Page 87 of Pretty Obsessed

“Stupid shit.” Iris smiled at Emory.

Emory walked over and pulled Iris into a hug. I didn’t know if it was Emory’s nature or because of how I was with Iris, but they’d grown close since we’d gotten here. It made me like Emory more. Iris leaned into Emory and muttered something I didn’t catch.

“If no one is going to tell me, we’re going to go,” I said to Cas.

“This is on you,” Cas jabbed a finger into my chest.

“What’s on me? If you have something to say spit it out.”

Cas’ attitude and general lack of information was really starting to grate on me.

“Why don’t you take a look in his dressing room and tell me you’d be happy.” Cas shoved past me and into his dressing room slamming the door.

“Iris?” I asked.

“It got out of hand.” He pulled out of Emory’s arms and shrugged. “I’ll text Alexander to deal with it.”

Emory and I met each other’s eyes. He smiled, and I felt like I could deal. Very quickly, I was realizing I don’t know how I’d have made it through any of this without him.

“Come hang out with us. River and I need a quick shower, but then we can go get tattoos.” Emory confirmed with me as he said it. It was smart, rather than letting Iris go back to whatever debauchery was currently going down in his room.

“I’ll text Alexander,” I said as Emory led Iris into my dressing room.

* * *

Iris didn’t mess around when it came to tattoos. He found the best of the best and asked them to stay late so we could have some privacy. Our bodyguards went in first, checking out the location to clear it. Thankfully we got away from the venue so late, all the super fans were gone and we weren’t followed.

“I’m Aki,” he said, in perfect English, closing and locking the door behind us. “How are you guys doing tonight?”

We traded pleasantries while Iris stalked around the little waiting area taking in the art. Iris wasn’t good at pleasantries. He couldn’t fake it like most people could. He only knew how to do deep. Anything surface level didn’t make sense to him. People took it as him being aloof or rude maybe because he couldn’t be bothered, but it wasn’t he couldn’t be bothered, he didn’t know how to be anything else than what he was.

“Your art is fluid,” Iris said when Aki and I fell silent.

Aki turned towards me with an inquisitive brow.

I shrugged. “It’s probably a compliment.”

Aki laughed and Emory and I joined him.

Iris turned towards us. “It moves on the page, it’s deeper than the first look. There are layers to the meaning.”

Aki narrowed his gaze, listening to Iris and then taking time to process what he said. “Thank you. Most people don’t notice the layers in art. It takes another artist.”

“Most people don’t see things, they are too distracted.” Iris smiled, and his mood from the concert seemed to bloom over his face, the altercation with Cas forgotten.

“I think we’ll get along great, as long as you don’t ask for a tattoo of a Chinese word for like power.”

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll ask for a Chinese symbol but I want it to mean soup.”

Aki gave Iris a flat look. “What’s stopping me from giving you one that means power then? You won’t know. I’m going to make it a motivational poster right there on your arm.”

Iris’ mouth hung open and he looked aghast. “You wouldn’t.”

“If you’re going to make me tattoo something stupid you better believe I’m going to turn your body into a cat poster.” Aki winked at me and I had to force myself not to laugh. “Think of how much you’ll motivate your fans.” The glow in his dark eyes amused me more than it should. I liked this guy.

Emory covered his mouth and turned around.

“I cannot be a fucking motivational poster for the rest of my life. I’m exhausted thinking about it.” He shuddered.

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