Page 9 of Beck

“How long have you been doing this event?” Kole forked more noodles into his mouth, chewing slowly.

Beck blew out a breath and propped his chin on his fist, his elbow on the table while he figured it out. “Six years? Or is it seven years? Six or seven.” He shrugged. “Not to toot our own horn, to borrow Finn’s phrase, but we’re one of the best in the country, if not further afield, so having us there makes the event bigger.”

“You all deserve the praise you receive. It’s hard-earned and right. You all work damn hard, from what I’ve seen. And I’m not just talking about this event. I’ve rarely seen the shop empty when I’ve visited.”

Warmth flowed through him at Kole’s words, and he ducked his head, focusing on his food. “We have worked extremely hard to get where we are, but if it wasn’t for Joey…”

Kole smiled. “He seems the type to befriend someone and never let them go.”

Beck laughed, covering his mouth when his food threatened to fly across the table. Kole chuckled and handed him a napkin, which he held to his mouth.

“Sorry,” Kole said, his cheeks flushing.

He cleared his throat and waved his hand. “It’s okay. You were right on the nose with that description.” He wiped his hands on the napkin, sitting back in his chair. “People flock to Joey. There’s something about him that’s so…” He shook his head. “I can’t describe it, but he’s so good with people, and they remember that. It forges a bond, and when they return, it deepens. And so on. People can’t help it because he’s Joey.” He sighed. “As for us, we kind of fell into it. Helped out here and there and then never left. Though I fully expect Finn to go his own way at some point.”

“Why’s that?”

“He’s more of a loner, really. He puts up with us, but he’s happy to stay behind the scenes. He’d be ecstatic if we told him he could hide out in his room all day and night and we’d just send people in to him.” He chuckled. “He prefers his own company most of the time, though he makes allowances for us now.”

“I can see why. You are all such good people.”

Beck preened a little at the praise but ignored it and took another mouthful. They descended into silence again until they finished their food. With plenty left, Beck stacked the containers back into the bags and stood.

“I’ll leave you in peace now.” He picked up the bags and headed for the door, pausing with his hand on the handle. He tilted his head to the side but didn’t look at Kole. “If you need anything at all, please let me know. I’m not…new to this…these feelings, though I don’t advertise it.Pleaselet me help if you need it.”

Kole remained silent for a long moment, and Beck opened the door, believing he wasn’t going to respond. As he pulled the door closed, Kole said, “I promise I will tell you if I need anything.”

The relief that filled him made him lightheaded, and he leaned against the wall for a second before heading back to his room. He couldn’t help but remember Elliott, Joey’s best friend. The man had been in pain, and no one had seen it because he’d hid it. And the result had been the man taking his own life. After the police had implied why, Beck had wanted to help Joey with his pain, but his own had come back in full force, and he’d spent several days talking with his therapist before he could face anyone. He could’ve been where Elliott had been. It could’ve been him who’d decided he couldn’t take it anymore. One more step in that direction, and he would’ve never met the Life in Ink crew.

He shook his head as he went through his nighttime routine and climbed into bed. It was so hard to understand that all it took was a step in the wrong or right direction and two people went on completely different paths, even in the same originating situation.

Sliding his hand behind his head, he stared up at the dark ceiling, hoping Kole would listen to him and call him if he needed help. Maybe if they had seen that Elliott needed that opportunity, he would’ve still been there, but no point in thinking what-ifs. It would drive a man crazy.

Several hours later, he was back at his station at the event, ready to ignore a cramping hand when the tattooing became too much for it. He studied his friends and grinned at Ethan’s exuberant hand, gesturing as he spoke with Kole. The latter looked ready and willing to get to work, his hand fiddling with the pencil on his table while he spoke with Ethan. He laughed, throwing his head back, and Beck followed the long line of his neck, lingering on the man’s lips before jerking his gaze away.

Fucking hell, Beck. Get a grip.

Beck closed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, taking a few deep breaths to get rid of the images wanting to encroach on his mind.

“You okay, man?” Dallas asked, clapping his hand on Beck’s shoulder and making him jump.

He snapped open his eyes and nodded. “Yep, all good. I love being here, but I’m knackered already.” He chuckled, trying to cover for his inappropriate thoughts.

“Yeah, I get that. We’re going to break the record, though, man. I can feel it in my bones.” Dallas’s voice took on a pirate-esque tone, and Beck had to laugh.

“You’re a dork.”

“I wholeheartedly accept that description.”

“Calling all tattoo artists. Please be advised, the doors will be opening in five minutes,”the announcer said.

Dallas called everyone over and held out his fisted hand. “Let’s do this!”

Everyone rested their hands against Dallas’s and echoed his sentiment and dispersed to their relevant positions. Ethan and Ani manned the front desk, so to speak. Kole settled at his table with paper and a pencil. And the tattoo artists stood beside their chairs and equipment. Each of them—even Finn—vibrated with excitement. As Joey had mentioned before, they didn’t need the exposure the event gave them, but it never hurt to keep their company in people’s minds. After all, their rise to fame thanks to some celebrities could easily come crumbling down around their ears, just as much as a celebrity’s fame could. Nothing was set in stone, so they needed to ride the wave as far and as fast as they could, making sure their foundation was secure in case something happened.

Being able to travel to reach customers was a bonus, and something Beck enjoyed. Visiting new places and old kept things interesting, but he especially liked Paris. Annabelle was one of their Paris customers, and though they had others living there, she was his favourite. She was so carefree and easygoing that he often wished he could be her. Seemingly not having a care in theworld. He was sure she did, but she could cope or ignore them in favour of living her life. Beck could only hope to get to that place eventually.

As the day wore on, his gaze found Kole more and more often, so he saw when the guy had done enough. He caught Ethan’s attention and gestured to Kole. Ethan glanced at Kole and then back at Beck before nodding and mouthing, “Thank you.” Ethan headed over to the man, and they disappeared, leaving Beck to go back to cleaning his equipment in the brief break he had. He knew the exact moment they came back, too.

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