Page 5 of Right Where You Left Me
I rip the door open and storm in, the heat of the A/C and the sound of buzzing filling the air. I sigh in relief, already feeling my stress melt some. Nowthisactually is my safe space. I can feel myself start to uncoil, until?—
“Who pissed in your coffee this morning?”
“Lovely, Peyton.” I say dryly. “No one.”
“Then why does your face look like that?”
Peyton is lounging behind the front counter, phone in hand, as she assesses me. Bottom lip tucked between her teeth, her blue eyes sparkling with mirth, and if she wasn’t a tiny twenty-three-year-old, I’d probably shove her off that stool she’sperched on. But as it is, she’s harmless, and poking at me and River is what she does to pass the time while she’s working.
“Shouldn’t you be doing your job and not just sitting up here scrolling on your phone? I can hear River working, you should be watching.” I say, trying to sound like her boss even though I know she doesn’t give a shit.
“I did. But he said I’ve seen enough simple fill-in work and sent me back up here to make myself busy. Which is perfect, because now you can answer my question.”
“Peyton, leave her be. You never poke the bear.” River calls out from his station.
“I hate you both.” I mutter as I walk past Peyton and throw myself down on the stool at my own station. I close my eyes and try to block out everything but the buzzing sound River’s machine is making.
“You love me.” River says and I scoff. “Do not. You’re a pain in the ass.”
“Yes, but I’myourpain in the ass.” He says, looking up from his work and grinning at me. River is a scary looking guy if you don’t know him. He’s 6’6” and built like a brick house, with thick dark hair that hangs in waves that reach his shoulders and the brightest green eyes I’ve ever seen on a human being. He’s, as you would predict from someone in our profession, covered in ink. But he is one of the sweetest and most genuine people you’ll ever meet.
River and I met right after college. I had an art degree that I didn’t know what I wanted to do with right away, but I knew I wanted to get into tattooing. So, I moved to Chicago a few months after graduation. I thought I could figure it out once I got to a real city. I remember going out one night and running into this goofy, giant of a man where we just clicked. We hung out all night and I thought to myself,yup, he’s going to end up being around for a while. We ended up becoming roommates, andlater on we apprenticed at the same shop. We’ve been through so much heavy shit together through the last decade, and when he ended up having to take his two younger sisters in, we did that together too.
He’s my best friend, my absolute ride or die, so he’s got me there. Heismy pain in the ass.
“Ugh, whatever.” I say with a laugh. “Don’t let it go to your head. It’s already big enough.” I get up to lean over the short wall surrounding River’s station, and peek over to watch him work. “What’re you getting done today, Skyler?” I ask the young guy sitting at River’s chair. Skyler has been in a few times, adding to his arms. I love it, the fact that we have repeat clients. It’s our dream coming true.
“Adding to my right botanical sleeve. River thought I could use some ferns to fill in the empty space.” He says, looking down at the art on his arm. He has an awestruck look in his eye and it makes me so proud of River. He’s so talented it actually makes me ill. I feel like a proud parent.
I nod. “That’s going to look great, man.”
“Soooooo. The face.” Peyton says as she comes over and drapes herself across my client chair, twirling a finger through her glossy pink hair. “You still didn’t explain why you looked like you sucked on a lemon when you stormed in here.”
“Peyton.” I groan. “I don’t want to talk about it. I know it’s hard to believe, but not everything that goes on with us is your business.”
“Please.” She whines. “River has been so boring this morning. Ineedsome drama. Please, Sage. Please, give me your drama.”
“Hey!” River says, offended. “We’ve been here for an hour and I’ve been working, and you were supposed to be working on the practice skin I gave you!”
Peyton waves her hand in the air. “Tomato, Tamahto. Gimme the deets, Sage.”
“You should definitely be working on that practice skin.” I say bluntly.
“Sageeee.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re not going to let this go?”
She shakes her head. “You know I won’t.”
“Fuck, okay!” I take a deep breath, flexing my hands as I prepare for this conversation. I look between Peyton and River, before I settle my gaze on River’s hands. “Emma is back.”
The buzzing of his machine stops. “Fuck.” He says, his eyes widening. “Um, I’ll be finished with Skyler in,” he tilts his head from side to side, “forty-five minutes. Peyton, go back to your counter.”
“What? No! She was just about to spill!”
“Peyton.” He says firmly. “Up front. Go.”
“Fine…” She huffs. “Boring ass old people.” She grumbles as she walks back to the counter.
