Dale had left by the time Trey got into his home early in the morning. After everything that happened last night he was surprised June went into work, but at four in the morning her alarm went off. He couldn't even persuade her to have some fun with him. There was a vacancy about her.
He knew she was worried about the interrogation she was going to get from her parents. Trey promised to support her in any way he could. There was no way he'd be backing down from this fight.
At eight, he opened the shop door, holding his cup of coffee while watching the busy shop across from him. He wasn't as busy as the bakery, but he held his own. A lot of people travelled to him for his ink.
Sipping at the hot coffee he saw Lexie Armstrong enter the bakery.
A dark shadow fell over him, and Trey turned to see Elliot Armstrong staring at him.
"We need to have words," he said.
Keeping the door open, he saw Martin stood near the bakery smirking at him. Trey saw the nastiness inside and knew June was right about him. He offered Elliot a coffee, which the older man declined.
"I'm not here to drink coffee."
"What can I help you with if you're not here for the coffee?" Trey asked.
Elliot stared at him, long and hard. Trey stared right back. He wasn't afraid of June's father. The only thing that scared him was what Elliot could do to his business.
"I like you, Trey. You're a hard-working man, and I see what you've done with the place. Before I set you up in this building it was a wreck. A rundown piece of crap and you've built it into a fine working establishment. I hear good things." He stopped to stare at several of the designs.
Sipping at his coffee, Trey waited for the claws to come out.
"June is my only daughter. She's my only child. I'll do everything for her."
"With all due respect, what does this have to do with me?"
"I know you've got something to do with June walking out on her date with that fine looking man out there. You're a clever man, Trey. You can figure out my concern."
He frowned, staring at the main owner of his business. This was the man he paid the rent to and a small percentage of the profits from Get Inked.
"Do you think I'm trying to use your daughter?"
"You were her bully in high school. Lexie told me everything. Now I'm not leaving this shop until you tell me everything you've got planned for June," Elliot said.
"Actually, Dad, you're leaving now," June said. Her voice cut across the tense atmosphere, and Trey was shocked to see her stood in his shop.
"Honey, you're supposed to be working," Elliot said, lightening his voice for June.
Tears were shining in June's eyes. Trey wanted to go to her, but he didn't feel now was the right time. This was between them, and he didn't want to get involved.
"It's my shop. I closed early. After what my mother has just said to me I'm not in the mood to bake. I'm not in the mood for anything."
He saw she held the book he'd given her yesterday, the one with all of his designs inside.
"You think the only way I can get a man is if he has to want something from you in order for me to be with them?"
"June, I'm looking out for you."
"No. If you were looking out for me you wouldn't force me to go on dates with men I don't like. If you were looking for me you'd accept the man in my life and leave it alone.
You're wrong about him, Dad. You and Mom are wrong about a lot of things."
She clutched the folder to her chest like it was a lifeline.
"I love you."
"I love you as well, but I don't think Grandpa had much of a say in who you were seeing." June stared down at the floor as silence settled in the room. "Just go, Dad."
Elliot stared at his daughter looking lost.
"I'll take care of her," Trey said.
The older man glared at him, which Trey ignored. The only person he cared about impressing was June.
Her father left the shop, and June finally looked up at him.
"You've really closed the bakery?" he asked.
"Mom walked in as I was getting ready to do the next lot of breads and cupcakes. I lost all the inspiration and fun out of it." She shrugged.
"What did your mom say?" he asked, taking a step toward her.
"You don't want to know." June lifted the book. "I can't pick a design. They're all beautiful. I was hoping you'd pick what you wanted to do and that you'd do it today?"
"I'd be honored to mark your skin."
June nodded, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Also, erm, I've organized a hotel in Hawaii. We don't have to leave the room, but I was wondering if you'd like to go away with me. Get away from all the chaos and the mess that is here."
"Are you running away?" He held the folder close, staring at her.
"I wish I could run away from it all and never return. I'm not allowed to do that. I'm sticking around for good. I'm not going anywhere apart from away on a short, very short, vacation," she said.
"Then, June Armstrong, I'd love to go away with you," he said.
She smiled. It was her first real smile since he'd let her this morning.
"So, erm, what are you going to do?" she asked. "About what?"
He couldn't look away from her. She laughed. "About my ink. What are you going to do about my ink?"
Shaking his head, he opened the folder and pointed at a picture. He knew before he'd given her the book the tattoo he was going to do. Instead of just assuming that is the one she'd want, he'd given her the option of picking.
"I designed this one for you," he said, pointing to the ink with the butterflies surrounded by the deep red roses.
"It's beautiful."
Locking the door, Trey pulled the blinds down, giving them both much needed privacy.
"Step this way," he said, pointing through the door.
She did as he asked, and he pushed the curtains closed on the glass and turned the light on for him to work.
"Are you okay with doing this?" she asked.
"I'm more than okay."
"What does my father have to do with this building?" He patted the chair and she sat down. "I'm going to
need for you to turn onto your stomach, baby."
She did as he asked, and he worked her trousers down and her shirt up.
"Your father owns the building. He's the reason I can do what I love. I pay the rent every month and some of the profit from what I do."
"Are you worried I'm going to change all that?"
"No. I'm good at what I do. Elliot is a great guy. I'm sure he won't make this personal."
Trey hoped he was right about him. If not, he was well and truly fucked.