Page 49 of Tattoo My Heart
I think back to three days ago when I drove out to the small town were Evie lives. She was out walking with some guy, and, while I did recognize him as a customer from the tattoo shop, I didn’t even pay attention to him beyond that. My focus was solely on her.
“What’s his last name?”
I move the computer mouse on my desk and the screen comes to life. I open the search bar, fingers poised over the keyboard, ready to type.
“Roonie. Bass Roonie. He plays offense for the Sliders.”
My fingers are already at work, this guy’s page up on my screen in no time. I scan everything really quickly, then go back to his stats.
“That’s Bass,” I realize a soon as I see his picture. I never really cared what he did for a living. I knew he did well for himself, and he spent a lot of money in my shop. “Wow, he’s actually good.”
“Yeah, he’s decent,” James agrees. “He joined the team during this last season. I sure hope they use this time now to practice until they’re blue in the face. Can you believe they got eliminated from the playoffs in the first round? That’s some bullshit, man…”
James continues giving me his opinion on the New York Sliders hockey team. I’ve always been more of a football guy myself, never followed hockey as close as he obviously has.
I let him talk while I get out of his biography page and end up on a gossip page. There are multiple paparazzi shots of him with numerous women on his arm. In fact, I think there are only two from different days where he is with the same one. I bet he is the love ‘em and leave ‘em type of guy.
“This dude is a major player,” I talk over James, my eyes never leaving the screen.
“Yeah,” he agrees with fervor. “He is good. I am usually not one to bet in sports, but when he joined the team, I was impressed, and now that a couple of the older players are retiring, he…”
“No, dude,” I interrupt him. “I meant that he’s a player in the sheets. He is surrounded by women in all these pictures on the internet.”
“Ah,” James nods in understanding. “I’m assuming that comes with the territory. All chicks love good looking sports players, right? And he ain’t ugly, so…”
“I can’t believe this.” I throw my arms out, pointing at the large screen on my desk. “It’s not happening.”
James stares at me in disbelief.
“Who cares who she’s seeing? Not like you want something permanent with her, right?” His eyes are now bulging out of his head when he asks that.
“No.”
My response came out fast, too fast. Not like I have solid plans in place where Evie and I will have a bright future together. But I do want to see where this is going. It could be something great, I can feel it.
Besides, if the jealousy I’m feeling right now is anything to go by, her going out with someone else is a huge problem.
“Fuck this shit, man.”
I rub the palms of my hands up and down my face, trying to release some of the tension I feel right behind my eyes.
“Hey, Cal,” a voice calls from the doorway. When I look, I see it’s one of my employees, Micki. I lift my chin in greeting.
“What’s going on, Mick?”
“I was wondering if you had time tonight to hang out.”
I stare at her and blink, all confused to hell. I’ve known Micki for three years now, since I hired her to work in my shop. She’s one of the best, and she has a waiting list longer than my arm.
“Do you need help with something?”
Anything romantic between us has never been in the cards. I would never mess around with someone I employ. It would only bring chaos to my life, something I definitely don’t need.
Micki leans against the doorjamb, arms crossed over her impressive chest. I have to admit that she is a very good looking woman, with one hell of a body. And the tattoos she has covering her skin only enhance her appeal.
“I have some new designs I’d like to show you.”
The smile she’s giving me is legit flirtatious. In the corner of my eye, I see James’ head swiveling back and forth between us as he tries to follow the conversation.
