Another fit of laughter as he tunes it and I don’t know if I can watch this. Chad Blake is a Rock God, the man women masturbate too. Seeing him sit pretty with a double bass is impossible to describe.
I try and focus on the fact he is saving my ass here, and the thought sobers me up. "Look, enough. Honestly this is a Godsend man. Tune it or whatever and let’s try it with that big ass bass."
Cal
I was early for my tattoo and was waiting on Noah and Jen to show up. I was surprising her with the firefly tattoo I was getting today, next to a cricket for the kid and showing her tomorrow after the show. My phone buzzed in my pocket as I chatted with Sully and Asa.
Tayla: I need to see you. It's important. Are you home?
I roll my eyes knowing damn well she wants to sink her dagger teeth into this thing with Lex.
Me: No, I am getting tattooed. Whatever is going on you can tell me via text.
I had no desire to get into it with her here, or anywhere for that matter. She is too thirsty for the act and I refuse to give even a centimeter more that I am legally required to on my contract with Coven.
Tayla: I am close, I will come there.
Before I can respond and tell her no, Noah calls me. "Hey what’s up? Where you at?" I ask and step into the side hall that leads to the back door and the restrooms.
"Hey we are in Federal Way in traffic but we will be there soon. Tell Sam to show you what I drew up. It's in the manila folder on my table." He says and bitches about the traffic when he drops the call.
I make my way into his booth and find the folder and look at the art he drew for me and his art is hard to explain. My body is covered in his work, my arms sleeved with the old mic and guitars with banners of lyrics. The work he has added and the ode to my band are remarkable, and this piece will be no exception.
"Cal?" Sully asks with trepidation in his voice.
"What’s up man." I say and show him the work, but he seems uncomfortable. "Noah called and told me to check the work out before he lays it." I defend, thinking maybe he is pissed I came in here without staff or some shit, though it’s a stretch with as close we are.
"Hey, no its cool you being in here my man, just...uh..." He looks over his shoulder and I see Tay walking toward us and want to kick my own ass for getting distracted.
I sigh and nod looking at Sully. "It's fine man." I say just as Tayla, a blubbering crying mess walks in the booth and falls into my arms hysterically crying.
"What the fuck?" I say, and yes, I try to comfort her because something obviously awful happened and I worry for her. It was in this moment that I realize it isn’t all contempt and betrayal I have for her. I pull her back gently, my hands on her shoulders as I try to see her face. "What's up Tay? Calm down." I fear for her mom or her sister's health based on the tears. "Is everyone okay?"
She nods and cries harder. "I don’t know why I came here, it’s inappropriate..." She says and sits on the bed Noah has in the booth.
I sit beside her, not really sure why she is here. "So, talk to me and we can figure it out." I say and I honestly don’t know what to say because I have only ever seen her react in such anguish when someone was dead or dying. Not even that Thanksgiving was she this upset.
"Robert and I broke up." She says and starts wailing again and I swear to God... No, I won’t say it or think it because it’s too harsh. She is right, it is inappropriate to be here crying to me about his ass.
"Yeah, this is out of line. I get your upset but I am not the shoulder to cry on here Tay." I scrub my hands over my face and kick the stool I was sitting in. "Do you get how fucking shitty this is?"
The nerve of her running to me only pisses me off. I see her, here sad and crying desperate for comfort and I only want Jen. I see it now and though I felt Jen was it for me, I know it now.
"I know, I know I am hurting you-"
I cut her off with a cruel laugh. "I’m not hurt Tayla. I am happy and in love actually." I motion between us when she looks at me with shock. "We are done Tayla and have been for some time, to the point I was going to reach out and talk to you about divesting any rights to Axe. That’s how not hurt I am."
Her thinking I give to shits and still pine for her makes it impossible to not feel the rush of anger of who she has become. "You’re in love?" She says on a choked sob and starts crying again.
I try to be as gentle as I can here. I don’t want to hurt her, I won already. I know it wasn’t a competition but after everything played itself out and came full circle. I won.
"Yeah, Tay. I am in love."
She takes a shaky breath and looks at me with a sad smile, her eyes are red and free of makeup and her cheeks are blotchy with pink spots. "I’m glad." She says on another shaky breath. "I was scared I ruined you."
I nod in agreement. "Me too, turns out broken and ruined are two different things."
She nods in agreement or acknowledgement, I’m not sure. I just know for once, there’s a peace between us instead of tension and pain.
