My phone buzzes in my pocket and I slip it out to look at the text that came through.
Liam: Stop freaking out.
Me: How do you even know I’m freaking out? I could be sitting in the chair right this very moment getting tattooed.
Liam: Are you?
Me: No…
Liam: You’ve got this! It’ll barely hurt!
Me: Says the man without any tattoos.
Liam: Be brave!
Me: Okay… I’m going in.
I take a centering breath, open the door, and force my feet to carry me inside the tattoo shop. It smells just as clean and hospital-like as it did when I met Sage in here before, but unlikethe quiet that greeted me last time, there’s pop-punk playing from the speakers and the sound of buzzing vibrating through the air.
River is working over in his station and when I look over at Sage’s, my stomach sinks a little because she isn’t here.
“Well, hello there.” Peyton’s sardonic voice snaps me back to the front desk. I give her a shy smile.
“Hey, Peyton.”
“What can we do for ya?” She asks, setting her phone on the table in front of her and tapping on a tablet set off to the side. “Want to look at some of the flash River has a special for right now?” She winks. “Or you could let me do something, River’s starting to let me work on real skin.”
“No, I’m not!” River calls out from where he’s currently tattooing a young looking, dark-haired woman. “You’re in fact, supposed to be working on the practice skin I gave you this morning.”
Peyton rolls her eyes. “He’s so grumpy today.”
I choke on a laugh. Peyton is young; Sage told me she’s twenty-three and that she’s best friends with River’s younger sisters. She’s just so confident in herself. I remember being her age and having no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to be, and I’m a little jealous that she is so sure of herself. But I love it. “Is he?” I ask. “I didn’t think it was possible for him to be anything but full of sunshine.”
“He’s full of something.” She grumbles. “I may have misplaced that, Riv.” She lifts an eyebrow at me. “You never said what you’re in here for, Emma.”
“Oh, right. Um.” I shift on my feet and look back over at Sage’s empty station. “I think maybe it can wait.”
I don’t notice how much quieter the shop is until the young woman clears her throat behind me. “I need to pay.” She says softly.
“Right. Sorry.” I mumble and move out of her way so Peyton can ring her through.
“Hey, Emma.” River says brightly when he walks up from his station. “If you give me a few minutes I can sit with you and see what you’re wanting to get done? I just need to sanitize my station and then we can get you all ready.”
“Oh.” I say and try to look excited. I did come in here to get a tattoo. I want one. I don’t know why I’m feeling so weird about it now.
River gives me a knowing look. “You know. I am just as capable, some may say even more than, Sage at tattooing. I promise you’re in good hands.”
“No. I mean—” I can feel my cheeks burning with a blush. “I know that you’re good at what you do. I’ve seen your work it’s just?—”
“Do you want me to call her in?” He asks softly, warmly. “I don’t have to tell her it’s you, but I can call her and tell her a client is asking for her.”
“You don’t have to be sneaky about it.” I say with a chuckle. I swallow my nerves and nod. “But yes, if you don’t mind calling her and seeing if she’ll come.” I add quietly.
His phone is at his ear quickly as he grins down at me. It’s crazy to think that I ever thought this man was intimidating. Sure, he’s massive, but he truly is a giant teddy bear.
“She’ll be here soon.” He says with a nod before heading back to clean up his station.
I look around the space while I wait. Last time I was here was for a heart to heart, emotional conversation and I didn’t really get to take it in. The walls are covered in different works of art, some of which looks like Sage’s and River’s work. Some I notice have a swooping signature that looks suspiciously like it says ‘Levi Moreland’. Those also happen to be congregated closest to River’s station. I grin to myself at that. The walls are painted awarm almost creamsicle orange and the front desk is a modern, gorgeous raw wood. Carved into the front of it is the ‘Rust Belt Revival’ logo.
