Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Leif
I finished ringing up my final customer of the day and looked over at my dad leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest as he stared at me.
I knew that he wasn’t judging me or staring at me to ensure that I did everything right.
That was just the way that my dad leaned.
He was big like I was, so we tended to take up room.
To look intimidating without even trying.
And yet, even as his son, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to not feel intimidated.
“I just love it, Leif. I can’t wait to be able to show it off to the world.”
I looked at Kathleen and grinned. “Just don’t get arrested for indecent exposure when showing it off,” I teased.
Kathleen rolled her eyes. “I may have gotten a bouquet of flowers in between my breasts, but I can still show it off with the right top. I promise not to flash random strangers on the street. But I’ll tell them I got it at Montgomery Ink Legacy if I do.
I’ll be your billboard.” She winked and then waved at us with her fingers before strolling out of the place, singing a song to herself.
I shook my head, laughing softly as my dad joined in.
“That is good for business, a nice walking billboard.”
“How many women have flashed you, Austin Montgomery?” Mom asked as she came up from the back, my portfolio in her hands. She had been in the office, on the phone with one of her suppliers while looking over my work.
“I plead the fifth,” Dad said as he wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I don’t want to incriminate myself.”
“Pleading the fifth only works in the court of law, not my court.” She went to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’m sure you did lovely work, even as you were touching other women’s breasts.”
“I don’t think I need to be here for this conversation.” I shuddered as they looked at me before we all burst out laughing.
“What did I miss?” Sebastian asked as he walked in, phone in hand as he practically bounced.
“Just talking about boobs,” Mom said dryly.
Sebastian blushed. “Aunt Sierra, really?
“You asked,” she said with a laugh. Then she moved around the counter and hugged Sebastian tight. “Why are you all bouncy?”
Sebastian wrapped his arms around her, looking down. I hadn’t realized that my cousin was now taller than my mom. I should have, it was jarring.
From the way that my mom looked up, she felt it too.
“I had a good day. I got an A on my exam, thought of a kickass tattoo for later, and have a date with Marley tonight.”
“I just love that girl. I know your parents do, too.” Mom moved away and went back to my portfolio, keeping her attention on the group of us.
“I love her, too. One day soon, I’m going to marry her.” Sebastian practically beamed, and I shook my head.
“Soon? As in how soon?”
My dad let out a sigh. “Give my brother some time to get used to the fact that his kids are grown before you go out and get married.” And then Dad looked at me. “Of course, you have been grown for a while now. When are you going to ask Brooke?”
I choked on air and looked over at my dad. “What?”
“I love how his voice gets all high-pitched like that,” Sebastian said. “And Marley and I want to wait until after college to get married. We can pay for the wedding ourselves and not beg my parents for money.”
I noticed he hadn’t mentioned Marley’s parents. Marley’s parents didn’t like to spend money, didn’t like parties, and didn’t like Sebastian. Mainly because their baby girl was precious to them, and nobody would be good enough for her.
But that wasn’t my problem. At least not until they hurt my cousin. Then I would make it my problem.
“That sounds like a plan,” I said, being honest. “And as for Brooke and me, we’re doing good. Taking it slow, but I like her. And Luke.”
“I just hope that we get to meet her in a circumstance of our own choosing.” Mom gave me a look, and I winced.
It had been a few weeks since the attack, physically Brooke had healed, and found her way. I knew she still needed to talk about it with someone else, to recover fully, but she was doing better.
The three of us were.
“I told you we’re taking it slow.” Even though I didn’t believe that we were taking it too slow.
Because we saw each other nearly every day, and I slept over at her house more often than not.
She had yet to sleep at my house, and I understood.
We hadn’t wanted to leave Luke overnight, and while I had a guest room, I didn’t have a room for Luke.
I didn’t think we were ready for that, and honestly, the complications made it too difficult. So I was fine sleeping at her place.
As long as she let me, I would sleep there as much as possible.
But marriage? I needed to make sure we were both ready.
“Anyway, so I don’t stress you out about Brooke anymore, I was looking over your latest drawings for the art show. I love them. Have you shown your uncles?” Mom asked, speaking of my uncles who worked in art outside of the tattoo world.
“Uncle Alex and Uncle Jake both looked at them. I know that the gallery was interested in one. I’m fine with it as long as it hits the bank.” I shrugged. “I love drawing, but I love what I’m doing here more. I’m doing okay.”
“You’re doing more than okay.” Mom reached up and kissed my cheek, then cursed as she looked down at her ringing phone. “I need to take that.”
“And I need to go look at my next project,” Sebastian added as he gave us a two-finger salute and headed back to his station.
That left me alone with my dad while I waited for Nick to come in and start his shift and take care of any walk-ins.
“While the others are away, want to tell me why you’re so stressed?” Dad asked.
I looked up at him, confused. “Why do you say that?”
He gave me a look that told me he once again could read me like no other. “Is it Brooke?”
Honestly, Brooke was the one thing in my life that was making sense. But I didn’t need to tell my dad that. Maybe I did. Maybe I just needed to tell him what was going on. Only I saw the worry in my dad’s gaze, saw the stress.
I knew that Gideon and Jamie took up most of their time these days outside of the business. They were fifteen now and ready to take over the world. Colin was twenty-one, finishing college soon. My parents stressed about a lot of things.
Roger calling me like he had that one time almost two months ago shouldn’t be a problem.
It shouldn’t be something on my dad’s shoulders, so I wouldn’t mention it.
I could handle it. I always had been able to handle those memories, and I would handle them in the future.
But there was one thing I could mention.
Because it was something I knew I needed to get over.
“Is it weird that I opened a tattoo shop just like you? Following in your footsteps even though I didn’t mean to?”
Dad’s eyes widened, looking honestly surprised.
Hell, I was surprised I’d even said the words.
“Is that what you think? That you have to live up to our expectations? Because that’s not it.
I thought you wanted to open up this place.
To have your own business and not work with me or for me.
Did I push you in a direction you didn’t want? Fuck, Leif.”
I shook my head and ran my hands through my hair. “I’m not saying it right.”
“Then tell me. Did we do something to force you into this? I know your mom is just talking about your other art because she loves your talent. Same as I do. Drawing and clay and other media like you do never appealed to me as an artist, never did. But you have always been so talented with it all. You didn’t have to follow in my footsteps. Not that I thought you would.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’m the oldest cousin. I always felt like living up to what Montgomery Ink is, could be a little daunting.” I let out a sigh. “I know it’s stupid.”
My dad shook his head and squeezed my shoulder.
“Look at all you’ve accomplished on your own.
And with family. I had my family. I might’ve tried to forget that when I was your age, but in the end, you and I are both blessed with this big damn family.
You are your own man. You always have been.
You’ve grown into someone that I will always admire and trust. Breathe, okay?
This place has its own reputation outside of the place Maya and I made with our friends.
One day we will retire, a long ways away, boy, which means we will have a place for every Montgomery who wants to join us.
Or do whatever they want. You have always been who you wanted to be.
I admire the man you’ve become, and the art you create, on canvas or on skin.
You have the talent, the drive, and the trust. Don’t worry about what we think but know that we think the world of you. ”
My throat tightened, and I tried not to react to every single word my father had just said.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” I said after a moment, laughing. “I know you guys are proud of me. You guys have never once pushed me in any direction I didn’t feel comfortable with. And as for Brooke, by the way, you’re not going to be able to force her into a Montgomery dinner.”
“I might the next time we see her. Only because it’s been long enough. But it’s not like we found where she worked and asked her there,” Dad said after a minute.
I laughed. “I need to invite her to a family dinner. She’s just been busy, and well, we wanted time.”
“I get you.” Dad ran a hand over his beard. “You’re at a crossroads. With your woman. Your new life. Of course, you will be filled with doubt. But you have your friends. Your family. Lean on us. It’s okay to lean.”
I smiled and reached out to hug my dad hard. There were many things to say about Austin Montgomery, but he always gave good hugs.
“I love you, kid. Just saying.”
“Can I get a hug, too?” Sebastian asked, and I rolled my eyes and turned, pulling my cousin into the hug.