It had been a week since we all went out to Harpoon’s, andI had seen her every single day since. She stalked around the shop, trying to find creative new content for the SD Ink socials. She talked to my clients while I was trying to work. She circled me, taking pictures and videos—just like she was doing now—and completely distracting me.
Fuck. I needed to get laid. Then I wouldn’t be so high-strung whenever her leather-clad ass sat cross-legged on my couch, legs spread wide in invitation.
I had tried though. I’d had every intention of breaking this spell last weekend, but I just wasn’t feeling up for it. The only times my interest was stirred were by Lydia. It washertouch that set my blood on fire. It washerscent that shot a rush of lust through my veins.
Julio came out of the bathroom, and I took the opportunity to relieve myself while we were on break as well. I didn’t want to waste too much time before getting back to tattooing, but I also didn’t want Julio to cancel the second part of his session and reschedule it. Giving him this time to recoup meant I could keep going and hopefully make an actual day’s pay today.
Julio managed to sit through the entire second half of the session like a fucking champ. His sleeve was three-quarters of the way done; one more session would finish it up.
“Alright, I’ve got you on the books for four weeks from now. Make sure you follow the aftercare instructions.”
“Thanks, Seb. This looks phenomenal, man. It’s going to be fire when it’s done.”
“Fuck yeah it is,” I agreed as I collected his cash for today’s session.
“Do you mind if I take a couple of pictures before you leave? I probably won’t post anything now, but it will be good tohave the progress shots for when the whole thing is done,” Lydia said.
“Anything for you, Lydia.” He smiled at her. They walked over to the wall where I tacked up various art that I had done over the years. “You look really good, by the way. Are you seeing anyone now that you’re back in town?”
My hands fisted at my side, but I refused to look their way. It didn’t matter how she answered that. It wasn’t like anything other than some fun flirting was going to happen between us. Not with our history. Not with Lydia being my best friend’s little sister.
“Only the hallucinations in my head,” Lydia answered with a smile.
Julio laughed, and Lydia just blinked at him with a creepy-ass grin.
“Right, well. It was good seeing you again.” Julio shot me a “good luck with that” look on his way out the door.
“Don’t scare away my clients. I need them,” I said, trying not to show my amusement.
“What about me says yes, please hit on me while I’m at work?”
Had she not owned a mirror for the last eleven years?
“That was the last client of the night. You can take off if you want. I just need to clean up and close up shop,” I told her, ignoring her other comment.
“Yeah. I’ve got some content I’m working on and some comments that I need to reply to. Finish up whatever you need to. I’m just going to work on the couch.”
She dug through her backpack and pulled out her laptop, bringing it over the lounge area and setting it up on her lap, legs crossed beneath her like she liked to do.
I had put everything away and was sanitizing my workstation and machine when the front door opened.
“Hey, Luke,” Lydia said.
I looked out front, but he didn’t seem like he was here for me. He was looking for Lydia.
I finished what I was doing and made my way over to them.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Lydia seethed.
“What’s up? What’d I miss?”
“Slight problem at the house,” Luke grimaced.
“Slight?” Lydia voice went up three octaves. “Aslightproblem is when we run out of toilet paper. This is not a slight problem, Luke. This is a big problem.”
“What’s going on?” I crossed my arms over my chest. I knew that Luke would never do anything to intentionally hurt his sister, but seeing her all worked up had me on edge.
“Pipe burst in the bathroom. I have Whit Marrone coming by tomorrow to take a look at it, but we have no water until then.”
