Behind Brix, Kim sniggered and disappeared, leaving Brix alone with Calum, the client, and the freakiest penis tattoo Brix had ever seen. “Is that a dragon?”
“That’s right,” the client said proudly. “And my bellend is the head. I’m going to get a Prince Albert to give it the eyes.”
Calum pursed his lips, looking everywhere but at Brix who, for the second time in a few hours, was lost for words. He couldn’t deny that the intricate dragon was an awesome piece, but seeing it wrapped around a flaccid cock was more disturbing than he cared to admit.
“It’s, er, great,” he finally said. “Should get it wrapped up, though. Keep it clean.”
Calum wrapped the dragon dick, including its wings, which had taken the place of any pubic hair the client might have had before the fiery serpent was etched there instead. He handed the client his complimentary tube of Bepanthen, then pointed past the screen. “Come to the front desk when you’re ready to pay.”
They left the client to get dressed, and went to the front of the studio. Calum went straight to the desk and added the job into Lena’s system with far less fumbling than Brix had ever managed, printing out a receipt and packing it up with the Blood Rush aftercare sheet.
“I was paying my dad an instalment on the money he loaned me to open this place,” Brix said suddenly, startling himself as much as he seemed to Calum. “Nothing dodgy. I told you the other day I’m not down with the shit the rest of my lot get up to.”
“I know.” Calum appeared to focus absolutely on stapling the client’s paperwork together. “Don’t humour me. I don’t deserve it.”
“Why not? Is it your fault someone’s fucked you up enough that you see the bad in everything you don’t quite understand?”
Calum’s gaze snapped to Brix, his dark eyes smouldering. “Perhaps it was all my fault. Know my own mind, don’t I? No one ever made me feel that way.”
“Says who?” Brix shot back. “If someone treats you like dirt, it conditions you to believe that you don’t deserve any better.”
“I don’t believe much of anything anymore, mate.”
They were interrupted again. Calum’s client emerged from the back of the studio, dressed, and brandishing a bundle of cash. Brix waited impatiently for Calum to take the payment and the client to leave so they could finally finish a conversation that wasn’t about chickens, food, or ink, but it wasn’t to be. Dragon Dick left, but as the door swung shut behind him, it opened again, revealing that Kim had returned with Lena in tow.
Brilliant. Brix glared at Kim, who’d always had a way of reading his mind, but Lena intervened before Kim could react.
“Can I borrow you, Brix? I need a favour.”
“It had better be a good one,” Brix grumbled, but followed her back into the studio anyway. “Nice hair.”
Lena touched her previously bright hair that was now a rich golden brown. “Thanks. Reckon I’m getting a bit old for a technicolour barnet.”
“Bet Kim doesn’t think so.”
“Well . . . that’s not going to matter soon.”
“Say what?”
Lena shrugged. “I’ve got itchy feet. Kim wants to stay around here, but there’s someone back home I’m starting to miss.”
“Someone else?”
“Yeah, you know how it is.”
Brix nodded slowly, though he’d never quite got his head around Lena and Kim’s open relationship. “Is it serious?”
“As serious as it ever is for me. I’m a wanderer, Brix.”
“How does Kim feel about it?”
“You’ll have to ask him to know for sure, but if the grin on his face when he came back from that gig in Bude the other night is anything to go by, I think he’ll be absolutely fine.”
“Oh. Bloke or bird?”
“Bloke.”
And that was about all Lena seemed prepared to share. Brix absorbed the sudden influx of information and tried to process what it meant for him and the studio. Lena ran Blood Rush with an iron fist, and he had no idea how he’d manage without her.
