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"Studied business," he says.

That's vaguely familiar. He did it to make his parents happy. Started working as an artist soon after.

I guess he learned something, because the shop is doing well. And he's the guy who runs it.

"What are you taking now?" he asks.

"It's a two-oh-one class." I sell the confidence. Math doesn't come easily to me, but I pay attention and I work hard.

"You're a natural." He studies the numbers carefully. "You ever think about focusing on business?"

"Like an MBA or something?" I fight my desire to cringe.

He chuckles. "I was the same way when I was your age."

"What was it like, living before the invention of television?" I tease.

"Tough." He looks to me. "It doesn't have to mean working at some giant company. Could be this." He motions to the shop.

"Hate to break it to you, but I already have this," I say.

He just laughs again. "You could be me."

"Please God no."

Hunter laughs.

Ryan shoots him a look, but it's only for a second. His poker face breaks and he shrugs. "Fuck, no one would want that."

I nod. "No one." Ryan's funny. He's always been a good sport about mocking his misery. Even now that he's no longer miserable. He and Leighton are like… disgustingly happy.

"You could run a shop," he says.

"That's already what I want to do." Does no one listen? "I want to own my own boutique."

"You could run this shop."

"Isn't that your job?"

"Yeah. But it could be yours instead."

I stare back at him. "Like an actual, official Inked Hearts manager?"

He nods.

"The guys would kill you," I say.

He smiles. "All the better."

"You'd be good at it," Hunter says.

Ryan shoots me a look. "After college."

"That's almost three years," I say.

"We could make it official, you being assistant manager," he says. "But you'd have to commit more hours to the shop. Drop that other job."

I like my other job.