Page 50 of Memories By the Shore
Oh my god. I’ve never gotten a tattoo before. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about getting one either.
I drag my eyes across the walls covered with polaroids of happy customers and hand-drawn examples of the type of work they do. It’s all beautiful.
My hands sweat with adrenaline. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, Arizona. Let’s do it.” He flashes an encouraging smile.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
Jasper angles his head toward me. “I think you can if you want to.”
Biting my lip, I slowly back away. “I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. It’s an amazing experience.”
My eyes bounce from the chairs in the back to the artwork on the walls.
“Look, if you really don’t want you, we don’t have to,” he assures me softly.
“I do. I think I do.” I suck in a heavy breath. “But I’m nervous.”
“We’re getting one together.” He rubs my arm in a soothing motion. “I’ll be right there with you.”
“I don’t even know what I’d get,” I say, glancing down at his arms covered in ink. “Do you even have room for more?”
His chest rumbles with a chuckle. “Of course I do. My body is a canvas just waiting to be covered.”
“Hey, Jasper.” One of the artists comes over to greet us at the front. “Is this your girl?”
“Yeah.” His eyes flicker. “This is Arizona.”
The amount of pride I feel being referred to asJasper’s girlis not healthy for my feminism.
“Cool.” He extends his hand to me. “I’m Tripp.”
I shake it, noticing the elaborate snake coiling around his forearm and down to his wrist. The details are incredible, but look painful. “Good to meet you.”
“Do you have a book we can look through for her?” Jasper asks.
“Sure.” Tripp slides a thick binder from underneath the glass countertop and lays it in front of me.
I stare at the shop logo printed on the cover. A beat passes before an idea forms. I know what I should get. The image of an infinity symbol is all I can see—the representation of endless nights with Jasper, living in a fantasy under the sun without a care.
“I know,” I say gently, pushing away the binder. “An infinity symbol.”
Jasper smiles. “I’m going to get one too.”
My chest tightens. “Really?”
He nods. “Hell yes. I don’t want to ever forget these summernights.”
“Matching tattoos, it is!” Tripp exclaims, clasping his hands together.
I can’t explain the surge of adrenaline that takes over my limbs as my bare legs touch the black leather on the chair. Jasper takes the seat to my left.
My entire body is humming. I can barely keep my arm straight.
“Nervous?” Tripp smirks.
