Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Cora
I’ve been juggling my time between the library and the tattoo shop pretty well.
Kash, Seth, and Rhett are all really welcoming, and it was easy to learn their system.
I haven’t had any issues with customers yet.
Everyone who comes through the door, whether by appointment or walk-in, leaves incredibly happy.
I can’t blame them. The guys do phenomenal work.
I don’t have any tattoos but watching them work makes me want to change that.
One of his recent designs was for a construction worker.
He hurt his hand at a job site and had a nasty-looking scar on the top of his hand.
Kash made this design that looked like there was a black hole in the center over the scar, with cracks coming from it.
I had the urge to poke it and see if my finger would go through.
Rhett does a lot of black and gray tattoos.
He can make beautifully detailed flowers and pictures.
A mother and daughter came in the other day for matching tattoos.
They’re both really into books, so he gave them matching book stacks with flowers.
The only difference was in the flowers they had.
They didn’t want just any flower but chose the other’s birth flower.
I couldn’t help the pang of jealousy I felt. I’m glad someone has that type of relationship with their parents, even if I never did.
Then there’s Seth and Atlas. Seth handles most of the piercings for the shop, even though all of them can. He does most of the portraits and other designs I’ve come to learn are ‘steampunk.’
Atlas is different. He doesn’t talk a lot, but I find him watching me when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
His work is beautiful. He blends colors perfectly to create these amazing scenes, flowers, and designs.
For a guy who doesn’t say much, his tattoos say a lot.
It’s like all the color and brightness he misses in his life is poured into his work.
There’s something captivating about him.
Noah’s been spending more time with Matt and Dane while I’ve been working. He hangs out with me at the library on Monday evenings for Reading with Dogs, but he gets bored easily.
I try to only be here on Tuesday through Saturday. Tuesday and Thursday are practice for Noah, and Saturday mornings are games, which works perfectly because they open later on Saturdays. Sundays are my days with Noah.
It seems like there are never enough hours in the day. I never thought my twenties would be spent shuffling a kid to soccer, working two jobs, and trying to make sure that I slept somewhere along the way.
Mila’s been after me to take Matt up on his offer for a date, but when would I have time? I already agreed to a hockey game, but he hasn’t brought it up again yet. I feel like the best years of my life are passing me by, and I’m just watching them go.
“Go ahead and see Cora. She’ll get you settled up, and don’t forget to use an unscented lotion on that. Here’s a sample of the brand we recommend.” Kash walks up with his most recent client.
I can’t hide my excitement when I take in the 3D design the guy has. It’s not my thing, but he has a giant spider on his neck. It’s not flat, though. It looks like it’s standing on tall legs at the top of his shoulder. It’s both creepy and cool at the same time.
“That looks amazing! It looks so real, I almost want to touch it,” I gush. “You’d better take care of that,” I say with a smile. “Kash does some really cool work.”
A big grin splits his face. “You’re right. He really does. I don’t remember you from the last time I was in. You wanna touch it?”
“I’m new,” I explain while running his card. “And honestly, I probably shouldn’t. Fresh ink and all.” It’d be weird for me to touch him, right?
“I don’t see any ink on you yet,” he says, his dark eyes moving over my body.
“Don’t have any. Haven’t found anything I want to be permanently on my skin, ya know?”
“So, there’s no boyfriend that you’d get a matching tattoo with?”
Before I can answer his question, a hand slams down on the counter. I didn’t see Atlas walk up with his client, but he has a harsh look on his face.
“There a problem?” he asks with a quirk of his eyebrow.
“No, no problem,” the guy tells Atlas. “Just talking to your pretty new receptionist.” He takes his card back from me and smiles. “Let me know if you decide you need someone to match ink with. I’m here frequently. I’m James.” He winks and turns around. “Later, Atlas.”
I watch as he walks out the door, then steal a glance back at Atlas. He’s glaring at James’ retreating form and once he’s out of eyesight, he turns his attention to me.
“That lousy fucker,” he mutters, an angry expression marring his face.
“Excuse me?” I can’t believe him.
“Nothing. Don’t let him flirt with you. Actually, don’t let any of these assholes flirt with you.”
I think he’s joking until I see how serious he is.
Atlas’ dark hair is shoved under a beanie, and between the scowl on his face, the dark swirls of ink that wind around his neck, and his dark sweatshirt, I suddenly wonder if it matches his soul.
“That’s not what happened. I wasn’t flirting.”
“Good. Keep it that way.”
“Um… can I check out now? Thanks again, Atlas. My girl is gonna love the colors.” His client looks between the two of us. Shit, I forgot he was there. “I’ll see you later, man. Nice to meet you, Cora.” He grabs his card and then quickly turns to leave.
Taking a deep breath, I try to think of one of the many mantras I repeat. I don’t know what it is about Atlas, but he seems to push all of my buttons. Nothing I do is ever right in the eyes of that gorgeous jerk.
I brought the guys coffee the other day after visiting Mara. He glared at everyone, then took all the drinks for himself to his station. I don’t know how he consumed that much caffeine without getting sick.
“Look here, Map Boy, I was not flirting with him. If you had paid attention, you would have heard me being friendly with him, as I am with most people. Well, everyone except you. Kash did a cool tattoo, and I was complimenting him on it—that’s all.
I was being nice. Maybe you should try it,” I push out.
No one has the right to talk down to me, boss or not.
“I can be nice,” he says after a moment.
“Could have fooled me.” I cross my arms over my chest. I don’t miss the way Atlas’ eyes travel to my chest briefly before snapping back to my face—typical man.
“Maybe you could—” He stops when my phone goes off. Matt’s name pops up on the screen, stealing my breath. Shit. He should still be at practice, so this can’t be good.
“I need to take this.” I grab my phone and push past Atlas, heading toward the back of the shop. “Hey, Matt, what’s up?”
“Hey, Cora, I hate to bother you because I know you’re working, but Noah is sick. I can’t end practice yet because some of the other parents aren’t here. I hate to do this, but can you come get him? He’s currently vomiting into a garbage can.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. This always happens. As soon as I find a groove, the universe throws a curveball at me.
“It’s fine. I’ll be there. Can I talk to Noah?” He told me this morning he didn’t feel good, but it’s hard to know with Noah sometimes. Occasionally he’s sick, but more often than not, it’s just because he wants a day off.
“Yeah, hold on. Dane said there’s a stomach bug wreaking havoc on their class. I hope it’s not that.”
God, I hope not. The last time he got a stomach bug, he was out for three days. I’ll explain it to Rhett or one of them as soon as I get off the phone. I hope urgent care is still open.
I hear shuffling and then Noah’s voice. “Hey, Cora. I don’t feel good.”
Poor kid sounds miserable.
“I know, bud; Matt told me. What happened?”
“I don’t know. My stomach hurts. I ran around a bit, then thought I had to puke, and then I did puke.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be there soon.”
“Sorry you have to leave work.”
“Hey, none of that. What do I tell you?”
He groans, but still replies, “I’m more important than anything.”
“Exactly.” I pull my coat over my shoulders while cradling the phone between my chin and neck. “I’ll be there in like ten, fifteen minutes max. Okay? I love you. Don’t forget that. Hand the phone back to Matt for me.”
I pat my pocket for my keys and look around to make sure I’m not forgetting anything. Glancing at the clock, I realize I only have about an hour left of my shift anyway. I’m sure the guys can manage.
“Where are you going? Who the hell is Matt?”
I turn to see Atlas standing in the breakroom.
“Jesus, you scared me. I don’t have time for you or your ego. I have somewhere I have to be. Emergency.”
“I asked you a question. Who. Is. Matt?”
What the hell is his problem?
“None of your business. I need to go,” I bite out.
“Hey.” The concern in Matt’s voice draws me back to him. “Everything good? You won’t get in trouble, will you?”
“No.” I eye Atlas. “I’m fine. Tell Noah I’ll be there soon. Bye.” I push past Atlas and find Seth in the lobby. He’s nodding along to whoever he’s talking to on the phone. Shit. I’m off to a great start as a new employee.
“No problem. We’ll see you next week. Yeah. You too, bye.” He ends the call and takes in my appearance and Atlas behind me. “What happened?”
“I have to go. I have an emergency. I’m really sorry.”
Seth looks from Atlas to me, then nods. “No biggie. We aren’t super busy. Anything I can do?”
Finally, someone around here has a normal response to the word emergency.
“No, I’m good, but thanks. I’ll see you guys tomorrow night.” I wave and push out into the cold.
Rushing to my car, I should be thinking about Noah, how he’s sick and hopefully doesn’t have a stomach bug, but the only thing I can think of is how ridiculous Atlas behaved.
Why does it matter to him who Matt is?
Sadly, I continue to come up blank. I have more pressing concerns to attend to.
If Noah has a stomach bug, then I’m out tomorrow from the library.
It’s not like I’m hurting for money, having put away a nest egg into savings.
I want Noah to have enough money so that if he wants to explore college, or shit, even traveling, he’ll have that option.
Maybe I should start looking for a different part-time job. One that doesn’t come with an Atlas.