“You have an appointment?”
“You aren’t the only one who can make a secret appointment in New York City.”
This is getting more interesting by the minute.
Once we finish, I follow her lead back out into the chilly winter air. A couple blocks later she opens the door to a familiar tattoo shop.
She walks right up to the counter and the same girl who helped us a few months back. “Hi, my name is Daisy. I have a two-thirty appointment with Jade.”
“You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“Yes, we were here this past August. My boyfriend had the appointment last time. I was just here for moral support.”
“Well, nice to have you back. Follow me. Jade’s ready for you.”
This is like an episode ofThe Twilight Zone. We’ve been here before, but so much has changed since that last visit. Only four and a half months have passed, but we’re different people, in different stages in our lives. It’s surreal.
“Nice to see you two again,” Jade says. His long gray beard is still giving Santa a run for his money.
I shake his hand, and we exchange pleasantries while Daisy gets comfortable in the chair.
Jade rolls a stool over for me, but Daisy instructs me to sit so I can’t see.
“This is bullshit,” I say, knowing I did the same thing to her when I got my tattoo. But I was declaring my love for her the only way I knew how. I already know she loves me. No declarations needed.
"Payback’s a bitch, baby." She gives her bottom lip a dick-hardening bite as she attempts to hide her smile.
She’s loving every second of this. Honestly, I am too. How could she think I would ever get bored of her?
“Don’t worry, man. This will be quick. You’ll be out of here in 20 minutes.”
The three of us make small talk over the whirring sound of the tattoo gun. Daisy is more than happy to share the details of our itinerary with our tattooist. Apparently, we have dinner reservations at several restaurants, and we’ll be nowhere near Times Square when the ball drops at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Thank God for that.
“All right, Miss Daisy, we’re all done. What do you think?”
Her face lights up when she sees the new art inked on her wrist not already donning a constellation of stars that matches the one on Mia’s wrist. “It’s perfect. I absolutely love it. Thank you so much!”
“Hello... did you forget about me over here? Do I ever get to see this tattoo?”
She tugs on my hoodie, pulling me closer so she can press a kiss to my lips. “How could I ever forget about you?”
She holds her arm out for me, allowing me my first look at her tattoo.
I am a six-foot-three puddle.
On her wrist is an infinity symbol. In small script along the top loop of the symbol is the time of 1:11. On the bottom loop is 5:55. The first time we were together and our trip to Maui. Themoment things changed for both of us, even if I was the only one who was ready to admit it.
This tattooisher declaration of love. It represents the journey we’ve been on, and our long-lasting love that has no end.
We’re both stuck. For the rest of our days in this lifetime and the next.
