Page 28 of The Tip-Off
I take the chair next to hers. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. I was looking for you earlier. Where’ve you been?”
“Gym.”
Nathan speaks from the giant unicorn he’s floating on in the pool. “Told you. You owe me ten bucks.”
She looks to me with a pout. “Your dedication cost me ten dollars.”
“Why were you looking for me?” A rush of energy that I thought was completely depleted after my workout, shoots to the surface and I bounce my leg.
She sits up and holds out an earbud in silent invitation. Her hair’s wet and skin red from the hours she spent out by the pool. “I had a question,” she says as I listen to the music currently playing on Gabby’s playlist.
“What’s up?”
“I want to get a tattoo and I was wondering if you’d go with me?”
“When are you going?”
She shrugs. “Tomorrow maybe. I work the day shift so I could go afterward.”
“Alright, sure. What are you going to get and where?”
She drags a finger down the side of her ribcage and my eyes are entranced with the movement. Even covered by the white one-piece swimsuit, the curve of that soft space is enticing. “I’m still toying around with the words, but I want it here.”
I clear my throat and nod. “Yeah. I’ve been meaning to get some new ink done. I’ll call my guy and see if he can get us in.”
She shifts so she can better see the tattoos that cover the entirety of my left arm and hand.
“Do you have tattoos anywhere else?” As she speaks, her index finger reaches out and traces the clock on my left forearm. She follows the long hand to the six and then the short hand to the three.
I shake my head and try not to think about how good it feels to have her eyes and hands on me.
“Why not?”
“I promised my mom I wouldn’t end up with tattoos all over my body.”
She giggles and the smile on my face gets bigger in response. I love being the reason she laughs.
“Why a clock?” Her hand falls away and she sits back, smiling at me while she waits for a response I don’t give her.
“I should get a shower.” I hand her back the earbud and as our fingers graze my eyes lock on the touch, on the unseen current that I feel as the tips of her soft fingers meet mine. That feeling is dangerous to everything I’ve worked for, so I tell myself it isn’t real. “I’ll text you about tomorrow.”
13
Gabby
The tattoo parloris on the main street of downtown Valley. It’s quiet, as all of Valley is, with everyone having fled for spring break. The shop itself is big and clean and Zeke is greeted by the entire place as we enter.
“Couldn’t resist one last piece of art before you leave, eh?” an older guy with leathery tanned skin, a grey braid tossed over each shoulder, and ink peeking out from every inch of skin that isn’t covered, speaks up first. The others offer some of the same sentiments as each one takes turns shaking the hand of the man next to me.
Zeke takes their admiration and friendliness in stride and doesn’t even look like he wants to hide in the corner.
“Brought a friend.” Zeke turns to me and I step forward with the bravest face I can muster. “This is Gabby. She’s looking to get something done too.”
The older man extends a hand to me. “Van. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
