“I’m more than capable of driving myself.”
His expression darkens. “I’d rather you weren’t alone right now.”
“I won’t be. The studio will be full of people—contractors, staff. It’s probably the safest place I could be.”
He sighs. “Fine. But text me when you get there and when you leave. And if you see that SUV again?—”
“I’ll text you,” I promise. “If it makes you feel any better, you can follow me.”
After checking on Summit,I decide to pay Lizzy a visit. I have something I’ve been thinking about doing, and I need her help.
I jog across the street, dodging a car as I make my way to the building located next to Skin & Ink Tattoo.
When I walk past the door to Bean & Co., the smell of fresh-roasted coffee beans and pastries fills the air when a customer opens the door, making my stomach rumble.
Maybe I’ll go grab something after I talk to Liz.
Taking the side entrance located in the alley, I climb the metal staircase that leads upstairs to the residential lofts. When I reach the door at the top, I knock.
“It’s open!” Lizzy calls out from inside.
Her apartment is exactly what I’d expect from someone like her—artistic chaos meets cozy minimalism. The high ceilings and exposed brick walls give it an industrial feel, while colorful tapestries and string lights add warmth to the space.
One half is clearly her living area, with a bed tucked against a brick wall surrounded by bookshelves, and a small sitting area with a worn leather couch. In the far corner, her pet iguana Slash’s habitat sits on top of a dresser.
The other half is a dedicated artist’s studio scattered with canvases in various states of completion, paint-splattered drop cloths, and an impressive array of supplies.
I find Lizzy sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor surrounded by art supplies. Wearing paint-splattered overalls with a black tank top, her blue-tipped hair is piled messily on top of her head.
She looks up, sets down her paintbrush, and grins. “Hi.”
“Hey.” I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “No tattoo appointments today?”
“Nope.” She grabs a rag, wiping excess paint from her hands. “It’s my day off.”
I check out the painting she’s working on. It’s an abstract piece with swirls of deep blues and purples blending into fiery reds and oranges. It’s beautiful and chaotic, almost like looking into a fiery storm.
“This is amazing,” I say, stepping closer to get a better look.
“Thanks,” she says, tossing the rag aside. “It’s for the charity auction at the fair.”
Nervous about what I want to ask, I look around the room and toss out something else instead. “Is your brother staying here with you next weekend?”
“No, he usually stays next door when he visits. Ryder kept his old bachelor pad. Airbnb’s it sometimes.” Picking up herpaintbrush, she side-eyes me as she dabs it in some blue paint. “Is that what you came over here for? To ask me about my brother?”
I shake my head. “I came to ask you a favor.”
She shoots me a look of concern. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” I take a deep breath.
She turns, eyeing me with suspicion as she scratches an itch on her chin with the end of the paintbrush. “What kind of favor?”
“Um...” I’m so nervous, my next words come out as a question as I bounce on my feet. “I want to get my nipples pierced?”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I mean, I hear it makes things... more sensitive.”
