Page 86 of Choosing a Forever
“It’ll happen, man. When you least expect it.”
“I hope so.”
My phone beeps with my alarm, I have about forty-five minutes until my appointment, and I need to get going. “I’ve got to run, but if you need to talk about something, text me. You know I’ve got your back, bro.”
“If you could put in a good word with Lizzie if you see her…” he trails off, giving me a smirk.
I roll my eyes. “You and I both know nothing I say is going to convince her if her mind’s already made up.”
Enoch sighs. “Yeah, I know. Worth a shot, though.”
After dropping Siren off at home—still weird I get to call Mack’s househome—and changing into basketball shorts, I make my way to Provo and park in front of the little strip mall where the sign boasts “Medusa Tattoos.”
Lizzie graciously agreed to help me with the first step in showing Mack how I feel, and I’m grateful she could fit me in on such short notice.
I walk through the door and am immediately mesmerized by the dark green wallpaper engraved with little gold snakes. Everything is in shades of green, black, and gold. Normally, I think I’d be a little put off by the vibes, but everything feels cozy and welcoming. The wall of Pride flags should clash with the dark décor, but it only adds to the comforting vibes.
I wonder if Emma knows about this place. This seems like something she’d appreciate.
There’s a person at the front desk with a shaved head dyed to look like cheetah spots, and they give me a curious onceover after welcoming me into the shop.
I can imagine what they’re thinking. Clean cut, golden Mormon boy in a tattoo shop? I must be lost.
Luckily, I don’t have to explain anything because Lizzie comes to the front. “Hey, Talmage. Ready to get inked?”
“Sure am,” I say confidently. I can handle a little bit of pain.
Lizzie and the other person share a look I don’t understand before Lizzie chuckles and grabs a paper and a clipboard for me. “Men are always so confident when they walk in, but let me tell you a secret, Tal. I could power this whole building if it ran off of men’s pain.”
“That’s… scary.” I take the clipboard from her and fill out the information, unease worming its way up my spine. Is this a bad idea? Am I making a mistake?
“You’ll be fine. It’s just more painful than people think sometimes.”
“Well, you and Mack have a bunch, so how bad can it be?”
Lizzie purses her lips like she wants to say something, but she just shakes her head. “We have different pain tolerances. Come on back, let me show you the design I came up with.”
I follow her to a curtained off area. There’s artwork on the walls depicting different goddesses, but they’re all plus size. There are crystals and decks of tarot cards on little shelves. A premade design board catches my attention, and I’m intrigued by the details. Depictions of goddesses, intricate tarot card designs, florals, and nature scenes. There are some pin-up style girls in different costumes and a few animal designs.
Lizzie’s extremely talented. I made a good choice asking her for help.
Lizzie taps a few times on her iPad and turns it around to show me what she’s designed.
My breath hitches, and tears well in my eyes. “It’s perfect.”
Her face softens. “And you’re sure you want this on you forever? What happens if—”
“I’m sure,” I cut her off. “I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
She rolls her lips into her mouth and nods. “Let me get this printed then. Have a seat.”
After a few minutes, she comes back, shaves the area we’re tattooing, and places the stencil on my skin.
After she gets me situated in her chair the way she needs me, she starts the tattoo machine and holds the gun over my thigh.
“Hold on tight, Talmage.”
Chapter 31
