Jessica, though, knew what he was thinking, and she rose onto her tiptoes, pausing with her lips a breath away from his.
“I guess we’ll just have to stay together forever.”
Before he’d even approached Jack and Jessica, Aiden had called the tattoo parlor to be sure they’d have time to take walk-ins that day. Apparently, he and Kenzie were also getting matching tattoos, which turned this dare into some sort of painful double date.
Although, it would never be as painful as that time he and Jessica had gotten drinks with Sofia and Silas. He would take physical discomfort over the emotional trauma that particular evening had dealt out.
Aiden was antsy, practically rushing them out the door, and Jack and Jessica still hadn’t settled on what to get.
“I have another idea,” Aiden said, and even Kenzie groaned alongside Jack and Jessica.
“We’re already getting tattoos, Fuller,” Jack said. “What more do you want?”
“You know this parlor has one of those mystery tattoo vending machine things, right? Like the kind that you used to stick a quarter into as kids and a gum ball would pop out? What if you let that decide?”
Jack opened his mouth to protest, but found he didn’t completely hate the idea. After all, he and Jessica had a lot to thank fate or chance or whatever for, so this was kind of perfect.
“I love that idea,” Jessica said, reading the words in Jack’s eyes before he spoke them.
“Me, too,” he said with a grin, then grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door.
When they walked through the doors, the tattoo parlor still smelled the same as it had four years ago, when, as a freshman, Jack got his Spartan helmet tattoo. The walls were still painted the same shade of creamy white, and the same oversized maroon leather couch sat in the corner of the waiting area. The air was filled with the buzz of tattoo guns, alternative rock music played softly over the speakers, and quiet conversation hummed from each of the partitioned tattoo spaces.
“Welcome to the Inkwell!” a man said as he rushed up front to greet them. His eyes swept over their group, landing on Aiden and crinkling at the corners as he smiled. “Fuller! How’s my favorite client?”
“I’m good, Drew,” Aiden said as the two of them performed a bro hug.
Every inch of Drew’s exposed skin was covered in ink, and Jack’s first thought was how much money had gone into that many tattoos. The man was about six feet tall, a ball cap flipped backward atop his thick brown hair, the bottom half of his face covered by a wiry, red-brown beard.
“So what are we doing today?” Drew asked.
“Me and my girl are getting those tattoos I sent you the other day,” Aiden said, then turned his attention to Jack and Jessica. “These two are getting matching ones.”
“Do either of you have any ink?” Drew asked, gaze apprising Jack and Jessica.
“I do,” Jack said. “You actually did it. Spartan helmet on my right shoulder blade.”
Drew snapped his fingers at the jogged memory. “That’s right! You and Fuller got those the same day,” he said, tapping Aiden’s exposed shoulder, where his deltoid was permanently marked with the same tattoo Jack had on his back. Aiden’s entire sleeve had been built around that piece. Then he looked at Jessica. “What about you?”
“Nope,” Jessica said. “This will be my first.”
“Virgin skin!” Drew said with a grin. “Right on. What will you guys be getting?”
Jack glanced at the dispenser near the door, which was indeed filled with little plastic balls with multicolored caps, each holding a square of white paper with some unknown design printed on it.
“We’re gonna let that thing decide,” Jack said, realizing how ludicrous the idea was now that he was confronted with it.
“Fuck yeah!” Drew shouted, pumping a fist into the air. “All of those in there are my designs. Some are cute, some funny, some a little rebellious.” He moved behind the counter and started tapping away on the iPad set up there.
Once they’d paid—each of the gum ball machine designs were a set price—Drew handed them a token. Jessica took it and turned toward their prize.
“Good luck,” Aiden said with a smirk as he pushed Jack and Jessica along.
Jessica marched over confidently, but Jack dragged his feet, afraid of what that thing was going to spit out at them. He’d be damned if he walked around with something lame or offensive on his body for the rest of his life. Although, if that ended up being the case, maybe he’d finally do as Aiden asked four years ago and get it tattooed on his ass.
Before inserting the token into the machine, Jessica held it up in front of his face.
“Blow on it for good luck,” she said.
