What is it with this young couple calling mesonandboy? They aren’t much older than us. Rafe has been designing and tattooing for a few years and has already made a name for himself for being one of the greats, but he must only be about twenty-five.
“Uh, yeah. I’m a little confused, did you say wife?”
Rafe lifts his brows in amusement as Heather laughs.
“Wouldn’tyouhave made her your wife?” Rafe challenges me, his lips pursing.
“Yeah, you just don't look old enough to be hitched.”
This makes both of them die laughing, and Rafe points at me good-naturedly.
“I like you. But we’re older than you. What are you studying?”
Heather watches me eagerly, almost like she’s hopeful I’ll give her husband the right answer.
“Art and design.”
Rafe and Heather exchange a look.
“What do you want to do?” Heather presses, leaning forward so her cleavage spills from her top.
Tattooed tits, Jesus.
“This,” I answer honestly, waving a hand around the shop. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Rafe nods, stepping back to grab some paper and a pencil from his drawer.
“Sketch me something.”
“Are you kidding me?” I laugh uneasily as Kai grins.
“He’s insane at this shit; don’t be modest.”
Heather peers over the paper Rafe has placed in front of me, licking her lips eagerly.
“Go on then,” Kai hisses at me, clearly eager to get on with it.
I stare at the bone white paper and swallow.
Sketching at college is one thing; it’s learning while surrounded by others the same as you.
But this?
I take a deep breath, letting the pencil move across the paper with ease. My anxiety melts away as I lose myself to the heart I draw, pouring my soul into it like I’m alone in my room. I’m shading chambers, but it stands out like it’s 3D. Before I can ruin it with detail, I stop, looking up to see Rafe watching me intently.
He holds his hand out, and I hand him the paper as he studies it with interest.
I don’t dare breathe when he lowers the paper, glancing first at his wife then at me.
“I think you just found our first apprentice.”
FOURTEEN
SIERRA
“Iwant this so bad,” I groan, zooming in on the photo on my phone. “Like, I need it.”
Kiki rolls her eyes as she applies another coat of nail polish to her toes.
