Page 73 of Property of Player

“Does Molly know where your grandmother lives?”

“I didn’t tell her, if that’s what you mean.” She takes another scoop of ice cream. “She’s really been trying to befriend me. I guess I know why.”

“Honey, don’t let her suck you in.”

“I won’t.”

“Maybe it would be better if you stayed close to home until the guys get back. And make sure your doors and windows are locked.” I make a face and dig in my purse.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. My arm is starting to ache.” I shake a pill out and swallow it.

Her gaze falls to my arm. “Are you afraid it’s going to scar?”

“I know it will, but I can’t do anything about that.” The thought makes my eyes fill.

She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Maybe there is, I mean, once it's healed.”

“Like what? Plastic surgery?”

“Beck has an old friend from high school who does tattoos. I bet he could cover it up.”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m the tattoo type.”

“It’s got to be better than a scar, right?”

“Maybe.”

“He’s really good. He’s got his own shop and everything. The Inked Tiger off Rehoboth Avenue.”

I frown. “That big two-story brown house with the driftwood sculpture out front?”

“That’s the place. Wanna go talk to him? He could tell you if he could cover it.”

I’m not really interested in a tattoo, but Cici seems to want to help me, and I want to be friends with Player’s sister. “Okay. Sure.”

“We can leave your car here for now. I’ll drive.” She finishes her ice cream, tosses it in the trash can beside her window, and backs out.

We chitchat on the drive over, and I find out she’s been crazy about Drae for years now, but he’s never let her get too close.

When we pull in the lot of the shop, she parks, and I follow her inside. A man is at the counter with a customer who walks out with a bag of product, and he leans his elbows on the counter. His muscular arms are covered in ink.

“What brings you in here, squirt?” he asks Cici.

“Zaden, this is Player’s girl, Taylor. Taylor, Zaden.”

He straightens and nods. “Nice to meet you. What can I do for you ladies?”

“I was just telling Taylor what an awesome tattoo artist you are, and I thought maybe you could help her out with her scar.”

He frowns. “Scars can be tricky, but the good thing is the skin is usually pain-free because the nerve endings are deadened. How big is your scar?”

“Um…well…” I stammer.

“It hasn’t had time to heal yet. It’s under the bandage,” Cici says. “You should show him, Taylor.”

I bite my lip. Oh, what the hell. I lift one side of the bandage for him to see.