Page 17 of Jimmy

“No shit. It’s a shitty past. Why would I want to?” He hated admitting his mother abandoned him when he was eight years old, that his father beat the fuck out of him when he failed to make the football team and only lettered in track -- the sport his father considered sissy -- or that he’d run away from home the day after he graduated because he believed he deserved to be loved and wouldn’t find it at home. He’d run off to college, which he couldn’t afford and didn’t enjoy, only to come home to learn tattooing.

“Because she needs to know what she’s getting when she gets you.” Kurt folded his arms. “So Christine was a jerk and dumped you? So what? She’s busy climbing those ladders and what are you doing? You’re inking the tri-state area, making a name for yourself, and you’re happy. You’re a businessman. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I guess.” He thought he got into Christine’s way. She’d been honest about not wanting to settle down, but he’d been foolish enough to think he’d be the one for her. She needed to be the center of attention. She needed to have everyone love her, and when they didn’t, she freaked out. One person would never be enough for her. The whole debacle made him think he wasn’t good enough to be loved.

“But you’re with Karey, right?” Kurt asked. “You’re happy -- for now -- right?”

“Yeah.” He’d jumped in with both feet and wanted to be exclusive already. After one date. Why? He’d seen the good in her and wanted it to rub off on him. He needed that positivity.

He hadn’t slept with her yet, and he wasn’t sure she’d want to, but he craved her.

Kurt rounded the counter. “I’m sorry. I thought I was helping, and if she saw some of your rough edges and didn’t freak, then she’d be good for you. If she saw the edges and ran away, then you’d know to give her space.”

Kurt could be a pain in his ass, but he had a point.

“She liked your work and found it hauntingly beautiful -- her words.” Kurt clapped him on the shoulder. “Give her a chance, like I know you want to do, but don’t go crazy. Don’t quit on her or you yet, either.”

“I won’t.” He’d back off a little, too.

“We have a piercing coming in at two, and you have that monster tattoo to finish today.” Kurt fiddled with the sign. “Ready?”

“I am.” Work was therapy. The buzz of the machine and the conversation with the client relaxed him. He loved creating art. He could lose himself in his creativity.

Besides, work gave him something to think about besides Karey.

He’d come on too strong and would have to work to fix the situation if he didn’t slow down a bit.

Good thing he liked his work. He had to prepare for the tattoo session.

Time to be creative.

* * *

At half-past nine, Jimmy prepared to leave the shop to pick up Karey. Coming on too strong or not, he didn’t like the idea of her walking in the dark alone.

“I’ll be right back,” he said. “Should be about twenty minutes.”

“You have an appointment at ten-thirty,” Kurt replied.

“I know.” He’d rearranged his schedule to give himself a break long enough to leave. Instead of taking the bike, he opted to walk and hustled down the block to the bookstore. Ten minutes later, he entered Last Exit. Although he looked for her, he didn’t see Karey.

Brett stood at the register and glared. “Hello.”

“Hi.” He dipped his head. “Is Karey off the clock?”

“At ten,” Brett said, the words clipped. “Why?”

“I’m giving her a ride home.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

Brett crooked his eyebrow. “You should make a purchase. You can’t come in here just to pick up chicks.”

Chicks? He frowned. Brett wanted to push the issue because he didn’t like Jimmy. Fine. Jimmy would make a purchase. He picked up a copy of Poe’s short stories. “I’ll take this.”

“I see.” Brett rang up the purchase. “That’ll be nine dollars and twenty-seven cents.”

Jimmy placed a ten on the counter. “Keep the change.”

Brett snorted.

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