Free Inky by JB Hartnett

you.” I seethed. “I want this to go away and be in my past and move on. I had my week of wallowing and I’m done.” I composed myself more before I continued, this time speaking more calmly. “I’m okay, Aimes. I’m gonna be okay.” I tried to catch my breath.
    “Fine.” She said abruptly.
    “Fine?” I bit out. I watched her as her shoulders slumped and her hands hung from the steering wheel.
    “Yes.” Her sad tone brought me down from my anger.
    “How come I don’t believe you?”
    “I asked you what you needed, Ink. If this is what you need, okay. But I have to say something to you without you screaming at me, okay?”
    “Okay. I won’t scream at you.”
    “Promise?”
    I rolled my eyes, “You’ve got to be kidding me?”
    “Okay, okay…you need to talk to Evan. Really, Ink.”
    I let out a deep sigh. “Okay. I will. I promise I will talk to him. I’ll talk to him in person when he gets back, okay?”
    “Okay.” She put the car back in drive, turned off the hazards and moved into the traffic.
    “Aimes?” I wasn’t sure what to say about Cole but I didn’t want to keep it from my best friend.
    “Yeah?”
    “I kind of want to tell you something else but I’m not sure how I feel about it yet but I thought you should be prepared that I might.”
    “Inky, that was totally and completely random.”
    “I know and I’m sorry, but it’s the best I can do right now, Aimes. I’m just processing about a million different things in my brain.”
    “Gotcha.” She pulled into a spot right in front of the gallery.
    Coming to this job was like entering my own little sanctuary. I loved the white walls and down lights. The wood floors and the soft jazz playing in the back ground. When the wooden door closed behind me and the little bell dinged, Abe appeared at the backroom doorway.
    “Are there any other customers in here?” He asked, his manicured hands appearing casually placed on his hips.
    “I don’t think so. How are you, Abe?” Aimes flanked my side.
    “Oh, Jesus H. Christ, Inky, how am I? Come here and give me a squeeze!” This man had the best energy ever. There was no point trying to pout in his presence. He could turn anyone’s frown upside down. It helped that he had a year round tan, beautiful blue eyes and a compliment ready to fly.
    Engulfed in his Prada clad embrace, I inhaled the delicious scent of him. He was just a couple of inches taller than me and lean, but I could feel he was strong and knew he ran every morning with his Jack Russell.
    “Hi, Aimes. Have you been taking good care of her?”
    “’Sure have, Abe.”
    “Oh, and you’ve been crying. You poor thing.” He held my eyes with a mock glare. “Inky, did you make your friend here cry?” he asked in a mocking tone.
    “A little bit.” I replied sheepishly.
    “Well, you get an A-plus for honesty and Aimes, you get an A-plus for being a good friend. Now then, girls, come this way. I have something to take your mind off the doom and gloom.” He led us to the far wall of the gallery and I was suddenly awestruck.
    “Abe!” A large painting I’d done only a month ago hung on the back wall. “Oh, Abe, I never thought you would show this. How did you... ?” Abe gave me time in his private studio out back. It allowed me to paint without being disturbed which I relished and appreciated.
    “Look a little closer.” He urged. I approached the wall and saw the card to the side.
Anika Redding,
The Seaside.
SOLD!
    “Sold? You sold my painting? I sold my first painting!” Talk about a week of ups and downs.
    “Ink! You did it!” I think Aimes was happier than I was, squealing and jumping around.
    “Well, I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. I was looking over your work and I found this. I loved it. It wasn’t overdone but it invoked such a strong feeling in me. I don’t know what inspired this but it tells a story, that’s for sure. I thought I’d hang it, see what kind of feedback I’d get and on Monday, a