I duck my head briefly. “Yes, I am.”
“Oh, wow! So cool to meet you!”
“Thanks.”
“You know… let me just check with Ciara. Maybe we can squeeze you in.”
“Okay.” If my name gets me in here, fine. I didn’t push it.
She returns a moment later, followed by a young white woman with spiky black hair, a nose ring, and a lot of ink. “Hi!” she says. “I’m Ciara, the owner of Inkspire. Liv says you’re hoping to get a tattoo done today.”
“Yes.” I smile at her.
“Do you know what you want? I might be able to fit you in when I’m done with my current customer, but only if it’s something small. Anything bigger, we could start it, or make another appointment for you.”
“I’ll show you.” I still have my phone in my hand, so I scroll through my image gallery. “This.” I hold out my phone.
“Oh, yeah, that’s simple.” She nods. “If you don’t mind waiting fifteen minutes or so, we can do that.”
“Oh, thank you! I don’t mind at all.”
“I have forms for you to fill out,” Liv says. “We can get those done while you wait.”
I walk out of there an hour later with fresh ink and aftercare instructions. I did it.
26
MAREK
“Well, aren’t we two scoops of grumpy in a bowl of cranky,” Archie says.
We’re about to board the plane for a trip to Chicago.
“He’s grumptious,” Crusher adds.
“Grumpy gills.”
“Gary grumpy pants.”
“Fuck off.” I flash my middle finger at my jabbering teammates.
“Proving our point,” Dilly says. “What’s up, man? Those enlargement pills aren’t working?”
“You haven’t been yourself for a while now,” Archie says with a genuinely worried look.
“I’m fine.”
I keep saying that. Benny and Mabel are on my ass, too.
Crusher claps a hand on my shoulder. “Hey. Sometimes life fucks you and you just gotta change positions and enjoy it.”
I don’t know what the fuck to say to that.
On the plane I end up sitting with Alfie.
“How are things going at Hakim’s place?” I ask him as I buckle up.
“Okay.” He makes a face. “He’s a neat freak and I’m not. But I have my own space, so we’re getting along okay. I found an apartment. I move in April 1st.”
