“I met someone,” Wendy told me. “For the first time, I’m ready to think about the future. That’s why I wanted this tattoo. So even if I do marry this new man, I’ll always carry something of Frank with me.”
That brought me out of my intense concentration, and I stopped for a moment. “And he doesn’t mind?”
Wendy’s eyes teared up. “No. He understands you can have more than one love in a lifetime. And that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting the past but learning from it.”
“I never was the best student.” Only Carlos and Grady had tried to teach me the things that mattered—love and family. Things I still struggled with on the daily.
A line bisected Wendy’s forehead, and to my shock, she put her hand on my arm. “You own a business. Obviously, something went right.”
I forced a smile. “You’re too much of an optimist. It’s killing my vibe.”
“You’re being foolish,” she huffed.
Without answering, I picked up my instrument. I finished as much as I thought she could take for the first part of the design, and she made a follow-up appointment. By that time, the shop was closing, and Ambrose and I began our cleanup, sterilizing the equipment and putting away the inks.
When Ambrose and I had met at juvie, we’d formed a bond of friendship that only two kids lost in the system could forge. I’d asked Carlos to hire him, and God knew I’d needed him after Carlos was killed. Without asking, Ambrose had stepped in and taken care of everything for the months I’d been lost in a fog of anger and pain. He and Grady had helped bring me back to life.
After so many years together, we had our system down and we worked seamlessly. Jodi had joined us three years ago and brought her clients from a Brooklyn shop that had closed. She specialized in what we called sweet designs and a lighter aesthetic, which I hoped would bring in new clientele. We were doing okay, but every month the shop teetered on a thin line between running in the black and sliding toward red, and it freaked me out.
Backpack in hand, Ambrose bumped my fist. “Catch you later. Have a good one.” Ambrose didn’t come in on weekends—Jodi did, plus Mondays and Tuesdays. I was at the shop all the fucking time. Kept me busy, out of trouble, and out of my head.
“See ya.”
Another hour, and I closed the shop. My apartment, which had been Carlos’s that he’d deeded to me in his will, was off St. Mark’s and a quick stroll home. I showered and put on my club attire—black leather pants with a matching vest and no shirt underneath. A couple of silver chains and rings, and I was done.
The buzzer sounded, and I peered at the video camera—we’d had it installed after a slew of push-in robberies and a rape. Grady stood in his suit and tie, and I hit the button to let him in.
“Dude, you’re sharp.” He smirked, and I snickered.
“And you look like a fuckin’ lawyer. Lose the suit and tie, man. You’re gonna drive away potentials. Guys are gonna think I’m with my PO.”
Brown eyes twinkling, he snorted. “You’re an ass. I’m not there to pick up a date. I have my woman.”
“I know a few dudes who wouldn’t mind showing you around the world.”
Grady was a handsome guy, big and muscular, with tattoos up and down his arms. The lines etched on his face gave the impression that he’d seen it all but had made it through the fire.
“I’ve already had that offer from a friend of a friend. Plus, I think Lauren might have a problem with that.”
“Ready?” I slid my wallet, phone, and keys into my pockets. “It’s only a few blocks away.”
Side by side, we walked to the club, and I could see the line outside the door. I gave my passes to the bouncer, and he checked his list and nodded.
“Go on in.”
A wail of protests rose from behind us as he lifted the rope and we walked in past the waiting hopefuls. I recognized a few regulars from other places I frequented. About to step inside, I heard the murmur of a deep voice.
“Now that’s an ass I’d like to grab.”
I peered at the crowd to see who’d spoken. Dark, messy hair fell over a pair of laughing blue eyes. A sexy smile curved full lips. The man’s gaze grew heated as I contemplated his words and allowed myself a slow grin.
“Find me inside, and we’ll see if we can make it happen.”
I left him and spotted Grady near the entrance waiting for me.
“What happened?” he yelled over the pounding music. “I thought I lost you.”
“Just checking out the scenery.”
