I think I might have lost some sense when the Irish fiddle started to string me along. I became Rose inTitanicwhen she was with the fun crowd, showing off her en-pointe skills, drinking beer, and taking a drag off of a cigarette.
All of these things happened, to the delight of Violet, who snapped a picture of me as proof.
Eva stood with me while we took a breather. Someone snuck me a shot of Jameson. Guido noticed this time, coming to stand even closer, hands crossed over his chest. He shook his head at me, a clear warning—no more.
I might have stuck my tongue at him. I was too numb to tell.
“I have to tell you something,” Eva said.
The last time she said that I almost died not long after. “Oh?” I would have liked to say that I sobered up, but that wasn’t what happened. I stared at her through glassy eyes, swaying without meaning to. At least my mind could still focus. And it was.
“I had a dream of you. Again.”
All right, my throat was tight, the alcohol sucking all the water from me. All of a sudden I felt dehydrated and began to feel the extent of the drinks. The alcohol fought with the sober part of my mind. I nodded at her, not able to add more.
Eva put her hand over mine. She smiled, a warm, heartbreaking, watching-the-sun-come-out-after-the-rain smile. Her eyes glistened with tears. Leaning in, she put her mouth close to my ear and told me of the dream she had.
* * *
Night turned the air in Galway colder and the wind sharper. That didn’t stop us though. Drink made us immune.
We continued to dance in the streets, singing the songs that stuck in our heads from the pub, and when Michael dared Gabriel to get another tattoo, we found ourselves in a two-story gaff, not far from the pub, on the upper floor, waiting for the tattoo artist to ink his skin.
I had never been in one and was intrigued by the setup. The smell was familiar—whiskey, ink, and ointment—and a constantbzzzzhummed in the background. Gabriel had said this tattoo parlor was secret and clean, and okay for “girlies” to be in. Apparently he had a traditional streak in him too.
Four top tattoo artists created their art here. The place consisted of four rooms, one for each artist, and two bathrooms connecting two rooms. One of the doors was closed. I wondered if whoever was behind it would get a happy ending.
I snorted to myself. Guido shot me a look. After all was said and done, he knew that I had been sneaking drinks. I licked my lips, remembering the fierce burn of Jameson.
Floating, or seeming to, into another room with an open door, I found a woman getting a tattoo on her back. “Eoghan,” I said slowly, bending over to peer at it. I kept my hair back so it wouldn’t drift.
The tattoo artist looked at me and then at Guido.
“Owen,” the woman snapped.
“Oh.” I stood straight. “IsEoghanyour lover?”
“What’s it to you, Chicken?”
Chicken?
I shrugged. “Nothing. Just curious.”
She snorted. “You are one hundred proof, is what you are. Yes.” She sighed through her nose. “He is, if you must know. Broke up with me not long ago, but he swears he’ll be with me forever this time.”
“That’s nice. I hope he stays because—”that’s a mighty big tattoo forEoghan, I was going to say, but wasn’t given the chance. Guido guided me out of the room. I suspected either the woman or the tattoo artist had gotten fed up with me, but being the gentlemen that he was, Guido didn’t mention it. Our group started clucking and moving their arms. I might have joined in.
“Are you all right, Guido?” I asked.
“Once you are home, I will be.” He gave me a pointed look.
I giggled at this. “Your brow furrows when you get grouchy,” I said.
He led me to a seat, but the open bathroom door down the hall caught my attention. The door that was shut when we first arrived still was, but the other was open and accessible through the bathroom.
“Huh,” I said. I turned to Violet who thumbed through a folder full of tattoos. I nudged her. “Want to go to the toilet with me?”
She lifted a brow at that, but being the best friend that she was, agreed. “I’m taking her to the potty,” she told my serious chaperone. “I’m afraid to send her in alone.”
