Pretend You're Mine (Inked Hearts 3)
Page 33
“Only the most popular quotes.”
“Are you calling me basic?”
I shoot her a curious look.
“What?”
“Penny used to say that.”
“Oh.” Her lip corners turn down. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“No. I don’t get it. What could possibly be bad about something being basic?”
“It’s dumb Internet culture stuff.”
“You’re saying it.” I fill the domain registration form with Leighton’s info then turn the computer to her.
“You know those girls who come into the shop in their sheepskin boots, toting Pumpkin Spice lattes, asking for kanji tattoos?”
“Yeah.” It describes a certain type of customer.
“They’re basic.”
“And?”
“Nobody wants to be ordinary.”
“It’s underrated.”
“Maybe.” She hits submit on the form then reaches over to the couch to grab her backpack. “How am I already doing this?”
“It’s what you want.”
She finds her credit card in her wallet, uses it to fill out the payment form. “It’s what you want.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re desperate to get rid of me.”
“I offer to teach you to do ink every day.”
“Why?” She looks up from the computer. “Why does it matter so much?”
“I want the best for you.”
“Even if it means me leaving the shop?”
“You can’t work our counter forever.”
“What if I want to?”
“Do you?”
Her eyes meet mine. “Well…”
“I still remember that day Dean brought you in.”
“Pointed to my cleavage and said wouldn’t you pay anything for this.”