“Dude, I thought your daddy hated tattoos.” Dustin sat on Tripp’s desk and snorted.
“He does.” Tripp didn’t elaborate as he tucked papers away and tidied up his end of day results.
“So, you finally went against daddy?” Dustin shook his head. “Man, you went wild after Shelby fucked off.”
“Literally.” Tripp turned his computer off and checked his phone with a half sigh. If he left right then, he could get to the tattoo parlor a half hour early… Maybe he could use that time to pick up a coffee or smoothie for Dray on the way… Tripp fired off a quick text to the artist.
Hey, there’s a coffee and smoothie place on the ground floor of my building. I’m getting a pick-me-up on the way. Want something?He added a link to their menu.
OMG I was crashing. Can I get the protein kale mango booster? I can xfer the money if you give me your Venmo or something.
Tripp smiled as Dustin peered over his shoulder at the convo with the Tattoo Boo with snake emoji by his name.
“Oooh, that explains so much.” Dustin squealed a little as Tripp typed a quicklalala can’t hear you, what is this Venmo thing you speak of?
“I’m not getting a tattoo because I have a crush on the tattoo artist.” Tripp sighed as he stuffed a phone away.
“Then why are you getting a tattoo?” Dustin raised a brow as Tripp closed up his office for the day.
“Because an old dragon at a bar handed me a token for a free tattoo and told me it’d make me feel better.” Tripp went with the truth.
Dustin stopped mid-step as his face contorted into something odd. “That sounds like… Honestly, it’d been better if you were doing it for the dude.”
“You asked.” Tripp shrugged and boarded the elevator, Dustin riding along with him.
They descended in silence as Tripp walked toward the drink place and placed an order for a large iced coffee, a large protein kale mango booster, and a half-caff mocha 2 percent iced with nondairy whip. Dustin’s usual order. He liked the way the coconut whipped cream tasted.
Dustin huffed as Tripp ordered, and accepted the peace offering. “Still kinda worried about you, bro.”
“I’m working on some stuff. If my work starts suffering, tell me.” Tripp took a long drag off his drink and made his way to his mid-priced car and rode toward that side of town. As his eyes flicked into the rearview mirror, he couldn’t help but thinking about a little car seat being strapped in behind him, his car the perfect size for it.
Tripp banished the thought, found parking, and strode to the shop with twenty minutes to spare.
Dray waved at him from the back and swept out to grab his smoothie with his wrists, hands still double-gloved. The bulky hoodie hid his svelte form and soft belly that begged for a lingering touch. The blush on Dray’s cheeks made his lips pinken to such a lovely color. Glossy with saliva after a long sip of his drink, they were even more kissable. Tripp fought the urge to say something and lost. “Gorgeous.”
Dray halted mid-step and glanced over his shoulder, eyes narrowed. He responded with an ounce of hesitation in his voice. “Thank you. You, too.”
He’d fucked up. The compliment was totally out of line! But Tripp was almost giddy about the compliment in return, even ifhalfhearted. The confusion on the male’s face was out of place, though. As if he weren’t used to someone finding him attractive.
Fuck whoever left him. Seriously.
Dray sauntered off, drew his curtain, and the gun buzzed to life once more, drowning out the sounds around him.
“So, you’ve got the hots for Dray?” A rather salaciously dressed omega nearly draped over the counter. His hooded eyes blinked slowly, almost catlike. The name Papi had been embroidered over the bib of his apron.
“Uhhh.” Tripp choked over a sip of his coffee and cleared his throat as an unpleasant heat flushed over his cheeks.
“Yupp.” He nearly purred.
“Listen, Papi, I—” Tripp held up his hands as another omega nearby pealed out in laughter.
“Hmm, I’d let you call me Papi, but my name is Ricardo. Rick for short.” The cat wiggled his bottom and hummed before resting his chin on his hands.
The nearby omega, the scent ursine and sweet, was a softly shaped male, a bit on the short side with sweet honey-brown eyes. “Not nearly enough hair for me, but I’d call you Papi if you’re packing.”
Dray called out from behind his curtain. “Ay’, stop sexually harassing my customer.”
Rick rolled his eyes and turned the volume of the shop’s music up, his neon-blue dyed hair flopping over his face as he did so. “So, you’re the one he’s been flustered about?”
