Chapter 3
“What are friends for”
Lilly
My first day back has been great, plus it was interesting to see how the shop is functioning on a whole new level. Now I’ve been around the tattoo shop setting for many years and still to this day I have none to speak of…yet. Not for lack of wanting one, it’s really quite the opposite actually because the one I’m planning on will be a very large piece and I know it’s going to hurt. However, since I’m done with school I can finally schedule it. Between Jenny and Shane, they have both agreed to do certain parts of it, so tonight at Vinnie’s I plan on telling them I’m ready. It’s time to finally live. No school to take me away, no asshole boyfriend to make me feel like shit. Nothing but the life that I call normal now, and I’m so excited to live it!
Then there are the other options at the shop now. Such as the piercing side of things. All morning I spent reorganizing my office and secretly listening in on Dylan while he was working. For the most part he did gauging and typical cartilage ear piercings which I’m guessing that’s a normal steady thing for him. Then there were times when I ran into him in the hallway and he would wink at me while showing off his wicked grin, and it made my stomach do flips, in fact I’m pretty sure I blushed every time I saw him today. As for being able to talk, well there wasn’t much time for that, but sadly I wish there was.
The last appointment for the evening was a belly button ring on an 18 year old girl who begged her mom to come with her. The mom seemed pretty cool I must say, she held her hand while her daughter hyperventilated slightly, but in the end Dylan was great with her. Very professional with his deep voice that seemed to calm her right down while I went to grab her some water, then he proceeded to tell her how to take care of it. By the time they left he had her laughing.
Now that the shop is closed everyone is cleaning up and getting ready to go eat a late dinner. Since it was a busy evening we didn’t get any time for that, but on the plus side we all made money and I got my office back in order. Win/win. So Jenny and I decided to start our walk down to the local bar that we tend to hang out in from time to time, while the guys trail behind bullshitting and locking up. Luckily it’s only a few blocks away.
“I love that it’s cooler out tonight.” Jenny claims as she zips up her hoodie. Even though it’s the end of summer we tend to still have the air set on ”fucking cold” as Jenny describes it because for one: it’s still hot outside during the day and for two: people tend to be calmer when it’s cooler. So we always keep our black A&I hoodies on us especially when we are working.
“Hey! Slow down.” Maddox yells to us and Jenny rolls her eyes. “No, we’re hungry!” For a woman who’s in almost perfect shape she tends to get angry when she goes too long without food. I however find it hilarious.
When the double doors come within reach I hold one open for her then proceed to follow her to our usual corner booth. It’s bigger and it’s by the pool tables. “Why did Sill leave early?” I ask out of pure curiosity because he tends to have the best gossip. “He has a date.” Jenny explains as she pulls out a menu. “He could have brought him here with us.” I say with a shrug. “He said something about the guy being intimidated by all of us.” She puts her menu back and flags over Tom the waiter not even bothering to wait for her husband. “That’s’ ridiculous.” The words fly out of my mouth with a bit of anger because assholes always tend to stereotype people who work in tattoo shops, and I just hope Sill doesn’t get caught in a relationship like I had. “I know that’s exactly what I told him before he left. So hopefully he drops this guy before the nights over, he can do better anyway.” She speaks with the same annoyance that I feel about it.
“Hey Lilly! You back to stay this time?” Tom, the waiter slash bartender, asks me with a smile just as the boys come in and fill the seats around us. Tom was always really nice to me. “Yep, I’m here to stay this time, Tom.” “Good! Now what can I get you guys?” He asks but his eyes linger a little longer in my direction.
After we all order everyone seems to physically relax. “You should just put that poor man out of his misery Lil.” Jenny says as she takes a drink of her water while Shane gets this disgusted look on his face, and Dylan looks at me to see what I’m going to say. I can’t help but laugh as I look at my brother. “What’s that face for?” “No offense or anything but that guy is weird. Who wears a button down shirt with a bowtie and khakis to work in at a bar? I bet his mommy dresses him.” Shane finishes and Maddox laughs. “I saw him pick his nose and eat it not too long ago.” Maddox adds in as we all laugh as discreetly as possible. “He’s nice. And you guys are mean.” I give an effort to stick up for the man. “Is he your type?” Dylan asks me with a raised brow as he looks across the table at me. “Well, no, but he is still nice.” I explain as Shane rolls his eyes and gets up to shoot Maddox a game of pool. So Dylan takes the opportunity to switch his seat next to me. Instantly I feel his rather large presents closer to me as if we were more than just sitting next to one another.
With the scent of Dylan that is slightly addictive I feel the heat rise in the space between us. “So what is your type then?” He catches me a little off guard as Jenny looks from him to me and back again with wide eyes as a smile forms on her mouth. So she discretely gets up to go watch Maddox shoot, which leaves just us alone. I have to remind myself not to kill her later. When I look up to meet his eyes I try my best to think of a good response and decide to have fun with it instead. Especially since he’s off limits. ”Oh you know, like a bad ass prince charming or something.” I hold back a nervous laugh because I can’t believe I just said that to him. “I hate to break it to you but you pretty much just described me.” His charm is fun and interesting while his confidence makes me laugh.
“Here’s your drinks, food will be another minute.” Tom pops back over with three beers and two sodas. When he sees Dylan sitting so close to me the smile he had earlier is gone and is now replaced by repulsion plus maybe a little sadness too. Hard to tell which before he storms away. “Wow, he really does like me. Now I feel bad.” I find myself saying as Dylan slides my soda to me and takes a drink of his beer. “Well it’s not like you were actually going to go out with the guy right?” He looks over to me with one brow raised in question. “No, but I just feel bad. I don’t like to hurt anyone because I know what it’s like to be hurt.” I confess as I see his jaw tense from my comment. “Well don’t feel bad because that guy is one step away from being a creepy stalker and I’d hate to have to knock him out and be barred from here.” His reply shocks me a bit but I hate to admit that I totally could see that happening come to think of it. “You’d do that for me?” Sweet sarcasm implied as I smile up at him to lighten the mood. When he grins back I know that we are back to having our fun but stimulating conversation. “Damn right darling!” He says before Maddox comes back and sits down only to grab his beer and drink half of it. “You’ll win one.” Jenny says as she slides in next to him and pats him on the shoulder. “He’s been on a winning streak Jen.” Maddox pouts. “Quit being a baby, you can try again after we eat, okay big guy.” Shane pretends to coddle him like a child as he follows suit and sits next to Jenny. “Shut the fuck up, I’m going to kick your ass.” Maddox tells him as he looks around Jenny at Shane and we all laugh.
Somehow everyone in this booth together kind of forces me closer to Dylan. As we are leg to leg and shoulder to shoulder. Still I’m not complaining, but I can’t help but feel a little dirty as the thought of him touching me under the table plays in my head. Dammit, I need to start going out, it’s been way too long.
When the food comes everyone is mostly quiet as we eat. When Jenny texts Sill to see how he is, she gets no response. “So, I’m ready to start my tattoo!” I say to my makeshift family as everyone is finishing up their meals. “Yay! That’s awesome; I can’t wait to mark your virgin skin!” Jenny says all evil like but as a joke and Dylan stops chewing to look at me. “You mean you don’t have any yet?” He asks in disbelief. “Nope, I am a tattoo virgin as Jenny says, but we have been planning a rather large one so it’s going to take some time, and I wanted to finish college first.” I say with a shrug. “Any piercings?” He continues to ask questions but with a spark in his eyes this time and Shane gives him a look. “Dude! I don’t want to know that shit, she’s my baby sister.” His remark makes me laugh. “Relax, and I’ll gladly answer that.” I say to Shane and then turn to look to Dylan. “Only my ears. I have three holes in each side. That’s it.” “Huh.” He huffs out. “I never would have thought it’s possible to work in a tattoo shop and never have one. Guess you learn something new every day.” He says before he drinks the last of his beer. “I’ll go get us a pitcher since Lilly seemed to piss of Tommy boy.” Shane says before he gets up and heads to the bar.
Maddox and Jenny start to talk about shopping for food as we all push our plates to the end of the table. “So this tattoo, how big is it going to be?” Dylan asks me. “I’m going to have it start below my ribs and go down to the top of my thigh.” I explain and he seems to approve as he leans back to look at my side. “That’s going to hurt. I hope I get to watch though.” He says playfully with raised eyebrows as I laugh. “You’ll have to tell me what it’s like to get piercings done and which ones hurt the worst.” I say because who knows what I will decide to get in the future. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know sweetheart.” The back and forth playful flirting thing we’ve got going on is getting intense and it’s going to get us into trouble too. We have to stop. The hard part is actually doing it though. How the hell does any sane woman walk away from a dangerously sexy man who clearly wants to get to know her? Here’s how. You start asking personal questions and he’ll be the one to walk away first.
Shane comes back with two small pitchers and some change for the pool table. “Come on Mad dog, how’s about a rematch?” Maddox nearly pushes Jenny out of the booth as he obviously wants the chance to beat my brother.
Here it goes; in order to be able to work with this man I have to make it so there is no desire or obvious attraction; sadly it’s there but too far out of reach. Since this is like the super bowl of pool games, the other three are busy which leaves only him and me once again.
“So Dylan, tell me about you.” I scoot away a little bit since the booth is pretty much empty now and turn to look at him. “I’m an open book sweetheart, ask away.” Of course he is. “I assume you know about my parents, so tell me about yours, where did you come from?” Seemingly unfazed he looks me in the eye to begin this torturous conversation. “Well your brother only told me that they are gone, sorry by the way, he didn’t get into much detail though. Guys don’t get too in depth as females tend to. However, I haven’t seen mine since I was ten which was about twenty years ago. My Aunt and Uncle raised me about 30 minutes from here, and I think I turned out just fine.” He finishes with a shrug and a smug smile. I feel like shit for asking him, but I know I have to continue.