Home - hope the raccoons didn’t getcha!
Yikes. Erase.
Home
That’ll do, I guess. I send it off and begin chewing on my thumbnail, barely blinking as I stare at my one word message. I switch to the text thread between Delaney and I, notifications indicating I have several unread messages from her.
Lane
So I went into B&B the other day to scope out Dominic for myself (because why else am I your best friend?) and he is HOT.
Like if he didn’t have a penis I’d be all up on that. He seems nice btw. We chatted for a bit, you know, recon. ??
Imagine if he had a sister?! OMG lesbian heaven
Giggles bubble out of me at how ridiculous my best friend is and I smile in appreciation at her taking the time to scope out Dominic. I reply with an eye roll and kissy emojis. A text from Dominic pops up, my heart rate spiking at his nickname appearing at the top of my screen. I flip over onto my stomach to open the conversation.
Peggy
Glad the raccoons didn’t get you.
I snicker quietly as a dumb grin spreads across my face. The bubbles in my belly fizzing deliciously, making me feel tipsy.
I type back, “Night, xo”and quickly send it.
Wait, why did I put an XO?
I guess friends can do XO too? Right? Before I can overthink every single letter, a reply comes in. I swallow and open it.
Night Hoot xo
NINE
Irish
Dominic
Xo. She sent an “xo”.Kiss and hug. She held on to me when she was scared.That’s practically a hug.Then she looked at me like she…wanted to kiss me? Maybe? But why would she want that? She asked about my past. She knows I come from nothing. I’m definitely not her knight in shining armour type at all. Maybe she just wanted to get to know me? Yeah, judge the matchmaker to know if I’ll pick a reliable date next time. Because bringing her to Maria’s wasnota date. But…it kind of felt like a date.
“Potatoes?” Nadine asks, breaking up the mental ping pong debate in my head.
“Sorry?” I ask as her dark eyes squint at me quizzically.
“Can you pass the potatoes please?” Nadine shakes her head making the gold and silver charms woven in her long turquoisebraids clink together. I reach across the casserole pan and gingerly lift the large potato dish, placing it between us.
“Are these your signature truffle mashed potatoes Dom?” Nadine asks excitedly, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she heaps a spoonful onto her own plate, accidentally splashing her ripped Metallica t-shirt. “Oh, fuck me!” She tries to wipe off the blob, smearing it around further.
“Language, Nadine!” Vic chastises from the head of the table.
Nadine levels her with a stare. “Vic, you have a table full of tattoo artists and you expect censored language?” she directs to the head of the table, a thin black eyebrow arching upwards on her deep brown face.
Vic huffs loudly which turns into an exhausted sigh. “At least while we eat, please.” She glances at each of us around the table with a stern look that says “Not tonight, kids, Mommy’s had a long day.”
Vic and Rick host weekly dinners for the tattoo parlour employees almost every week. Sometimes it’s only a few of us while other times—especially around the holidays—the table is crammed tight with everyone from the owners, Vic and Rick, to our maintenance guy, Tim. Vic also says it’s a great way for me to practice my culinary skills because this group of menaces won’t sugarcoat their critiques. Vic and Rick’s generosity and welcoming knows no bounds.
Even though I haven’t known the couple for all that long, they have been integral to where I am today. After they opened a few years back I had come in hastily with drawings and sketches asking to become an apprentice. Rick had given them one look and laughed so loudly I swear I saw the frames on the wall shake. He said my drawings were shit,they were,and if what I really wanted was a job,okay, I did need a job,then I could clean up around the parlour. The tattoo power couple had originally owned and lived in the space above the tattoo parlour but afterbooming successful they could afford to move on to bigger and brighter things, offering me the chance to rent it from them a year later. I couldn’t say no even if I tried. I had finally found a family that offered me a job, a roof over my head, and an invaluable work ethic.
I quickly pull out my phone under the table and notice a missed text Celeste sent earlier today.
