Page 64 of All In
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, that’s the idea. That the coloring highlights the black ink but doesn’t fill it in or overwhelm it.”
“This is killer shit, T,” Edgar said, holding a sketch of a woman’s eye, with long, dark lashes and an arching brow. The pale blue of the iris was circled with a darker cobalt and the skin tone of the woman’s face was only partly hinted at. “You going to show this toInked?”
“Once it’s on skin, yeah,” I said. “On paper, it’s just a drawing.”
“I volunteer my services,” Edgar said. He slapped his upper arm.
“I appreciate that,” I said, “but I’m not trying to pressure you guys. I just wanted your thoughts. See if they might be something.”
“Got it,” Edgar said. “And my thoughts are, I want one.”
“Really? Thanks, man. I’m honored.”
Zelda handed the sketches back. “I have a client who would kill for one of these,” she said. “I’ll send her your way. For a small finder’s fee,” she added with a smirk, and returned to her station.
“You gone shy on us, Rossi?” Edgar called after her. “The idea of the Theo’s manly man hands on your bare skin too much for ya?”
“Bite me,” Zelda said, busying herself with her inks.
“Be cool, man,” I said to Edgar in a low voice.
He slapped me on the back. “Just playing, bro.” He tapped the sketch of the sugar skull. “Can you give me this with more reds and orange?”
“Sure. We can start tomorrow.” We clasped hands. “I really appreciate it.”
“Dude. It’s rad.Inkedis going to be all over this.”
I hoped so. The idea for the unfinished tattoos came to me the night before, right as I was falling asleep. I’d spent the most of the night making the sketches to keep the idea from slipping into the abyss of forgotten good ideas.
A small smile played around my mouth as I packed the sketches up. If this idea took off, it’d make me feel a hell of a lot better about buying my own place. Maybe I’d have a little bit of a name for myself to stave off the fear of utter and total failure.
Ideas for other sketches came to me as I readied my station: Tarot cards and jazz halls, cemeteries and voodoo dolls. Vegas was overflowing with tattoo shops. The New Orleans market was much wider. I knew this because I’d researched the city last night. Maybe Kacey buying a house in the Big Easy wasn’t such a terrible tragedy after all. Or a closed door. Maybe it was a door opening. For both of us.
My cell phone rang as I finished with my first client. I frowned at the number.
“What’s up, Ma?”
“Theo?” Her voice sounded weak and shaky. “I hate to bother you but…”
“What is it?” I asked, my heart thudding. “You okay?”
“Oh, I’m…having a bad day,” she said. “I was going through some old boxes and found some photos.” She sniffed and forced a small laugh. “I’m a bit of a mess but I promised Lois I’d bake eggplant parmesan for our cribbage tomorrow. I just…I can’t seem to muster the energy to clean up and make myself presentable for the grocery store.”
“I get it, Ma,” I said, gently. “What do you need me to do?”
“Would you run to the store for me? I’m sure I’ll be fine by tomorrow, but if I don’t get started tonight…”
“Where’s Dad?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even.
“Oh, you know him. He’s at the office. Says he can’t get away.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, then glanced at the entrance where a couple of clients were waiting.
“Are you busy?” she asked. “I’m so sorry, dear. I feel so useless.”
“No, Ma, it’s fine,” I said. “Give me a list of what you need. I’ll go now.”
“You’re so good to me,” she said, tears thickening her words. “I was blessed with two wonderful sons, wasn’t I?”
