Page 51 of Holiday on the Rocks
Me: Calm your ass down.
She finished singing, took a deep bow, tripped down the stairs, and headed in my direction.
“Did you hear me up there? I’m like a mixture of Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor.” She leaned in. “The audience loves me.”
She downed her shot and pulled me to my feet before leading us outside where the crisp air slugged us.
The sidewalk was full of people shuffling between the bars and restaurants. The street was lit up by Christmas lights that seemed to be everywhere as Holly Jolly Christmas drifted through the air.
She stopped, turned, grabbed my coat, and kissed me as if she couldn’t wait a second more. She pulled back and the way her lips curved into a smile with a touch of mischief and allure, is the reason I was a slave to her every wish.
She let go of me. “I just had to do that.”
“We should be doing that often tonight. Like on every block.”
Her laughter was quiet. “Okay!” She pointed across the street. “Look! I want a tattoo!”
“That might not be a good idea tonight.”
Her foot stomped. “I want to get a tattoo.”
“You can’t get tatted up when you’ve been drinking.”
“That’s what everybody’s always told me. That I can’t get one.”
I looked at her sweet face. People telling her what to do hit me wrong. All those years ago everybody in her life knew how special she was, and whether it was her family or friends, they all wanted to take care of her.
But she was an adult now and this was America for God’s sake, why the fuck were they still telling her what she could and couldn’t do?
“Are you sure, Langley?”
“I want a tattoo that stands for strength and a new beginning. Right now.” She laced her fingers with mine. “Yes, I think after our closure is over I’m going grab life by the balls and not be afraid of anything.” She squeezed my hand. “Yup, you’ll be gone, and I’ll be the new me and it starts with a tattoo! I can’t wait!”
Well, that statement blows ass.
She yanked my hand. “Time to get going. Tonight’s bad decisions aren’t going to make themselves.”
We entered and a woman in her twenties stood behind a counter. “Welcome.”
“Thanks, do we need an appointment?”
Her head shook. “Not tonight, we have some openings.”
Allie was beaming. “I’d like a tattoo that stands for new beginnings.”
I pulled out my phone and we scrolled through some tattoos and she pointed to an infinity symbol. “I like that.”
I read aloud as her head rested against my arm. “The infinity symbol can represent boundless potential, a reminder of all that lies ahead, and a celebration of life’s unending opportunities.”
Her giggle tickled my ears. “I love that so much.”
She sat in the chair as the tattoo artist put her small infinity tattoo just below her collar bone as she squeezed my hand. Her eyes closed tightly as that smile shined like the sun.
Once complete I held up the hand mirror as she gazed at her new addition. “It’s beautiful.”
I looked at our new friend. “Is there time for one more tonight?”
Allie gasped. “What?”
