Page 29 of Patchwork
“I trust you. Surprise me.”
He snorts. “You’re going to feel really silly saying that if I end up tattooing a dick on your arm.”
“I’ll only feel silly if it’s a flaccid dick.”
He laughs again and I lie back, looking at the ceiling and purposefully not peeking as he preps the blank spot on my forearm and then presses the transfer paper down to apply the outline.
“So, how’s the tour going?” he asks, pulling on a pair of gloves before dipping the needle into the first cap of black ink.
“Not bad.” I tuck my free arm behind my head to get comfortable and relax into the now familiar feeling of that first bite of the needle against my skin. The music in my ears isn’t anxious like it was the first time, it’s more of an excited, happy tenor now. It’s sunshine and July and the color yellow. “We played onThe Tonight Showa couple months ago.”
“I saw.” Hero’s lips twitch with a smile, and a warm feeling settles into my chest.
He was watching? I thought maybe it was stupid at the time, but I was kind of hoping he was. I kept looking into the camera, imagining Hero’s eyes on me from a thousand miles away.
“We’ve only got a few more stops before we’re done for a few months. I have to be in Seattle for studio time for most of it, but I have a week free. I was thinking I might get a hotel room in Milwaukee or something.” I say it quietly, just in case any of the clients here get the bright idea to call a gossip magazine and ruin my one week off.
Hero glances up and grins at me. “Milwaukee is cool. I’ve been thinking about kicking it around the city a bit too. We should hang out.”
“I can always use some more ink,” I say casually, even though my insides are jumping with excitement and my heart is racing.
“It’s addictive once you get started, isn’t it?” Tex interjects, startling me by appearing right behind Hero.
My throat tightens with another laugh, and I glance at Hero again.
“Extremely fucking addictive.” And that’s a fucking understatement.
Way too soon, the tour bus pulls up outside, and Hero starts looking at the clock, probably feeling the time crunch before his next appointment.
“All done,” he declares, setting the tattoo needle down and reaching for the paper towel to clean off my skin.
I sit up and look down to see what he ended up tattooing on me this time, and bark out a laugh.
“Really?” I mutter.
He shrugs. “Gremlins.”
I want to argue that what he actually gave me was a mogwai, but I suppose that’s semantics.
“It’s awesome, thank you.” I want to lean forward and kiss him, but I don’t know how he feels about PDA or if he wants anyone to know we’re more than friends.
The bell over the door chimes and I look over to see Jade standing there with an impatient arch to her thinly plucked eyebrow and a pucker to her lips like she’s been sucking lemons. It’s right on the tip of my tongue to warn her that her face might get stuck that way if she isn’t careful, but she’s been extra bitchy since her and Gray called it quits a couple of months ago, so I’d better not poke the bear.
“Well, I’ll see you around,” I say to Hero, since I can’t kiss him or say what I really want to say.
“Milwaukee?” he confirms under his breath, and I nod.
“I’ll text you the dates.”
“Can’t wait.” Hero grabs the supplies to wrap my new tattoo.
“Me either,” I whisper.
Chapter 14
PRESENT
HERO
