Chapter 14 SIERRA
FOURTEEN
SIERRA
“Iwant this so bad,” I groan, zooming in on the photo on my phone. “Like, I need it.”
Kiki rolls her eyes as she applies another coat of nail polish to her toes.
“You’re old enough. Get it done.”
I bite my lip, my heart hammering in my chest.
My parents would freak if I got a tattoo—regardless of what the state says I can do at eighteen.
But something about the rose just kills me. It reminds me of the rose from Beauty and the Beast, my favourite Disney movie. It’s simple yet elegant, and I want it on my hip where no one can see it beneath my underwear or bikini.
“You should get it done at the Ink Station. See if you can get Rafe to do it. He’s hot as fuck too.”
“Rafe what?” I Google his name, waiting for Kiki to elaborate.
Kiki frowns, waving a hand over her toes.
“I don’t know, just Google the Ink Station.”
When the image of a hot guy covered in tattoos comes up, I almost froth at the mouth, clicking on the image to see his little bio.
“Rafe Deacon, fuck me. He’s beautiful. He can tattoo me any day,” I ramble breathily, searching for his Instagram.
Images of him with an equally beautiful tattooed woman come up, and I roll my eyes.
“Of course, his wife is stunning. Still, I’d pay to have his hands on me.”
Kiki snorts with laughter, grabbing her phone.
“Gregory wants to see me again,” Kiki says with a smile. “So much for Kai’s theory.”
She taps away on her phone, biting her lip. This was a first for Kiki; she never stays past a one-night stand, let alone a date.
“You really like him, huh?”
Kiki nods, a flush creeping on her cheeks.
“I do, and I hate that I do. But he’s so cool, you know?”
Gregory doesn’t float my boat, and despite me telling Kiki he kept checking me out all through the date, she’s still hot for him.
“No, I don’t.”
“You and Jaden…what’s going on?”
“Jaden is hot, but that’s it. We have an arrangement.”
Kiki gives a throaty laugh, throwing a pillow at me.
“You keep sleeping with him, so you must like him.”
I cringe, wondering if Jaden has the same idea.
I can’t see myself in a relationship with someone like Jaden. If anything, we’re too alike.
“It’s not like that.”
Kiki snorts, wiggling her toes.
“I’m just saying you should try and get to know him.”
I arch a brow.
“Are you serious? Who killed my best friend and replaced her with this weirdo?”
“Huh?” Kiki looks bewildered.
“All this relationship chat,” I explain with a frown. “It’s bugging me out. We’re eighteen, Kik.”
“So? I'm not saying marry the guy, I’m just saying—you have good sex, you get along, you’re both hot…just see where it goes.”
I study my nails, hoping she stops talking about this.
I’m fine with casual; I’ll know when I want to be with someone. As gorgeous as Jaden is, he’s not boyfriend material.
Plus, my brother would kill him.
“Crane is living with us.”
I'm desperate to change the subject, but Kiki finds this just as interesting, her eyes glittering with excitement.
“Have you walked in on him in the shower yet?”
There’s the Kiki I know and love.
“No, and I don’t intend to. He’s hot, but he’s got issues.”
I sigh, feeling bad for talking about Crane's troubles.
Not that I know what they are, exactly, but I have a hunch.
“Daddy issues!” Kiki grins, pulling her top over her head.
I avert my eyes from her dark nipples as she fishes out a bra.
“I’d be walking in on him all the time.”
“Not if you’re with Gregory!” I point out, watching idly as Kiki dresses.
“Shall we go down today? To the Ink Station? I’ve got to go to Potion anyway.”
I roll over onto my stomach, staring at the image of the tattoo.
“I could, but it would have to be hidden. So, under my hip, I’m thinking. Would it hurt there?”
“Who cares? I’d let Rafe burn me.” Kiki practically drools, shaking her hips to pull on the tightest pair of shorts she owns.
“True.”
“Get ready then. I’ve got our IDs, you’re Nelly Groove.”
“Nelly Groove? What sort of name is that?” I splutter, sitting up.
“A fake one,” Kiki replies with a shrug. “Who cares; just get ready.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m tugging down the bottom of my dress, aware that it's short, even by my standards.
“I love that dress. It brings out your eyes,” Kiki croons, gazing at me.
The powder blue dress may be short, but it’s demure—high-necked and long-sleeved. I pair it with black boots that may once have been Doc Martens, messing up my hair to give it the beach babe look.
“It’s so cute,” I agree, twirling in the mirror. “I hope Rafe likes it.”
Kiki cackles as we make our way downstairs, hollering out a goodbye to her mom as we do.
The balmy air holds the promise of excitement, and as usual, Kiki and I are commanding attention as we head downtown.
“Gregory said he might be out.” Kiki taps at her phone with a frown. “We can meet him for a drink if that’s cool?”
“Sure. Just don’t leave me with Jaden.”
“I don’t think he’s with Jaden.”
Kiki zooms in on her phone, turning it my way.
Gregory’s drinking a beer in the photo Kiki held out, with a handsome looking guy beside him.
“Looks like there’s someone else on the horizon, Sierra!” Kiki grins, lacing her fingers with mine.
“Remind me why we’re going to Potion?” I wrinkle up my nose at the thought of the bar. It’s on the wrong side of town, frequented by ex-cons and the like, somewhere my parents would die if they knew I was there.
“If someone offers you drugs, just decline, princess.” Kiki checks the road, hailing a cab with a seductive smile. “They’re hiring, and it’s cash in hand. My sort of gig.”
“Okay, but why am I going?” I eye her suspiciously as the cab slows beside us.
Kiki gives me a side look, tugging open the car door.
“Because you’ve got an interview too!”
Holy shit!