Page 49 of Swan

“Thanks, Cowboy. Oh, and I forgot to ask before. How’s Mimi going?”

Cowboy blushed. “She’s staying at her brother’s for a couple of days, but she’s going well.”

“Will she be back for Dad’s surprise birthday party?”

Cowboy froze, but his eyes flicked left and right. “It was a surprise party?”

“Did you say something to Dad?” Maya asked and laughed when his eyes widened. “Relax. It was supposed to be a surprise, but Dad knows everything. He knew about this even before Mum tried to organise it.”

“Is it a special one?” I asked. I hadn’t heard anything about it, but then again, I hadn’t really been involved.

“Nope. He’s just turning fifty-six, but Mum wanted to celebrate. Anyway, we’re going. Bye, Cowboy.”

“Later, ladies,” he said with a wave, which I returned with an easy smile.

Outside, we went to Maya’s car and got in. I took in a deep breath and glanced to the back seat.

“You’ve been to Channa’s?”

“Sure have. I was dropping off the guys’ lunch here before taking some to Texas.”

“It’s going to be cold by the time we get there.”

She shrugged, pulling out onto the road to drive off. “We’re talking about Channa’s treats. It’s good hot, warm, or cold.”

That was true. Okay, I didn’t feel as bad delaying her.

I glanced over at Maya, who was happily singing along to a song. It was then I noticed a nose stud.

“You got your nose pierced.”

She smiled. “Monnie did it for me. You should get one.”

“Ah, I don’t know about that.” I wasn’t too adventurous. Actually, I wasn’t at all. I would have been if I’d gone to Japan with….

“Just take a look at the gems we have in and see what you think when we’re there,” Maya suggested.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

When we pulled up out the front of the tattoo parlour, my stomach fluttered.

It was weird that I was nervous about seeing Drake.

He’d probably be busy with his client anyway.

Maya grabbed the containers of food from the back seat before we went inside. I’d only been to Texas’s shop a handful of times, but I loved the smell of it. The place also had such a soft mood to it, and I loved the colourful seating area as soon as you walked through the door. The music was never heavy enough where you had to shout over each other to be heard.

“Girl, your man is in a mood. A client didn’t show and is dodging his calls.”

Maya winced. “Dang. He could have booked in someone else if he’d known.”

Monnie clicked her fingers and pointed at Maya. “Exactly.” She tipped her chin my way. “Hey-ya, sunshine.”

“Hi, Mon.”

“I’m trying to talk Swan into a nose stud. Show her some of the new gems and work your magic, Mon, while I drop this out the back.”

Mon winked. “You got it.” While Maya left, I went over to the counter and looked through the glass. There were a lot of shiny things—round, square, big, small.

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