Chapter 3 You’re Not So Bad
You’re Not So Bad
Simon
My brother might have been my best friend but he was absolutely driving me fucking crazy.
I swear, he’d been the one born with all the patience out of the two of us.
Then again, Ariel Kimber could suck the patience right out of a saint.
Normally I didn’t mind how fucking crazy and out of control she could get. I pretty much got off on it. But lately it’s been pissing me off because I felt like we were stuck in a serious holding pattern.
I didn’t mind her taking her sweet time, just so long as we were going somewhere.
My brother and I, our whole goddamn lives had been based around this fucking crazy girl. I had proved I didn’t mind waiting. But at what point was enough enough?
I felt like I might be there now.
I was tired of watching every other person around me fall into their happily ever after while Trenton and I were just stuck in the same place, watching from the sidelines.
We were glorified babysitters so you’d think we’d be used to it, it came with the job after all. But I wanted more for the two of us. I wanted my brother and I to be truly happy.
I thought we both had earned more than a little bit of happiness out of life.
I had no idea how Trenton felt because he kept his emotions locked up tight. I think my brother was afraid of getting his heart broken.
I finished up the tattoo on the shoulder I was working on, took care of after care, and began picking up my station.
My brother wasn’t here tonight. He was following Ariel shopping. He didn’t really even need to because Damien and Jules were with her. But we took our jobs seriously. We’d gone through too much not to take everything about her seriously.
I think we were both afraid to so much as turn around for fear of her disappearing on us. Then our world really would be over.
“How old do you have to be to get a tattoo?” one of the boys asked me and I looked up to find Toby watching me closely.
I was surprised to find him speaking to me. The boys worked here, doing Isobel’s job and manning the front desk at the tattoo shop when she didn’t come in. They were obsessed with her and I felt like most of the time they didn’t much care for my brother and I.
I didn’t know why he was asking questions he should already know the answers to considering he helped run the front desk and people likely asked him that shit all the time.
“It’s just that…” he hesitated briefly. “Baylie and I want to get bonding marks. We know we’re young but given everything we’ve gone through together we already know enough to know that no matter what we want to be in it together. When you know you know.”
Shit. I had to give it to the kid. He wasn’t wrong and there really wasn’t anything wrong with them making that bond more permanent. It was the way of our world, really.
But I didn’t feel like it was my place to give the okay and approve of it. Isobel was fucking crazy and we now had a truce. I did not want to step on her toes.
He arched an eyebrow and grinned cheekily at me. “She’s the one that told me to ask. Honestly, I don’t know why everyone is so afraid of her. She’s really very sweet. And, it was obvious you were thinking about her and no I’m not a mind reader.”
If by sweet he meant fucking psychotic then sure. That whole coven was as sweet as fucking pie.
“My advice, kid? Talk to Rain about all this. That way you know for sure his woman will be comfortable with everything. She’d probably prefer to have her man ink you than me anyway.
If Rain can’t do it for you though and you’re really sure then I won’t hesitate to hook you and your brother up.
After I ask Isobel for permission first, of course.
She’s not a woman to be trifled with and she cares a whole lot about you two.
I hope the two of you know just how lucky you were to find that witch. ”
He looked way too pleased with himself, but I let him puff up. We all deserved to have our moments to shine and if he wanted to claim this one then what did I care.
“Thanks, Simon. You’re not so bad.”
My mouth dropped open and I stared at him in shock. That was as close to a compliment as anyone ever got out of Toby or Baylie. They stuck to Isobel like glue and practically shunned everyone else.
I felt like I just won something.
Too bad Trenton wasn’t here to witness it, I had a feeling he wasn’t going to believe me.
My next appointment came in and things got back to business as usual.