Page 7 of After All This Time

"She's very real when she dances right in front of me."

I still my hand, glancing up from his tattoo. "So when you said you had a date, what you meant was that you were hoping to end the night with a dance from your favorite stripper."

"Sounds like a good night, right? You want in?"

"Hard pass, but thanks."

"There's nothing wrong with the Devil's Lair. I know you've been down there."

"I went once with you because it was your birthday, and Lola made me feel like I couldn't say no."

The first time I walked into Lola's, I felt like I was standing on the edge of something massive. I didn't know it then, but I was walking straight into my future. Lola is technically my boss, but that word doesn't come close to describing what she is to me. She's my mentor, friend, and someone who saw potential in me before I even believed it existed.

We first met one night in a bar when I was definitely too young to be there. I'm pretty sure I tried to hit on her, which was simultaneously the most embarrassing and the most pivotal moment of my life.

After telling her my dreams of becoming a tattooist, she decided, firstly, not to have sex with me, which was probably for the best, and, secondly, to teach me everything she could about tattooing. She gave me the necessary tools to practice and, more importantly, the confidence to believe in myself and to pour myself into my work, and now people pay me to ink their skin.

I love it so damn much.

The older I got, the more fascinated I became by people's tattoos, always wondering what made them permanently mark their bodies.

Was it pain? Love? Something they couldn't put into words, so they had it drawn onto their skin instead?

Now I'm the one covered in ink.

Over the years, intricate black-and-white designs have crept across my skin, blanketing me in artwork. Some pieces have meaning. Others are just there because I like them.

Levi's getting pretty damn close to matching me when it comes to tattoos. He's nearly covered from his neck down to his feet, and this little mermaid I'm working on—well, this beauty has white hair with a dark-blue tail that takes up the last bit of space on his calf.

"That looks awesome!" Lola calls out as she walks back over, having just said goodbye to a girl who came in for a septum piercing.

"Nearly done for today, Lo. Can't do much more when your brother has a date to get ready for."

Lola raises an eyebrow, arms crossed, as she leans against the doorway. "With who?"

"Misty," I say, trying not to laugh as I look up from Levi's leg.

"Give it up already, little brother. Misty doesn't swing your way."

"What? How do you know that?"

Lola shrugs as she pushes off the doorway. "Call it personal experience."

"Nice," I mutter, biting back a laugh while I finish shading the mermaid's scales.

"Do you know how many times she's moved her body on me?" Levi says, grinning like an idiot.

"That's because you're paying her, dumbass." Lola throws her head over and scoops her bright magenta hair up into some kind of messy ponytail with pieces flying out in every direction on the top of her head before turning the sign on the shop door to closed.

I put the tattoo gun down, feeling that familiar ache in my wrist from sitting here for the last few hours. "Right, you're done for the day. Go take a look."

I remove my gloves and stand up from my chair. My muscles are stiff from sitting in the same position, but I stretch them out, straightening my back as I roll my shoulders.

"She's perfect. Thanks, man."

"Hot, right?" I chuckle, watching as he checks her out.

I grab my keys and phone, tossing them into my pocket as I start to head out. Lola gives me a quick wave, while Levi focuses on his leg, still admiring his siren as I reach for the door.

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