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“It’s about Isaac,” Dex replied. “I hope that you don’t feel I did this behind your back, but truth is I never thought about it. I just figured it was a good idea.”
“Please don’t tell me you’ve tattooed his face,” Carl said, actually giving a real smile.
“No, not at all.” Dex smiled back and the tension seemed to ebb away a little. “I offered him a job.”
Carl leaned back in his seat and stared between us. It was difficult to tell from his demeanour what he was thinking. He hadn’t gone purple with rage, so that was a bonus.
“What do you think?” I urged.
“Doing what?” Carl asked. “He doesn’t know how to tattoo – not as far as I’m aware. He doesn’t even have a tattoo, isn’t that pretty much a pre-requisite for a tattooist.” He looked pointedly at Dex’s forearms that were on show as his sleeves were rolled back.
“It’s not something we insist on,” Dex replied, “but it helps if the client sees you’re into the same thing. If you believe in your art. Are you against him getting a tattoo?”
Carl shrugged. “No, not really, he’s just never shown an interest. So, is that what he’s going to be doing; training to be a tattooist?”
“Maybe.” Dex nodded slowly. “First of all, I’m taking him on as a designer and someone who does general jobs around the place. I’m going to be paying him two grand a year more than he’s getting at the record shop, which was real shit pay by the way, plus a flat rate for his designs. If he shows interest in learning to ink, which I think he will, either me or my main man, Jethro, will train him. Considering most apprentices have to buy their own equipment and learn their art while not earning a penny, I’d say that’s a pretty good deal for him.” Dex gave Carl the information in a cool, measured way and I knew straight away that was how he probably did business too.
Carl looked at me. “You okay with it?”
“I spoke to Isaac tonight and I’ve never seen him so excited about something. He’s happy and can finally see himself doing something with a future, so yes, I’m more than okay with it.”
“Can I get someone to look at his contract?” Carl asked Dex.
“Sure. I thought you’d say that.” He pulled out an envelope from another pocket and passed it to Carl. “He’s not signed it yet. I told him to wait until he’s spent the weekend working in the studio. He’s supposed to start next week.”
Carl nodded and picked up the envelope and slipped it into his own pocket. He then picked up his drink and drained it before turning to Sophie.
“Okay, Soph, let’s go. Leave Katie and Dex to their evening.”
Sophie nodded and pushed back her chair, stooping to pick up her bag. I got a glimpse of her perky cleavage but was pleased to see Dex was already out of his chair and moving around mine to shake hands with Carl.
“Nice to meet you properly,” he said. “And let me know if you have any problems with Isaac’s contract.”
“Will do. Night Katie.” He leaned in and gave me a hug. “Tell Charlie I’ll pick him up from school on Friday.”
“Okay,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief that it had gone okay. “Bye Sophie.”
“Bye Katie, bye Dex.” She gave us a brilliant smile and followed Carl out of the pub.
“So, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Dex asked.
I shook my head. “No, it wasn’t. But thank you for doing all that; typing up your life story and bringing Isaac’s contract for him. I think it made a difference.”
“Like I said, I want this to work. So, what about the rest of the night?”
I blushed and shrugged. “I don’t know. What do you want to do?”
“I have a vague recollection of you telling me that you wanted to kiss me.”
I smiled remembering our phone conversation earlier.
“Hmm,” I replied. “And I have a vague recollection of you saying you wanted to take me to your apartment and kiss the hell out of me.”
Dex grinned and took my hand. “We both want the same thing then.”
I held my breath, because while I really did want to spend a lot of time kissing him, that was all I was ready for. I didn’t want him to think me going back to his apartment was the green light for more. Dex, however, must have sensed my anxiety because he tugged on my hand.
“Hey, I know. Why don’t we go and get something to eat and then I’ll take you home and we can make out in my car in your driveway for a while. Get some of that kissing out of the way; what do you say?”
