped an arm around her waist, but she remained stiff.

“It was enlightening,” she drawled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

That you’re in trouble. “Were you ever going to tell me you owned Rain?”

“Fucking, Kali,” he mumbled.

“No, don’t put this on her. She assumed you had told me by now. I’m wondering why you didn’t.”

“Because I knew you’d b

e upset,” he said, sighing.

“You knew how important it was to me to make my own way and gain independence. I thought I’d earned that job fair and square.”

“Sprite, you did.”

“Oh, bullshit. Like they wanted to piss you off.”

“If you haven’t learned it by now, Kali doesn’t give a damn who she makes angry.”

Es huffed. “You should’ve told me.”

“Maybe. But then what?”

“We’ll never know now. That’s the problem. I know it seems silly, but I always thought you were the one person who’d always be blunt with me. I get that there are things you can’t discuss. But when it came to our relationship you were forthcoming and real. It’s part of the reason I wanted to take things to the next level. Now I’m wondering what else you lied about.”

“Hey, I didn’t lie.”

“No, you omitted, dangerously close to the real thing in this case.”

“If I had told you the truth it would’ve impacted your decision one way or the other. I wanted to give you a chance to choose with no distractions.”