Page 4 of Almost Love

“Sure,” was all she said, one hand on her cocked hip as she watched him walk away. He glanced over as he climbed into his Jeep and found her still watching him, which only made him smile even wider.

He had her intrigued and that was the first step to winning someone over.

“About time you showed up. I need my sugar fix!” Auburn called out as he walked through the doors of A Fine Needle. He’d barelyset the box down before it was being attacked by everyone, like hungry animals.

“You’re all a little on edge today.”

Fox, the only other male identifying member on staff, shot him a warning look. Oakley backed away from the counter and headed for his station to ready for the day. Through the curtain over his doorway, he could hear the rest of the staff moaning and groaning over the donuts. He chuckled and did a quick inventory of his equipment as his mind wandered to how much his life had changed in the last month alone.

He’d been traveling all over the country, looking for a purpose. Looking for himself. Oakley had driven up and down the West Coast, staying for short periods of time in motels that didn’t have issues with his dog or living out of his Jeep if necessary. California, and San Clemente in particular, had become stifling since he lost his family. Getting away from the memories, the pain and guilt meant that he could slowly come to terms with his life.

But he neverstayed. He never put money into renting a place or finding a job.

Until Wildes.

Like he told his therapist, Kristof, he didn’t know what made him stop. He’d driven through Wildes and found a motel in the neighboring town for two nights. During the day, he and Gracie went for long walks and wandered around the town, exploring what it had to offer. By the end of that visit, he needed more.

So he extended his stay.

Then chose not to leave.

He’d spotted A Fine Needle during one of his walks. Even though it looked like the kind of place that would be perfect for him, Oakley gave himself two more trips to the neighborhood before he applied for a job. Then he found himself an apartmentthat was perfect and expensive, but worth it. Plus, they didn’t have issues with him having a dog. Which was crucial.

Three days after he’d settled into his apartment, Auburn Kimball from A Fine Needle called and set up an interview.

He wasn’t a tattoo artist by training or profession, he’d stumbled into it by accident. Honestly, a lot of things in his life had happened by accident. Except surfing. He didn’t like thinking about that time in his life, because it had cost him everything. Tattooing, though? It was something he had discovered in the last five years, putting his ability to sketch and draw to good use by bringing other people’s art to life on their skin.

During his interview, he stumbled over the personal questions and hesitated with a lot of the answers. Auburn, and her partner Kacey, had been kind in not pressing for more. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell them, but talking about his past took a lot out of him. Then they’d asked him to demonstrate his skills, show them what kind of style and art he worked with. By the end of the four hour conversation, Oakley knew he’d gotten the job.

Owned by Auburn and Kacey, A Fine Needle was the only tattoo shop in Wildes and probably for miles. It was also one of two queer tattoo establishments in the state. Thanks to the box of donuts on his first day, he’d met everyone on staff, including a guest artist that came by every few months, and felt like he’d found the place he belonged.

As someone who’d come out as bisexual when he was fourteen, he’d never worked in an environment that was so openly queer. A Fine Needle felt like it would become his safe space forever and Oakley was excited about that. He’d never hidden his bisexuality and had always been proud of his queerness, but to work in a place where being queer was celebrated every day: dream come true.

Even though he was permanently added to their employee roster, Oakley had been told that the first few months he’d be working on smaller pieces and assisting with the other tattooists. Back home, he’d worked with a friend on big tattoos that took multiple sittings, but he liked the idea of being able to learn from someone new. Every single person he’d assisted in the month he’d been there—Fox and Carin, in particular—had been incredibly generous with their guidance.

In fact, Wildes was the first place he’d felt more like himself in a really long time. Including his ridiculous crush on a grumpy chef.

“You went to see her again, didn’t you?”

He grunted at Fox’s question and looked up from his notebook. “I went to get donuts, she happens to be there.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“I keep tellingyouthat, but you don’t believe me.”

“Kid, I’ve crushed on many people in my lifetime and I know what that looks like. You’re allowed to enjoy it, you know?”

“Crush is such a weird term.”

Fox rolled his eyes. “Infatuation, then.”

“Fascination, maybe.”

“Did you finally talk to her?”

He nodded, sitting up straighter. “I’m not sure I’d call it talking, more like her interrogating me. But we communicated and I think that’s a start.”

“I really need to meet this woman, see what the big deal is.”

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