Page 7 of My Anchor (Trio Series 1)
“Shit Linnie wake up you’re going to be late!” I'm roused from a deep sleep by Shana yelling at me. What. The. Fuck. I roll over and grab my phone to see that yes I'm going to be late for my first class! Frick! I must have gotten distracted from setting my alarm last night when Lee text me. That fucking man. I jump out of bed and throw on the closest pair of jeans, bra, and a tee shirt. Run to the bathroom to splash some water on my face drag a brush through my hair throwing it up into a messy bun on the top of my head. Even in my rush, I have to stop and apply mascara and eyeshadow. I'm out the door then back through it because I'm barefoot. Shit. I step into my flip flops and then I'm out the door. Again.
Luckily I paid attention on the tour so I know right where to go. I am fairly good with direction except when it comes to not running into anyone on my way to class. I run smack into something solid rounding the corner. Ow! Damnit! Today is going great!
“Shit girl you in a hurry?” A deep rough voice says. He must be the something solid. Now I'm not by any means a tall person. I’m 5’3 on a regular day and 5’6 on a drinking night. Thank you, heals. Looking up I can tell this guy is at least six and a half feet tall and he is built. Lee is tall but maybe 6’3. Why do I find myself comparing?
“Hey, you okay?” He asks.
“I'm sorry, yes I'm in a hurry I'm late for class.”
“Which one?”
I pause for a second wracking my brain which seems to have fogged over from Mr. Tall and freaking sexy standing in front of me. “English lit.” I finally say. Thank you, brain for working again.
“Oh don't worry bout it. Styles is never on time, I'm headed there too. Walk with me? I can keep you from running into more oncoming traffic.” He says with a grin. I nod to him and we start walking.
“Names Rick.” He says leaving the door open for me to say mine.
“Linn.”
“Nice to meet you, Linn.”
Looks like today isn't going to be too bad.
Turns out I have two more classes with Rick, which is nice, I have someone to talk to and sit with. Oh, and look at. He really is something to look at. They guy probably lives at the gym. His hair is completely buzzed off of his head and he is clean shaven. Tattoos peek out from his shirt sleeves that seem to be testing the stretchiness of the fabric. A girl does need her eye candy.
I meet up with the girls later in the day and introduce them to Rick. They both love him right from the start as I do. He is funny as hell and a really could fit into out happy little trio. We invite him to go tattooing with us this weekend, yes I know that sounds cheesy. He already has ink himself and knew right where to go so win win.
Throughout the week Lee and I keep texting nothing as dirty as before just a quick hi how was your day kind of thing. He wanted to go do something this weekend but I had to decline for the girls. They really would kill me dead if I backed out on getting tattoos.
Saturday is here and we are at the place Rick told us to go. Inked Steel. Shana has decided she wants to get something her mom can see at all times and will absolutely hate. Very grown up of her I know. She is getting a very sexy she-devil on her left shoulder. Me. I'm getting a daisy on my hip for my mom since her name was Daisy. Simple. I'm not too sure about Cristal, though. She said she would just look through the books see if anything caught her eye. We really knew what that meant, she wasn't getting one.
We walk into the place and tell the girl behind the counter our appoint times and she hands us the consent forms. We start filling them out when Shana's guy comes to get her. He’s maybe 40 something with a full head of gray hair and every inch of his exposed skin is covered in artwork. I smile at her and wish her luck. The girl is gonna need it she is kinda a wuss when it comes to pain.
“Which one of you is Cristal?” A voice with a slight Aussie accent asks. That has Cristal jerking her head from the book she is looking at. When she sees him her eyes grow even bigger. I can totally see why. His hair is tied back into a knot and his face has a slight stubble. He has gauges in both ears, not big ones, and his lip is pierced. He, like the guy before, also has an array of colors all over his arms. And they are some arms. Wish he was doing my tattoo.
“Um that’s me, but I…” He interrupts her by sticking out his hand.
“I'm Dez, why don't you come on back and if you change your mind it’s all good. I'm not booked for another couple hours. Gets a little boring back there by myself could use someone to talk to.” She takes his hand and instead of him shaking it he pulls her up in one swift movement. “Let's go butterfly.”
By the way, he was looking at her and vise-versa she might just get to experience that thing she asked about the other night. “Linn?” A beautiful woman maybe 25 with purple hair and a nose ring calls my name. Guess it’s my turn.
Three hours later we are all done. Shana’s took the longest but looks absolutely beautiful and I'm in love with mine it’s perfect. When we get out to the waiting room Cristal isn't there. “Have you seen the other girl we came here with?” I ask the girl at the counter, who's name is Candy.
“Back there with Dez still.” What? Did she actually go through with it? Both Shana and I look at each other with a stunned expression. That’s when we hear it. Cristal is laughing. I haven't heard her laugh like that in so long that I almost forgot what it sounded like.
They come into view and she has the biggest smile on her face like she is happy and not that shy little girl. Whoever this guy ‘Dez’ is we need to take him home with us. When they reach the desk he looks up at Candy and seems to go into business mode. Grabbing a sheet of paper he hands it to her. It’s the same one we got with the aftercare instructions, but he also hands her a business card that he produces from his back pocket.
“Baby I just booked you another, should be here in a few.” Candy all but purrs to Dez. They must be fucking and she thinks it’s more because the look he gives her is not one that reciprocates the word ‘baby’.
“Thank you.” Cristal squeaks out then quickly rushes past us and out the door. Leaving her instructions and the business card still in Dez’s hand.
“I’ll take that,” I say walking over to him. “Whatever that…” Doing a circle wave with my hand in Candy’s direction. “Is. Figure it out because I haven't heard or seen that girl light up like that in years.” He just stares at me. Shocked at my words no doubt. I hear Candy huff. Catty bitch.
He seems to snap out of it then nods his head. Letting me know he understands. I grab Shana and we are out the door. “Damn girl you sure can be a bitch sometimes.”
“Sure can. But shit, did you see that? Tell me I wasn’t the only one.”
“No, you sure weren’t. I hope that boy is smart.” Looking closer at the card he was going to give her I see a name written on the back. Desmond. Followed by I'm guessing his phone number. I hold it up to Shana.
