She laughed. “I wouldn’t be looking him up to date. I just thought it’d be nice to connect with someone who knows you and can talk about you. It’d be like you were here. I know that sounds silly.”
“It does. I have to go. Don’t work too hard. You’ve got to have some fun too.”
“I know. I loved talking to you. Take care of yourself.”
After she placed the phone on the nightstand, she grabbed a tissue and blew her nose, then wiped her wet eyes. She and Ryan were close even though there was a four year difference between them. When she was younger, he used to take her to get ice cream, to Overland Lake to swim, and all the other things a teenage brother wouldn’t be caught dead doing with his little sister.
Smiling at the memories of their childhood, she pulled out another tissue and dabbed the corners of her eyes.
Then the face of Garth Saner floated through her head. She’d had the worst crush on him, starting when she was eleven years old up until the time they had to move to Albuquerque. She’d thought he was the best-looking boy in the neighborhood. He’d always been nice to her, especially when she’d started growing breasts. When she turned thirteen, she caught him glancing at her chest more times than she could count. It used to make her feel funny, and a fluttery feeling in her stomach made her turn away from him when he’d come over to hang out with Ryan. When she’d entered Jefferson High School, she’d get a burning sensation in her chest every time she saw him with his arm around a girl or caught them kissing near the bleachers. She didn’t know why she cared, but she did, so she avoided him as best she could. Then halfway through her freshman year, her father was transferred to Albuquerque.
I wonder what he looks like now. He’s probably still a player, breaking all the girls’ hearts like he did in high school.Picturing him in a biker gang was easy because he’d had a bad-boy edge about him when they were growing up. He got in trouble a lot at school because of fighting, mouthing off to teachers, and smoking on school grounds. He was a definite rebel. Part of her wanted to ignore Ryan’s warnings and try to locate Garth, but she knew she wouldn’t.
As her thoughts slowed down, she felt drowsy. Pulling the sheets over her shoulder, she closed her eyes and let sleep settle in.
***
When she heardthe vibration, she sat up in bed, the late spring sunlight beating against her window shades. For a few seconds she was disoriented and thought a bee was in her room. As she swatted at the air, the vibrating sounded muffled and she looked under her covers, petrified that a bee had somehow ended up trapped in her Martha Stewart lilac sheets. When she saw her phone, peals of laughter burst from her.
“Hello?” She giggled.
“Do you always sound this cheerful in the morning after having a tattoo?”
A rush of adrenaline surged through her.The tattoo guy. Fuck.“It’s the only way to deal with the pain.”What a stupid lame answer.
He chuckled. “How’re you doing? Do you still have the bandage on?”
“Uh… yeah. I was sorta sleeping when you called.”
“Sorry. I should’ve figured you would be after your night out. You and your friends definitely had a party going on.”
“Last time I drink White Russians. They make me do crazy things, like have my butt tattooed.”I can’t believe he called me. Wait. Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s his job to see how his customers are doing. This is routine.
“Sometimes doing crazy things is the spark we need in our lives to keep on going. Anyway, if having some flowers tatted on your ass is the craziest thing you do, then you need to get out more.” His voice, low and gravelly, stroked her senses like velvet.
“I haven’t been in Alina very long. I’d love to have someone show me the hot spots in town.” She held her breath. When he didn’t answer, her heart sank.Could you sound any more desperate? He only called to ask how you are. It’s routine. I made an ass out of myself.“I have to go.”
“Sure. If you have any questions or issues, just give us a call.” His smooth baritone sounded strained.
“Okay,” she mumbled and hung up.“Just giveusa call.” He didn’t tell me to givehima call.She buried her face in her pillow as the blood rushed to her head. If she decided to get another tattoo, she’d never go back there. How could she ever show her face in that shop again? Even if she had to drive to Durango to get a tattoo, she’d do it before she went back there.
I so need to go out with a man. Maybe I should go out with Rory’s coworker. What was his name? Blake, or Blaine? Maybe it was Brandon. Anyway, he seemed nice, and he wasn’t super-hot so I wouldn’t make an ass out of myself.One thing was for sure: shedidneed to get out more.
She picked up her phone and sent a text to Rory, asking her to arrange a double date with her coworker. When Rory responded with a series of happy faces and exclamation points, Hailey groaned and buried her face in the pillow.
Chapter Three
Goldie sat atthe table, his legs stretched out in front of him, and watched Brutus and Jigger play pool. He curled his fingers around a large can of Coors, then brought it to his lips and took a long drink.
“What’s happenin’, dude?” Army asked as he slid a chair out from the table and sat down.
“Not much. Just chillin’ until I have to go to work. What’re you up to?”
“I got a hot date for later tonight. She’s a real looker. She’s got big hair, big tits, and a big ass. She’s really something. The tats on her are awesome. It looks like your work. She said she had them done at Get Inked. Do you remember her?” Army picked up his glass of whiskey.
“Not offhand. I’ve worked on a lot of chicks who fit that description.”
“You’d remember her. Anyway, I was thinking that after you get off work, you could join us. She’s got a friend who’s got the right curves. I know you’d like her. What do you say?”
