Page 24 of Forgotten

“You must be good with numbers,” Jared said, guessing at what an economics degree might entail. It sounded like a subject that would need maths. Apparently, he’d been good at maths before his accident, but like reading, he found processing numbers laboriously hard now.

“I guess so.”

“Do you enjoy it?”

“Not really.”

Jared frowned. “Then why study it?”

“It’s a means to an end. Dad really wanted me to make something of myself. To have a better life than he was able to give his own family. Studying economics should open doors into chartered accountancy or data analysis, both of which pay well.”

Jared’s frown deepened. “Are those jobs youwantto do?”

Kyrone looked into Jared’s eyes for a long time before replying, “Honestly? Probably not.”

“So why do it?”

Kyrone’s mouth twitched. “To make Dad happy.”

“But—” Jared snapped his mouth shut.

“Did you go to uni?” Kyrone asked.

“I… dropped out.”

“Why?” Kyrone sounded genuinely surprised. “What were you studying?”

“Law.”

“That’s quite different from being a tattoo artist.”

“Economics is very different from pole dancing,” Jared countered.

“Touché!” Kyrone’s brow creased as he ate a few mouthfuls, as though he was deep in thought. “You prefer art to law?”

That wasn’t a question Jared could answer easily or with certainty. “I’m happynow,” he replied after carefully considering his words.

“I’m glad.” Kyrone stared at Jared’s empty plate with wide eyes. “Wow. You polished that off fast.”

“I was hungry.”

“Obviously. Can I get you something else? My food perhaps?”

Jared laughed. “I’m good. You don’t have to be anywhere, do you? Uni?”

“Just the club later. So until then, I’m all yours.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, making Jared wish he had the energy to take Kyrone up on the tempting offer.

He didn’t, so he changed the subject. “Do you enjoy pole dancing?”

Kyrone’s face lit up. “I love it, but I’m stuck on bar duty until my tattoo heals up fully, which isn’t as fun or as lucrative.” He leant towards Jared. “Maybe you could come along tonight and keep me company?”

“I’m not sure it would be fair on Faye to take the day off sick and then go out to a club.” Jared rubbed at his temple, willing the residual pain would go away.

“How is your head?”

“Better than last night.” Jared dropped his hand to be more convincing. The pain was a lot less severe, more of a background annoyance, really.

Kyrone smiled. “I’m glad.” He finished his breakfast and then cleared the plates away and put them in the dishwasher. “You know, I’ve been trying to figure out where you’re from.”