The original Florida location became popular during her parents’ heyday with magazine spotlights and only grew as social media came on the scene. With daily posts, live videos, and international merch, everyone in the tattoo community learned about Inked and their artists.
As soon as I open my texting app, three dots appear. It’s like we’re cosmically connected sometimes.
Wylder: She’s locked up for a few days. Thumper has some pull with a judge and may be able to extend it to ninety.
I stare at the message, blinking rapidly. Ninety fucking days is a long-ass time. It’s almost scary to think that with a few phone calls, anyone with enough connections can have someone put away without their consent. Scary as fuck.
Me: That’s good…I guess.
Wylder: I’ll call her husband and let him know where she is.
Me: That sounds like a fun conversation.
Wylder: It’s not one I want to have.
My cousin Lulu strolls through the door, looking like she’s about to do a photo shoot for a fashion magazine. “Cousin,” she coos, sliding her sunglasses on top of her head, “I was walking by and had to say hi.”
Gigi stands from her chair and rounds the desk. “You never have an uggo day,” Gigi tells her as they kiss on both cheeks.
“I have an early dinner date with some potential investors. It’s not how I want to spend my evening, but I’m going to make the best of it,” Lulu explains.
Lulu’s trying to get a start-up off the ground, but I don’t know much about it. She’s been very hush-hush about most of the details because she’s scared she won’t get enough investors for it to become a real, tangible thing. She’s never liked to fail at anything, and I have a feeling this will be no different. She and the company will be a smashing success.
“Where are you going at this hour dressed like that?” I point to her fancy outfit, giving it a once-over with a wave of my finger.
“Some place over on Wabash near the old Marshall Field’s. He insisted I come toward downtown to meet him.”
“There are some amazing new food spots down there, though.”
“Isn’t this downtown?” Gigi asks, staring at us like we have two heads.
“We’re not downtown. We’re in a neighborhood.”
“But it’s all Chicago?” she asks, needing clarification.
“Yes.”
“Chicagoans are weird.”
“Not going argue that point,” I tell her.
Lulu looks every bit like her mom, Delilah. She’s my cousin by marriage and not blood, but it doesn’t make us love each other any less. We grew up together, causing trouble and sharing secrets we wouldn’t share with anyone else in the world.
“You know what I want,” Gigi says, changing the course of the conversation. “I want to go to Chinatown and eat before I leave. I want all the Chinese food I can fit in here.” She rubs her stomach and smiles. “I can already taste it.”
“We can head to Chinatown tonight if we’re done early enough,” I tell her.
She fist-pumps the air and does a small little hip dance.
“See, that’s not considered downtown. You said Chinatown because it’s a neighborhood,” I explain.
“Whatever. Just take me there,” she begs.
“Okay, okay.”
“I’m coming,” Lulu adds. “After my meeting, I’ll run home and change into something more comfortable and normal. Text me when you guys know if you’re going and when to meet you there. I haven’t been there in a while, and I want to spend more time with my cousins. I’ve been working too much lately.”
“We deserve a girls’ night. Let the boys do whatever boys do,” I say.
