up and finishing my errands, buying a new six pack of ginger ale like the ones Easton likes and keeps in the fridge, as well as some crackers for Ainsley to nibble on, I make the short twenty-minute drive back to the development community we live in.
The Inked Lotus is a small brick building right on the outskirts of the residences, surrounded by a few dining establishments and a tiny post office that all share a parking lot. I pull into a free parking space in front of the parlor, lucky since the rest of the parking lot is packed.
Slipping my purse over my shoulder and locking the car behind me, I walk toward the glass door with an open sign hanging just below the printed store hours. I know he’s open later since it’s a Saturday, which means he won’t be home until close to two in the morning.
The bell on the door signals my arrival, making Jay, his friend and co-owner, look up from where he’s working on some beefy guy’s back. “Hey, Red.”
I smile at him and his unoriginal name for my naturally auburn hair. It’s better than when he called me Red Velvet all the time though. Since Jenna convinced me to add copper highlights, the color isn’t as intense. It still doesn’t stop the tall, skinny thirty-something-year-old from calling me whatever he wants.
My eyes travel to East where he’s bandaging a platinum blonde girl’s upper arm. He glances up as soon as Jay mentions my nickname, nodding his chin at me in greeting. I give him a small wave and lean against the front counter where the register is.
Pulling out my water bottle from my purse and taking a sip, I all but spit it out when Jay says, “Finally going to let me pierce you?”
My face must turn bright red thinking about what Jenna said, because Jay looks over at me and busts out laughing.
“Uh … no.” Sheepishly smiling, I cap my water off before setting it on the counter.
To my surprise, East speaks up. “She already has a piercing.”
Jay’s brows pinch at me. “You do?”
I nod, pointing to my belly button. “I got it done a few years ago.” These days, I rarely wear the many studs that I picked out.
Jay makes an interested noise in the back of his throat, his lips quirking up like he understands exactly how Easton knows I have a belly piercing. “Thought about getting any others?”
My shoulders lift. “I considered getting my nose done. When I was in high school I tried tricking my mom into signing a permission form since I was underage at the time. She freaked out. Needless to say, I didn’t get the form signed.”
Jay tilts his head. “What about today?”
My lips part. “Maybe another time, Jay. I’m actually here to see Easton.”
East stands up, gesturing for his customer to come to the register. I step out of their way, feeling the blonde’s eyes on me skeptically as she scopes me out before giving me her back.
“Everything okay?” Easton asks, glancing up at me after taking the money from the girl.
I nod quickly. “Yes. I was actually just here to say thanks again for the gift card. I went to grab my supplies today. Jenna’s watching Ainsley.”
He counts out the change and passes it back to the girl with wandering eyes. She has to be nineteen at best, nearly ten years younger than him. But I brush it off because it’s not like I have any claim on him for more than a few stolen hours every night.
“I told you it’s no big deal,” he murmurs, crossing his arms over his chest.
The girl intervenes, leaning forward to reveal her enviously impressive boobs. “I was wondering if you had plans tonight. My friends and I are meeting at Club 21.”
He deadpans, face unimpressed. “You’re not twenty-one.”
I press my lips together to refrain from smiling, readjusting my purse strap and busying myself by looking around the shop. Magazines are scattered in front of the black arm chairs off to the side where people wait to get their work done.
“Don’t worry, we have fake IDs,” she insists, making me cringe. East makes a strangled noise in the back of his throat, a telltale sign that he’s not going to take her up on the offer.
“I’m busy,” is all he says.
Her shoulders drop. “Oh. Well…”
Don’t do it.
“I’ll give you my number and you can let me know when you’re free,” she says despite my silent warning. It’s