Red.” I don’t buy it for a second, but I also don’t want to analyze it. I did come here for Easton to give me a nose piercing, but he’s busy. Who cares if Jay does it?
I show him where I want the piercing done before picking out a small diamond stud from the box. He smiles and gets me ready, telling me everything he’s going to do. Giddiness consumes me as he raises his brows in silent question before going through with it.
I’m sure people will wonder why I’m getting a piercing like this in my mid-twenties. When I got my bellybutton done, I’d gotten enough flack about how I’d regret it when I was older. But my nose? I’ve learned that people have a lot more opinions to voice when they see women become mothers—as if we’re not supposed to do the things we love because we’re responsible for impressionable kids. But I want Ainsley to be herself in any form that comes. If the day arrives when she wants to get her nose pierced, what’s the harm?
I feel another set of burning eyes on me, but don’t dare move as Jay finishes the piercing. I don’t even flinch when it goes in like I did last time, which made Jenna laugh at me after she complained that I nearly broke her hand from squeezing it so hard. I guess I’m so used to pain now that it doesn’t bother me anymore.
Jay holds up a mirror for me to see, and a huge smile grows on my face at the stud in my left nostril. “You like it, Red?”
I nod and turn my head, seeing the diamond catch the light. From the corner of my eyes, I see East staring at me. It doesn’t last long before he focuses back on the guy in front of him, getting to work without saying a word.
It isn’t until I follow Jay over to the register that my roommate decides to speak up again. “It’s on the house, Piper.”
Drawing back, I shake my head. “No.”
He stops and looks at me. “Yes. It is.”
Jay clears his throat, stepping away from the cash register. “Don’t worry about it, Red. He’s right. Now if you let me ink you…”
I roll my eyes. “Not happening.” I dig through my wallet and read the pricelist for a nose piercing before shoving money into his chest. “Take the money. There’s a tip too.”
Wheels scrape back and footsteps come near us as East’s hard eyes find mine. “Outside.”
“You’re kicking me out?” I squeak. Why would he do that just because I’m trying to pay for the services here? “East—”
Jay watches with quirked brows as Easton guides me out the door, but not before grabbing the money from Jay and gripping it tight in his hand.
I yank my arm away from him. “What the hell is your problem? I’m just trying to pay. That’s what people do here, isn’t it? You can’t make money if you give free handouts.”
He steps forward, his eyes pinning me into silence as he reaches forward and slowly slips the money into my front pocket. His fingers linger for longer than necessary before slipping out again. “Just keep your money.”
“I don’t need you to take pity on me!”
“It’s called being nice,” he counters.
“It’s called being a shitty businessman.”
His nostrils flare. “Go home, Piper.”
“What? No!” He waves his hand in dismissal before turning to walk back inside, but this time I stop him. “I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but it’s annoying.”
He slowly turns his gaze to mine, his eyes darker than I’m used to. “I told you to wait. I would have done your piercing.”
My face twists. That’s what this is about? He’s got to be kidding me. “I planned on asking you to do it, but you were busy. Jay is just as qualified to do piercings. He’s told me that a million times before when I saw him.”
“But I should have done it,” he all but growls, causing me to flinch at the hostility. “I’m your roommate, the person you know here. You should have waited for me like I told you to.”
I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation. “You’re not the boss of me, Easton. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings about your friend doing the piercing, but it’s not the end of the world. And it would be money all the same if you let me pay. Why are you being so stubborn about this?”
“Not the