9. Spun
CHAPTER NINE
SPUN
Six months later…
“Well, well. I heard that Ink Realm was the hottest tattoo spot in the state,” a soft, raspy voice said from behind Moose.
Seated on his leather stool, needle in hand, he worked on a client and swore his ears were deceiving him.
Pausing, he half turned and found Sierra Thomas hovering in his doorway, looking like she hadn’t aged a day.
Her body sure as fuck had from those high school days.
He hadn’t expected the excitement that filled him up inside when his dark eyes assessed her curves.
Five nine, orange sized breasts, and a face like an angel, she was still a dime.
“It’s been a long time, Moose.”
He stood to greet her, applying a soft kiss to her cheek that she savored with her eyes closed. He smelled heavenly and looked even better.
“It’s good to see you, Sisi.”
“It’s good to be home. I didn’t realize how much I missed Ree Heights until I passed that welcome sign.” Business casual in slacks, a white blouse, and black pumps, she set her Dior bag on a nearby counter, and Moose returned to his stool to finish his client.
“This place is really nice.” She looked around, impressed, before stopping at one of the floor to ceiling windows.
She watched the people on the street for a minute before facing him and pressing her back against the wall. “How have you been?”
Moose shrugged. “Straight.”
“I can see that. I heard you opened your own shop, and I just had to come and see it. You’ve always been so talented,” she gushed.
Over the years, she’d thought a lot about Moose.
Several times she wanted to reach out, but she knew her parents would have a fit.
Leaving Ree Heights and moving to New York was supposed to put Moose out of her mind.
Her father sure as hell expected it to. He couldn’t stand him and thought he was nothing more than a thug.
Sisi knew better. There was far more to Moose than met the eye; you just had to get to know him, which most never took the time to.
He could be thoughtful and sensitive, attentive and caring.
A lot more understanding than the man who raised her.
She admired all those qualities and more about him.
“You trying to get something? I’m running a two for one special this week.”
“No.” Sisi tittered. “I’m just in town for the holidays. I’ll be jetting back to New York after New Years. I’d love to have lunch or dinner with you. We can catch up.”
“You sure your pops ain’t sent nobody here to watch you?” Moose jested.
“My parents won’t be flying in until the week of Christmas. I’m here to see my sister and nieces and nephews until then. She’s got all this family shit planned, and you know Christmas in Ree Heights is never boring.”
“Give me a minute to wrap this up,” Moose told her, focusing on shading his current client’s butterfly tattoo.
She had earbuds in and rested on her stomach in his chair. She still had her eyes closed and hadn’t even noticed that Sisi was in the room.
“We can grab something from the Junction. I haven’t eaten since breakfast myself, so I could use a break.”
“Great.” Sisi smiled and picked up his book full of artwork to flip through while she waited.
“Moose, I’m heading to grab a few supplies from the drugstore—” Trini’s voice stopped cold when she locked eyes with a smug Sisi. “The fuck are you doing here?”
“Hmm, I see you’re still keeping company with the local skank,” Sisi muttered.
“Bitch—”
“Trini, fall back,” Moose warned.
“Good dog,” Sisi jested before cackling.
“Fuck this bitch!” Trini lunged, but Moose was on his feet, placing himself between them before either of them could swing.
All of a sudden, he was back in fucking high school. It was a known fact that these two couldn’t stand each other. Traveling in different circles, Trini was always the underdog. The girl from the other side of the tracks who got dissed and roasted because she didn’t come from much.
“Still ready to slide for this bitch when she don’t give a fuck about you.” Trini gritted her teeth.
She glared past Moose at Sisi before aiming a finger at her.
“He can’t be with you twenty-four seven. I still owe you a dog walk too.”
“Promises, promises.” Sisi taunted.
Trini was hot for more than one reason. Over the past few months, she and Moose had rekindled whatever it was between them.
Since things hadn’t worked out with him and that Inari girl, she stepped right in to be the comforting friend he needed her to be.
Shit wasn’t perfect, but she was enjoying it for what it was and not trying to put any pressure on him for anything else.
Spinning on her heel, Trini stormed out, and Sisi set his portfolio back on the counter.
“You’re still hanging around her?”
“She’s got a booth here,” Moose answered, going back to his stool. “It’s been a long time. How y’all still on that high school shit?”
“Oh, a woman can hold a grudge for a long time. You know this. Besides, too much has happened for us to ever let that go.”
Shaking his head in shame, Moose couldn’t do anything else.
Women were wild. He never expected Sisi to slide into town again, but he wouldn’t lie and say it wasn’t good to see her.
Once he wrapped up with his client and got his payment, he told one of the other artists that he was stepping away for lunch.
Grabbing his coat so he didn’t have to go up against the winter winds, he snatched the beanie out of his pocket and put it on over his locs too.
On the way to the door, he helped her into her black peacoat.
Slipping outside, he peeped gray clouds while the crisp air smacked them in the face like a bitter baby mama.
It was Friday, and winter vacation had started for the district, so the streets were packed with people, and so was Junction.
Moose opened the door to the spot, and the smoked meat aroma immediately hit their nostrils.
“Oh, my God, it smells so good in here.” Sisi inhaled. “You know they don’t grill on the east coast like we do.”
“Fuck nah,” Moose agreed, chucking his chin in greeting to Smoke and Kool as he led Sisi over to an empty booth.
Once they were both settled, Kool came and took their order, and his daughter, twelve-year-old Billie, brought them their drinks. Moose slipped her five bucks for a tip, and she grinned.
“So, tell me, what have you been up to? Besides opening the shop?” Attentive, Sisi leaned forward with her chin propped in her hand, awaiting his response.
“And don’t leave anything out on my behalf.
You know we’re better than that. Got a girlfriend or any kids?
” She smiled and reached for his tatted hand across the table.
Moose chuckled, bowing his head and giving some thought to his answer before lifting it. The door to Junction swung open, allowing a cold gust of air inside before Inari and Dane entered together. Judging from her expression she was either frustrated or annoyed while her son argued his case.
“Come on, Ma. If Pops says it’s cool, why you tripping?” Dane griped.
She paused briefly, spotting Moose with Sisi and their hands intertwined.
Something sparked behind her usually warm amber eyes.
There was familiarity between the two of them.
Moose seemed very comfortable, and it triggered that green-eyed monster in Inari.
It’d been months since she’d seen or spoken to him.
She wouldn’t even go to his father’s house to visit her sister for fear of possibly running into him.
Now, here he was, in the flesh. Still fine as hell.
Sisi caught the flicker of something behind Inari’s gaze when she observed her with Moose, and how he looked past her right into Inari’s soul.
“Because you don’t even have a license yet, Dane. You don’t need a fucking car,” his mama snapped, rolling her eyes and slipping right past Moose and Sisi.
“Oh, what’s up, Moose?” Her son stopped to greet him with a dap, but Inari continued to the counter a few steps away and eased onto a stool.
Moose returned the gesture, giving Dane a nod and half smile.
“What’s good, kid?”
“Nothing. Trying to convince my mama to let my pops buy me a car. She’s always complaining about having to drive me everywhere. Maybe you can talk some sense into her and make her see that this benefits both of us.” Dane pleaded his case.
Moose chuckled and glanced at Inari pretending to read over the Junction menu.
She looked good. She’d slimmed down some, but he was glad she still had some weight on her.
He preferred her thick like that. He was a firm believer that some people just looked better with a few extra pounds.
When they lost weight, their heads looked big as fuck, and they lost some of their appeal.
“I don’t think I need to insert myself into that conversation.”
“Come on, I don’t get in trouble. I ain’t never even been suspended, and I can take the test to get my permit soon, so my license will be next.”
“Dane, leave him alone. Can’t you see he’s occupied?” Inari chimed in snippily. “And Moose doesn’t get a vote when it comes to you getting a car.”
“Moose don’t get a vote in a whole lot of shit.” He grabbed his beverage cup and took a sip through the straw he’d stuck inside it.
He had his back to Inari, and she studied his head before her gaze went past him to Sierra.
Beautiful, skin like coffee rich with creamer, at least a shade lighter than Inari’s golden brown skin tone.
She was pretty, with wide set oval shaped brown eyes and thick, plush lips covered in a nude gloss.
Her brows lifted with Inari’s as Moose took a few more sips of his drink and set it back on the table.
“So, Ayla told me your pops was throwing a party for the holidays. Said it was going to be lit, and he was even having an ice rink put together. Is that true? Can I come?” Dane queried.
“Yeah, you’re more than welcome. It’s cool.”