Ms. Kate turns to look at him in disbelief. “Honey, they’re eighteen. Let them have fun.” He takes his sunglasses off again before he stares her down.
“No, Kate. I’m not letting my stepdaughter ruin herself more than she already has. God. The influences you two have,” he mutters, and my body recoils at the comment. Mom and Dad have made their way out of the waves, her face scrunching up in annoyance, his with an expression of subtle anger, obviously having heard what Josh said. Ms. Kate lets out a sound of disbelief before she grabs her keys and hands them to Bianca, Josh sitting up as he looks at her in shock.
“Have fun, girls.” Jamie squeals happily while she drags Bianca away, but she turns to glance at her mom as Josh stares holes into the side of Ms. Kate’s face. She sighs and then looks at me. “Liam.” She signals with her head toward the girls, and a weird tug-of-war begins in my head. This guy. This Josh Callaway isnotthe perfect gentleman people make him out to be. But he wouldn’t do anything to her, right?
They’re in public. She wouldn’t take that from him anyway.
I sigh and look at Chase as we start behind the girls, and I nod toward my parents. They nod back, understanding. I catch up with Bianca and Jamie, snatching the keys.
“Hey!”
Jamie turns toward me, but I hold the keys out of her reach. “I’m driving you both inmycar.”
Bianca steps forward. “You can’t take my mom’s keys.”
I step forward too. “Bianca, I’ll drive you both to a tattoo shop. Agoodone. Let me tag along.” I shift my focus to Jamie, begging her with my eyes to let me do this. If being their chauffeur helps me be near Bianca, I’ll take it.
“Oh, me too,” Chase adds, and we all look at him. He shrugs. “Come on, you guys are way more fun.” Out of all of us, Jamie’s the only one who scoffs. I look at him knowingly.
Oh, this is gonna be interesting.
Jamie sighs, relenting, and Bianca nods nervously. I let them inside my car, going back into the villa and hanging Ms. Kate’s keyson the hook where she can find them later. Jogging back outside, Bianca’s in the front seat and Jamie and Chase are in the back. Through the rearview mirror, I watch him look at Jamie, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen him reallylookat a girl. He’s not ogling like he usually does, but admiring. I know because I do it to Bianca every time I see her.
My Freckles has yet to say a word.
I turn on the car and start toward the parlor. All I hear are the tires running along the road and the low conversation between Jamie and Chase. I sigh, merging into the left lane as we come to a stoplight. I open my mouth, then close it as the light turns green.
I remember when Bianca and I would get into disagreements; after such a short amount of time, we both demanded to talk. It was refreshing that we both valued communication, but now, she retreats. She goes back into her little hidey-hole while I work on coaxing her back out. I’m a patient guy, and I don’t mind, but I refuse to believe that something so insignificant will ruin the little bit of progress we’ve made.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
LIAM
Thankfully, the parlor isn’t that far, and as we walk in, I’m met with familiar faces.
“Is that little Liam Parker?” A small smile starts on my face before I wave shyly. The tattoo parlor I work in near Mella Colta is owned by two brothers, one of whom lives and works here in LA. Randall smiles, given I saw him a bit ago for my most recent tattoo. “Back already?” He slaps my shoulder affectionately and I chuckle softly.
“You know me.” He rolls his eyes and I extend my hand. “This is Jamie, Chase ...” I stop for a bit as she looks at me. “And Bianca. They’re wanting tattoos ...” He gives me a look before nodding and then points with his head to Tyler, the owner.
He comes over to me, laughing, before he locks eyes with Jamie. “Alright. I got—” He glances down at her, a wolfish smile starting on his face. “—Jamie, was it, sweet pea?” She nods somewhat absentmindedly and something passes over Chase’s face.
A woman that I don’t recognize comes over, grabbing his arm. “I got—” Chase slips his arm out of her grasp and sheglances at him, shocked.
“I’m not getting a tattoo.” He goes to stand next to Jamie. “I’ll join you guys, if that’s okay?” He looks toward me and a smug smile starts on my face before he rolls his eyes. Bianca stands there, rubbing her arm nervously. She looks at me, something I can’t read bubbling in her eyes.
“Liam?” Randall gives her a once-over, then looks back at me. He points. “Grab a machine.” Bianca’s eyes widen, as do mine, and I’m quick to shake my head. “Look, kid, my brother told me that more than half of that ink on you is your doing. I know you got all your licenses in order since you’re working up in San Jose.” I glance at Bianca, trying to gauge how she feels about it. “Trust me, he’s probably better than all of us combined.”
I hold my breath until she mutters a small, “Okay.” Though, for a moment, I wonder if she really does trust me or if that’s gone away too. We walk into Randall’s tattoo room and I close the door behind me. I admire how she spins, looking at all the designs and photos he’s got posted up everywhere, before I hear a little laugh come from her. My head snaps up and she’s rubbing her hand across something.
liam parker waz here.
I prep the station for what is to come. “I did that when I was eighteen.” She turns around, a small bloom of hope starting in my chest. She’s looking at me as if she wants me to elaborate. “I was dumb, and wanted to leave my mark here. After I got my first tattoo, I realize I wanted more afterwards.” The corner of her mouth quirks up and she shivers slightly, so I move to turn up the thermostat a bit.
“Which tattoo was it?”
I face her again and smile, gesturing at myself. “Can’t you tell?” She shakes her head with another quirk of a smile. Progress, I think. I get closer to her and hold out my hand, pointing at the small yet most precious piece of art I have on my body. “This was for a dare back in senior year ...” She seems interested, so I keep going. “The dare was to get a tattoo that means the absolute world to me.” Senior prom. The worst night of my life. My tux was too tight because I had hit a growth spurt, some girl kept bothering me, and the guys onthe team were on my case the whole night. Thankfully, I got the best dare, and I’m not stuck with some weird design the other guys got.
She eyes the tulips, then reaches out, softly tracing the design, and I command my body not to react to her touch.
