Page 81 of Tattoo My Heart
A glance around the parking lot shows all sorts of swanky cars parked here. The more I stare, the more confused I get.
I finally get the courage to get out of my car. I feel completely underdressed, and like my car is a total clunker. I can only hope I won’t get towed at this point.
Right before opening the door to the shop, I look back, hoping to catch sight of Cal’s Jeep. Unfortunately, I don’t see it, and now I am questioning this crazy idea I had to just drive here unprepared. It’s all Nancy’s idea, I’m sure of it.
“Welcome to Tattooed Dreams,” a happy voice greets me as soon as I open the door and step inside. “What are you looking for today?”
I blindly walk toward what seems to be the receptionist’s desk. I freeze when I see the pretty girl sitting behind it. She looks wild but classy, and like she totally fits in, this being her happy place. The beautiful tattoos adorning her body distract me for a second.
She gives me a warm but cautious smile when she notices me staring.
“I’m Micki,” she points at herself. “Do you have an appointment set up?”
“Uh, I… No,” I finally manage to say. “I’m here to see Cal Prentice. The owner,” I make sure to add.
“Ah, okay. What is your name?” She turns to look at her computer. “Do you have an appointment set up with Cal?”
“No, no,” I rush to say. “Nothing like that. This is… personal.”
The girl, Micki, stops clicking on her screen and looks at me in confusion.
“Personal?”
“Yes.” I clear my voice and pull on my top. “Personal.”
“Are you the girl he’s seeing?” she finally asks. “Because I asked him out…”
Sweat breaks on my forehead. “You what?”
“I asked Cal out,” she repeats. “But he said no. He was very nice about it,” she makes sure to say. “But he said he was in a relationship.”
“H-how long ago was this?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Two, three weeks at least.”
What she’s telling me is making me feel even worse than before. All the time when I was doubting everything Cal was doing or saying to me, and he was telling people we were in a relationship.
“Is Cal here? I really need to see him.”
“No.” Her face turns into a look of pity when she notices that I am about to burst into tears. “He had some things to take care of at the office downtown.”
“Oh.” I didn’t even know Cal had an office downtown. I am a terrible girlfriend, if I even am his girlfriend anymore.
“He doesn’t work here much anymore,” Micki continues. “He really just does this for fun when he can. And he also does all the paperwork. For which, we are all grateful. But other than that, he’s a suit and tie type of guy,” she chuckles. “As you probably already know.”
“Yes, suit and tie,” I nod in understanding. My head is spinning.
“I’m assuming he’s taking you to the Hamptons with him, right? That’s why you’re here?”
“Oh,” I shake my head to clear my thoughts. “That’s not for another couple of days.”
“Cal was saying his dad called and asked him to go early, help with something. He didn’t tell you?”
The concern I see on this stranger’s face is cutting me at the knees. It seems as if she knows more about Cal’s whereabouts than I do.And whose fault is that, Evie?
“I’m really sorry he’s not here,” Micki tells me in a quiet voice. “I can offer you an amazing tattoo if you’d like?”
With tears threatening to spill down my face, I stare at her. “What?”
