Page 67 of Rox

“I don’t know. I think it has something to do with the new ownership,” I wink at him. He laughs before he tells me to get back to work. Stanford taking over the shop was what we all needed. He’s brought in a lot more clients. So much so that I’m almost completely booked for the year.

“Roxie, can you take Julie here for her first tattoo?”

“Sure, Mark.”

I smile up at both of them, “Thanks. Julie, this is Roxie. You’re in great hands with her, I promise.”

“Thank you,” I hear her whisper to Mark. I get her situated, and once she’s ready to go, I get started.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. The pain isn’t too bad. Plus, I’ve had worse.” She’s quiet for a moment, and I want to ask more, but if I’ve learned anything, it’s to let people speak at their own pace. “I hope Mark isn’t mad at me for requesting I work with you.”

“I promise you, he’s not. He understands that there will be clients more comfortable with a woman than they will with a man. He’s a great guy, but we all get it. Your comfort matters most to us. Don’t ever apologize for making yourself your priority.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, and I give her a soft smile before I continue her tattoo.

Hours later, we’re cleaning up, and I do the same thing I’ve done each year.

“Hey, Mark?”

I hear him laugh, and I know what’s coming, but I can’t help it. It’s this compulsion I can’t escape.

“Roxie, again? We don’t have to, I promise.”

“I know. I know. But you also know that I do. Maybe this will be the last year.” We both laugh because we both know that that isn’t true, but I continue anyway. “I’m sorry for thinking everything Duncan did was you.”

“I know you are, Roxie. I appreciate you telling me that. I understand why you did.”

“I know, but still.”

“No, but still.” He pulls me into his arms and wraps me into a hug. “You were going through a lot, and I happened to be there. When you put two and two together, the answer made sense. I don’t hold anything against you, and one day, you’re going to believe me.”

Everything I thought was Mark was nothing more than a huge coincidence. That day I saw him down the street? Because he had bought the house that had been listed for sale for over a year. The grocery store? Weird, it’s where people buy food. Everything was due to why he moved here, and I’ve never felt more stupid. I told him why I had an issue with him that day and why I became awful with him. He didn’t bat an eye. He understood and told me he wished he knew what was happening because he would have done anything he could to have helped.

We’ve moved on except for when we do this sale. It brings it all back, and I have to apologize again.

“One day, I will. I promise.”

“Look, let’s stop thinking about that and think about the good news you got earlier,” he says, successfully shifting my train of thought.

“I can’t believe it’s real.”

“Believe it, Roxie. You earned it.” Stanford chimes in. “You’re going to do great.”

“What day again?” I know he told me, but in my excitement and disbelief, the finer details have escaped me.

“She’ll be here on Monday,” Stanford confirms before heading to the back.

“You fucking did it, Roxie. Your very first apprentice.”

* * *

“Fuck!”

“Oh…my…fuck. Fuck! Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

Max pumps into me as if it’s the last time he’ll ever be able to. Every day with him is better than the last, and I still can’t believe I get to call him mine.

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