36. Maybe It’s A Crown
Maybe It’s A Crown
Zoe
‘Zoe, hey.’
Fi greets me with a huge, beaming smile as I enter the shop. I greet her warmly, but I’m eager to see Leo after two weeks apart.
Glancing around the shop, I realize with some disappointment that I don’t see him, and my shoulders drop until strong arms wrap around my waist from behind, and an all too familiar scent fills my nostrils.
I feel my whole body relax and turn in his hold to wrap my arms around his neck.
‘Oh my god, y’all are adorable,’ Fi sighs as she walks away into the shop, and Gus, who must have come in with Leo, follows her.
‘Where were you?’ I ask between light kisses.
‘Gus had to take his car to the shop. I gave him a ride back here.’
I nod, understanding but not actually caring. I have my man in my arms, and that’s all that matters.
‘Maybe we could just use this appointment time to go upstairs instead,’ I say softly, and he laughs.
‘Not a chance, munch.’ He gently pushes me away, tapping my ass so he can head behind the desk.
I’m getting tattooed today — the thigh tattoo I was supposed to get weeks ago. This is the third attempt, but we kept ending up naked and sweaty, so he booked me in again. Leo loves sex, but he really loves tattooing, and he is determined to give me something new, so he’s doing it out here in the shop with Fi, Gus, Shelby the piercer, and all their customers right here to witness.
I realize I’m pouting when Leo smiles and walks around to pinch my bottom lip.
‘I’ll take care of you later, baby, I promise.’
Clients come and go over the hours I’m sitting in Leo’s chair. We talk and laugh. Gus and Fi regularly come to admire the piece Leo is working on, and it’s everything I love about being in a tattoo shop. They respect each other, and they respect the people in their chairs. Everyone is welcome, and it’s fun and happy — you can feel the love for what they do. Sometimes, clients are nervous, they’re afraid of needles, or it’s their first tattoo, and they don’t know what to expect. I watch as Fi puts them at ease and gets them settled with a drink in their hand and a smile on their face.
‘You doin’ okay?’ Leo checks in, and I nod.
‘You’ve created something pretty special here, Leo.’
He smiles softly. He’s so proud of his shop, and I’m so proud of him. My mind wanders to the future, and I try to pull it back. I’ve been avoiding those thoughts because they scare me. I live in Forest Falls, my business is there, and my whole life is there. We’re making it work right now because it’s new and exciting, but as we get more serious, what happens — what’s the next step? We get married but live and work in separate places? Have kids, but he’s always an hour away?
‘Where are you right now?’
‘Huh?’ I blink up at Leo, who has stopped tattooing and is smiling down at me softly.
‘Munch, you okay?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ I smile, but he looks worried. ‘Leo, I’m good. I just got lost in my thoughts.’
‘You want to stop?’
I shake my head, no. ‘I could use some water, though.’
Leo puts down his machine, leans in to kiss my head and, takes off his gloves, then walks away. Don’t let your thoughts ruin everything, Zoe . It’ll all work out. I hope.
‘Oh my god.’ Bree’s eyes widen as she takes in the huge tattoo covering the front of my left thigh.
‘I know. It’s so beautiful.’
‘No, Zoe, that’s not why I’m blaspheming.’
I chuckle but sit, with confusion pinching my brows.
‘Zo, it’s a lioness.’ I nod. I know that. ‘He, Leo , gave you a lioness. Do you not see the significance of that?’
I mean, I hadn’t, but now…
‘A lioness with a fuckin’ crown no less.’
‘It’s not a crown.’ I look down at the design. She’s beautiful, her eyes are bright and beautiful, the flowers surrounding her are soft in comparison to her strength, and the jeweled mandala on her forehead could be, okay, yeah, maybe it’s a crown.
‘Zoe, he is Leo — lion. And he gave you a lioness, a queen, his fuckin’ queen. This is the most romantic shit I’ve ever seen.’ She gulps her wine. ‘Fuck, I am so single.’
Did he do this on purpose? I gave him free rein. I let him tattoo what he wants, I always have, but why this? It’s not the design he originally put on me, so why did he change it?
‘You think he…’
‘Loves you? Yes, that is very apparent.’ She sips again, and we turn to look out across her backyard from our spot on the porch.
‘How am I going to explain this to Doug?’ The thought pops out of my mouth, and she snaps her gaze to me.
‘Maybe just don’t. Maybe you just stop hiding this thing with a man you’re clearly in love with.’ I inhale sharply. ‘Why are you still hiding it? It’s been two months that plays like a movie montage of sex scenes and saccharine-sweet dates. It’s obviously serious.’
‘I know, I just…’ Do I tell her about my reservations? Do I admit my fears about the future? ‘I just kind of love being able to see him without the pressure of everyone knowing.’
Bree nods, and I think she actually gets it.
‘So, what’s next?’
‘We’re going away together for the weekend.’
‘Where?’ She smiles softly.
‘I don’t know. He wants to surprise me.’
‘Goddammit, Zo. I want one of those.’
I laugh. My sister is beyond happy for me. I just wish she could meet somebody, too.