Chapter 24 #2
“Sorry, I’m still getting the hang of it.”
“How long have you had it?” I guess I can’t talk. I did buy the cheapest car I could find that barely got me to where I needed to go.
“A few months. I saw a video online and chicks dig the stick.”
My mouth opens and closes as I try to find the words to form a response. I got nothing. I don’t know a single woman that is looking for a man who has a hole in his floorboard. But I guess they do say there’s a person out there for everyone.
I wonder if I’ve met the man Madame Saleme told me is mine. She made it sound like he’s already in my life.
The last two days have, in their own shitty way, felt like an intro to a new beginning. I thought me arriving in Ravenna Heights on its own was, but maybe I was wrong. I shouldn’t let Zach showing up take any part of that away from me.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t on edge that he’s going to show up again. He had no problem breaking into my room. What’s stopping him from showing up at the shop?
“Your gears are turning louder than speed racer, babe,” Gage says, breaking up my thoughts.
“What?”
“I said your gears are turning louder than my car. What’s on your mind?”
“Oh, just stuff.” Stuff I’d rather not speak into existence. Once it’s out in the universe, you can’t take it back and I think life has kicked me enough while I’m down lately.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?” Gage says after a few moments. “I’m real good with secrets. I’ll take that shit to my grave. ”
I snort. “Yeah, right. You and Tommy gossip more than anyone I know.”
Gage slaps his hand over heart, feigning hurt. “We just like each other to be informed.”
“I’m sure that’s what it is.” I snicker.
We ride the rest of the drive to the shop in a comfortable silence. The day seems to be dragging without Ink here, but the guys are treating me like they usually would so that’s giving me some sense of normalcy.
I haven’t heard from Ink since this morning. I’m trying to not be disappointed that he hasn’t checked in since.
I need to be careful.
I’m treading a fine line here. He’s making it dang near impossible to not want to cross it. He keeps giving me these little pieces of himself that are giving enough hope to latch on to something that I’m not entirely sure is the best for me.
I need stable and nurturing. Not unpredictable and moody.
So freaking moody.
“I’m using the restroom real quick,” I yell over the music to Gage as I walk past his room. There’s no one waiting and the last client on the schedule is already back. They can handle a walk in or two.
I hear the bell on the front door chime just as I’m drying my hands, signaling that someone is either coming or going. Throwing the paper towel in the trash, I pull open the bathroom and power walk back to the front desk. Looking around the waiting room, I don’t see a single soul.
“Was that a walk in?” I ask Tommy, who is currently crouched below, restocking the jewelry case.
“Nope. Heard them come in, but by the time I made it out of the storage room no one was here.” He shrugs. “Probably just some kids who accidentally walked into the wrong building. It happens.”
I shrug in agreement.
I’ve never seen a kid walk in here, but okay. If they aren’t worried about it, I won’t be either .
Bending down, I help Tommy finish the restock. It takes me twice the amount of time to put a piece away because each one I pull out I ooh and awe over. Specifically, a pair of nipple barbells that are stainless steel with a sparkly black raven decorating each end.
Tommy eyes me as he throws the empty boxes into the bigger one he brought everything out in. “You thinking about getting them pierced?” I quickly put the jewelry back in the case, like I was caught doing something bad in the act. Tommy laughs. “It’s not going to bite ya.”
“I know,” I mumble, unable to meet his eye because I’m pretty sure I’m about to die a slow, painful death caused by embarrassment.
“So… are you thinking about it?”
“A piercing? Ah, I don’t know. I think maybe I should start out with something small like an ear piercing or something.”
It would be weird for my first piercing to be my nipples, right?
“Go big or go home.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Let me know. It’ll take ten minutes, tops. We can do it when there’s some downtime.”
“Ink will murder you in broad daylight if you try. Hell, he might do it just for you thinking about it.” Gage butts in as he walks his client up. “He’s all set. He just needs an aftercare sheet.”
Gage’s client is looking right at my boobs as I try to hand him the pamphlet, completely unaware that I’m holding my hand out, waiting for him to take it.
Clearing my throat, he breaks his trance, not even looking the least bit sorry he was caught.
“Thanks.” He smirks. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.” He tips his head as he finally takes the pamphlet from me and leaves, the bell chiming on his way out.
A shiver runs through me from how cringe he was.
Ew.
I start helping Tommy pick up the last bits of packaging from the jewelry when a piece of paper with a letterhead on it that I would recognise anywhere stops me dead in my tracks.
Steel & Cage Law Firm
My fingers lightly trace the letters printed in thick black letters on the fancy crisp paper that has faint designs etched into it as my brain tries to catch up.
“You okay?” Tommy asks, pausing what he’s doing as he looks at me with concern.
“Uh, yeah.” I give him a tight smile, sliding the paper off the desk and stuffing it into my pocket without him noticing.
That letterhead can only mean one thing.
He’s back.