Page 45 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“TMI?” she asked. “Sorry, I’m really bad about that.”

“I just didn’t expect it,” I said. For some reason, I felt comfortable around this girl and liked her instantly. “Is that a dragon tattoo on your arm? That is so awesome, reminds me of Harry Potter.”

She grinned. “Yeah, I drew that one myself. J.K. Rowling changed my life.”

“Me, too, and wow, you’re talented,” I said, meaning it. “Hogwarts forever.”

“You know it,” she said, and we did a fist bump.

Colton rolled his eyes, hands on his hips. “If you two are done with this little nerdy love fest, I had a favor to ask you, Athena.”

“Sure, Colton, what do you need?” she said.

“Sadie wants to get something pierced, and I thought you could help us out.”

“Sure,” Athena said again then looked to me. “I do it all the time at the tattoo parlor where I work. But where do you want it?”

“Ears,” I squeaked. Even if I liked her, after the conversation we’d just had, there was nowhere else I wanted to be pierced. Ever. “That’s what I want.”

Colton grinned, lifting that dang pierced eyebrow. “You sure? I thought since you’re trying to be more edgy you might want to get it somewhere more risqué.”

“Just my ears,” I growled, and Colton laughed. “Don’t even think about any of the risky bits.”

“Too late,” he said.

I gave him the squinty eye. “You know, if I wasn’t contractually obligated, I would fire you as my coach, and hire Athena instead.”

“No, you wouldn’t. Face it, Sadie, you like having me around.”

“I like watching you walk away,” I retorted. “Far, far away.”

“Because you think I have a nice ass?” Colton said. “Thanks.”

I huffed. “It has nothing to do with you having a nice ass, you idiot. I just like it when you stop being irritating and leave me be.”

Colton looked triumphant. “You just said ‘ass’. My job here is done. Athena, take care of her while I go say hi to some of the guys, will you?”

Athena laughed and gave him a little salute. “Will do.”

Once he was gone, she sat me down at the table and came back a few minutes later with a myriad of items: bowl of ice, cottons swabs, some hydrogen peroxide, a cork, lighter and needle she’d pulled out of her purse. It wasn’t too long, but it looked sharp. She asked me to pull my hair back, and I did, hoping my hair would cooperate. I tugged it up, around and in, securing it with a big clip I carried in my bag.

“Since my earring gun’s back at the shop,” she said, “we’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way. Or if you want to wait…”

“No.” That needle did make me nervous, but I wasn’t backing out. “If you’re willing, I’d like to do it now.”

“Okay, I have silver studs or faux diamonds,” she said, holding up the two packages. “I always carry a few from work. Which would you like?”

“Diamonds, please,” I said, not even having to think about it.

“These are going to look awesome.” I watched as she poured the hydrogen peroxide on a cotton swab. “And really, I’ve done this loads of times. I mean, I get paid to do it, and I’ve done it for friends, too. Take this and rub it over your ear for me.”

I did. “I really appreciate it, Athena. And I will pay—”

“It’s no problem,” she said and waved me off. Flicking on the lighter, she held the needle above the flame. After about 15 seconds, she let the needle cool for a bit then poured some hydrogen peroxide over the entire length. “Colton’s a friend, so it’s all good.”

“How do you and Colton know each other?” I asked.

“We used to go out,” she said, and I nearly dropped the cotton ball. Athena laughed at my expression. “Is that hard to believe?”

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