“Nope, this was spur of the moment. I felt like getting stabbed and wanted to see if you had time.” I smile.
“Hey girlie!” Isla says walking out of her office. She gives me a kiss on the cheek, and I admire her long hair, which is newly light blue. She is always changing her hair up, but somehow it always looks amazing no matter the color.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Cari wants a tattoo, I have time if you can watch the desk for a bit?” River asks, looking hopefully at Isla.
“For anyone else I’d say no, but for you, of course.” Isla winks, and River picks up her iPad and leads me back to her office.
Gus’s office door is closed. Were they here today? Or maybe they were away promoting LULY’s world tour with her? It was hard not to notice something like that. She’s been constantly trending since she headlined Coachella.
“Did you get the invitation for my Halloween Party?” River asks, knocking me out of my thoughts.
“Yes, although I’m not sure how you could top last year’s costume,” I tease. Last year, she and Aspen were Velma and Daphne from Scooby Doo, and it was iconic.
“Do you think you’re coming? Aspen said Max hasn’t RSVP’d yet either.” River is trying not to pry, but this is her way of seeing what is going on with Max and me.
“Subtle.” I laugh. “I’ll be there. Max and I haven’t talked about it or anything though. So I don’t know what she’s doing.”
“Hmm, so you’ve been seeing her lately then?” River is setting up the tray of tattoo equipment and avoiding eye contact as she asks.
“You’d be the worst spy. Just ask what you want to ask, Riv.” I laugh harder.
“I was just curious. I know for a while you two were off, but it seems like maybe things are back on?” River asks. “I like you two together, but I didn’t know if anything was official yet.”
“We are hanging out again, but please don’t make it a thing. She’s very clearly not looking for a relationship,” I explain.
“And you’re fine with that? Last time?—”
I cut her off before she can start.
“I know. But this time is different.” I don’t want to rehash the past. Of how broken up I was over someone I didn’t even have a relationship with.
“Okay. So, tell me what you’re thinking.” She sits across from me, pulling her dark blonde hair behind her into a tight ponytail.
“Remember you drew that lighter and in it were two pairs of lips?”
“Oh yeah! You want that?” She looks surprised.
“Yeah, I need a change, and I think this should be it. I’m thinking the back of my arm.” I hold up my forearm, and she nods.
It is a big change, but I want a bigger tattoo for once. I usually go for smaller ones, not that I’m not covered in them, but it took awhile to get like this.
River looks a little hesitant, but this isn’t the first time I’ve come in randomly and asked for a tattoo. She doesn’t usually charge me, but I still give her money, so I know that isn’t the concern. She looks me over, and I wonder if she can read my mind or see what’s going on with Max and me, but she agrees, and I let out a sigh of relief.
Chapter Four
MAX
Cari comes over a few days later when I’m editing the photos I took for the bridal shop. They came out better than I’d hoped. They don’t need much editing, just some cropping or adjusting the lighting, but I like to double-check before I send it to the client.
I’ll probably have to finish them tomorrow, but I’m almost done. I could probably send them as they were now, but I want to look at them with fresh eyes in the morning and make sure I haven’t missed anything.
I’ve been staring at my computer for hours, and my eyes are starting to kill me.
“Sorry, I just wanted to make sure they saved right,” I explain to Cari.
“No worries, can I use the bathroom?”
