Kurt, page 6
“You’re not.”
“She didn’t want to believe that and never would,” Kurt said. “And I don’t want to be second fiddle. She wanted us to tattoo her for free so she could promote us. She was going to go to the various shows and promote, but I’ve been to those shows -- so have you. What she wanted to do was promote herself on our dime, and for me to be her assistant. I don’t assist anyone.”
“No, you don’t.” Jimmy drew a skull design on the notepad. “What about Sarah? She had nothing to do with it?”
“She did, but not in the way you think. She did because she was my past, but she didn’t because Dicey and I were never going to work,” he said. “As for Sarah and me, we’re back together.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“No. You’re upset?” He hoped not. He valued Jimmy’s opinion.
“No. Actually, Karey went to see her, and I’m hoping they work things out the way you and Sarah have.” Jimmy continued drawing. “I’m not upset. I like Sarah and wanted you to be with her. She made you happy. More than anyone else has.”
“She does, and I hope she and Karey do work it out.”
“She’s at your house because you’re protecting her.”
“I am.” He had to be wholly honest. “She’s not just being tracked by Brady -- we think -- but she’s a witch, and if Brady found out, he’d use it against her. He’d lie and claim she bewitched him, which is why he assaulted her or some shit like that.”
“You’ve got your hands full.”
“Sort of. We’re taking this slowly.” But he knew what he wanted to do.
“Don’t go too slowly. You’ve lost too much time already.”
“True.” First, he had to deal with Dicey. The bell dinged, and Dicey strutted into the shop. She wore a tight corset and leather pants, plus knee-high boots. Her boots clicked on the floor with every step.
“Boys.” She rested her hands on her hips. “Are you ready for me?”
Kurt tamped down his frustration. “Ready.” He led her back to his workspace.
“I texted you.” She perched on the table.
“I know.” He focused on gathering and preparing his tools.
“You didn’t reply.”
“Don’t have my phone here. I left it at the house.” He finished prepping the tattoo gun. “You wanted two piercings and your back touched up. Yes?”
“You’ve avoided my question,” she said. “Kurt?”
“You didn’t ask one.” He snapped his gloves on. “What’s the question?”
“Who is she?”
“Who is who?” He faced her. “Hmm?”
“Jesus, Kurt. You’re already with someone else. I saw you with her. Who is she? Is that Sarah? You said you hated her.” She unzipped the front of her corset and exposed her breasts. “Let’s do the piercings.”
He sighed. “Yes, it’s Sarah, and yes, I’m with her again.”
“I thought so.” She jiggled her breasts. “You’d turn me down for her?”
“Yes.” He picked up his piercing tools. “Both nipples?”
“Yes.” She bunched her breasts. “You used to love them.”
“I did, but the rest of the package wasn’t so great.” He swabbed her nipple and areola with antiseptic. “If I do these, then we’ll have to wait to do the tattoo. It’ll be too painful. Or I can do the tattoo, but not the piercings.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You want to get another session out of me.”
“Actually, no. I don’t like touching up someone else’s work. It’s not professional, and I don’t like doing it. If I’d known I was fixing someone else’s stuff, I’d have declined. Do you want the piercings or not?”
“No.” She stuffed her breasts into her corset and zipped it up. “A tattoo is a tattoo. What does it matter?”
“It matters because it’s my integrity.” He put the piercing supplies down. “And you don’t seem to care.”
“Skulls doesn’t mind.”
“Skulls?” He didn’t know that one.
“My boyfriend.” She crooked her brow. “He said you wouldn’t do it, and he was right. You’re lame.”
Ah, now it all made sense. She’d moved on already, too. She’d also started the name-calling. Swell. “You’re right.”
“I hear Sarah’s a witch,” Dicey said. “I’m not being bitter. She’s an actual witch. You know, poof, magic and shit.”
“Does it matter?”
“It does. Once people find out you’re with a witch, they’ll stop coming to the shop.”
“Then they do.” He doubted it. “I’ll live with the consequences.”
“Good. The consequences are that you’re a jackass, and I never loved you.” She flipped him off as she left his space. “And you can fuck off, too.”
He tore his gloves off as he raced after Dicey. He’d never been in love with her like he had been with Sarah. He hated things had to end this way, but he didn’t miss Dicey. Not one bit.
Dicey stepped up to the front door and flipped them both off before leaving the shop.
Jimmy’s client snorted. “Well, that’s one way to leave,” Norm said. “It’s memorable, but crude.”
“Sure is.” Kurt wanted to melt into the floor.
Jimmy shrugged. “You can’t please everyone. Ready, Norm?”
“Nope, you can’t, and yes, I’m ready.” Norm clapped Kurt on the shoulder. “You’re better off without her.”
“Thanks.” He sank onto the stool behind the counter. On one hand, it irked him how Dicey had left this way. So wrong. But on the other hand, he wasn’t that upset. At least she hadn’t said anything about being pregnant. Then again, they hadn’t slept together in the last four months. She would’ve known by now if she was with child. Would’ve told him how he’d ruined her modeling career, too.
He checked the security footage on his phone. He liked to call it his doggy cam -- that way he could check on Axel. He switched to the view of the living room. Axel sat with Sarah on one end of the sofa and Karey sat on the other end. They appeared to be in mid-conversation.
Good. He liked seeing Sarah happy.
Ricky strolled into the shop and jingled the bell. “I thought you’d be on tonight. Where’s your girl?”
“At home.” Kurt minimized the app. “How can I help you?”
“I have Sarah’s phone. We did connect her to Brady Vaughn and the texts she received. He’s already moved onto the next conquest. We had a report of a woman being accosted, and the guy matches Brady’s description.”
“Great.” Jesus. The guy had to stop.
“We brought him in today to talk about it and the incident with Sarah. He says he wasn’t there. Footage from the CCTV says otherwise, so do the witnesses, but no one saw the assault firsthand.”
“Of course.” The bastard probably knew how to work the angles.
“If another complaint comes in and we have stronger proof, she may be called in to give her side once more,” Ricky said. “If there are charges brought, she may be asked to testify.”
“You’ll have to ask her, but I bet she will.” She’d grown stronger in the last twenty-four hours.
“Good. Here’s her phone. It’ll need to be charged, but that’s life.” Ricky rapped his knuckles on the counter. “When do you have appointment times?”
He liked tattooing Ricky. The man didn’t wiggle or complain. He let the work get done.
“I want to touch up my armband and add my wife’s name to the vines. Think you’ve got time?” Ricky asked.
He checked his tablet. “Next Wednesday… at seven-thirty?”
“Perfect.” Ricky added the info to his phone. “I want her name there with me all the time.”
“Why not?”
“Exactly.” Ricky paused. “I’d like to talk to Sarah if she’s got any questions or has any issues.”
“Will tell her that.”
“I figured she’d be here with you. I stopped at her house, and her neighbor said she was on vacation.” Ricky crooked his brow. “She showed up when I knocked on the door.”
“Mrs. Namey. Sarah said she’s a good lady.” So?
“She’s Brady’s mother.”
“You’re fucking kidding me. I had no idea. He never came over when I was out, and I never saw him there.” Jesus. No wonder she’d seemed so concerned. “And?”
“Sarah’s not in any danger per se, but I’d like her to be cautious.”
“She thinks Sarah’s on vacation.”
“With you. She mentioned the nasty tattooed man.” Ricky snorted. “You’re not nasty.”
“I’m not her son.”
“No.”
“But she knows me. She’s met me.” He’d seen her a few times and recognized her from when he’d first dated Sarah, but he’d kept his distance because there wasn’t time to hang out with the neighbor when he’d rather be with his girl.
“People get strange when someone they love has done something wrong,” Ricky said. “We’re increasing police presence in the area.”
“Until further notice, Sarah will be with me.” He’d already decided. “Axel missed her.”
“Will she agree? You’ve just made a big decision without her.”
“I did.” He didn’t care. He had to take charge right now.
“Just be smart. I almost lost my wife because I got a little too pushy.”
“Understood.” He couldn’t lose her, but he didn’t want to push her away, either.
“I’ll be here in a week for that appointment. Thanks.” Ricky shook hands with him. “You’re a lucky guy, and Sarah’s a good girl. See you.”
“She is.” He waved as Ricky left the shop. Once the lobby was empty, Kurt texted Sarah that he had her phone.
R U busy, she replied.
Nope. Now that Dicey had left, he had lots of time. Want to talk?
Within seconds, she called him. “Hi.”
“Hi, sweetheart. Everything okay?” He doodled on the tablet left on the counter.
“I’m okay. I’m a little lonely,” she said. “Karey left a little while ago.”
“Did you get to patch things up with her?”
“We did.”
“Good.” He kept doodling. “I’ll be home just after midnight.”
“I can’t wait,” she said. “Did Dicey show up?”
“She did, but she’s gone.”
“Is she pregnant?”
“What?” He snorted. She’d thought the same thing he had. “No.”
“I thought for sure she’d come in to tell you she was pregnant,” Sarah replied. “It’s bugged me since you got her text.”
“It’s nothing. She wanted a couple piercings and touch-up work, but I can’t do both. It’s a long story, but it wasn’t going to work.” He dropped the pen. “She showed me her breasts and thought I’d do what she wanted -- probably for free -- and I refused.”
“That’s bad business.”
“To refuse? I’d probably tattoo or pierce you for free.” He’d considered piercing her again, if she’d asked.
“I’m not going to model it, though.”
“No, but you could.” She could model whatever she wanted for him. He’d happily subscribe.
“You’re silly.”
“So? You like it.”
“I do.” She sighed. “Is it midnight yet?”
“Half past. Trust me, I’d like to be home.”
“With me?”
“Yes, babe. I want to kiss every inch of your body. I miss us being us.”
“Me, too.”
Christ. He’d needed to hear that. “Sarah.”
“I miss the way you’d hold me,” she said. “I want the normal back in my life. The good.”
“You’ve got it.” He needed her too much, too. He’d do whatever she wanted when he got home. “We do need to talk.”
“That’s not good. What’s wrong?”
“Mrs. Namey is Brady’s mother. It might be nothing, but it could be something,” he said. “I also have your phone.”
“Good on the phone but shit on Mrs. Namey. I thought she was nice. Nosy, but nice.”
“Did she have your cell number?”
“She did, but she doesn’t know I turned him in -- at least I don’t think she knows. We didn’t tell anyone.”
“No, but he has to know you were upset, and if there are others he’s done this to, then it stands to reason that if they turned him in, you might, too.” He’d thought this through a thousand times since she’d told him what had happened.
“Makes sense,” she murmured. “Jesus. I wish I had the magic to make this go away.”
“It’ll be all right.” He’d make sure of it. “I’ve got a client coming in. I’ll see you in a little while, sweetheart. I’ll hold you then.”
“I know you will.”
He tucked the phone into his back pocket as the trio of women came into the shop. He and Jimmy weren’t taking walk-ins, but maybe he could convince them to come back for an appointment.
“We want tattoos,” the one wearing the sash stated. “Right now.”
“I see.” Kurt pushed the book of designs across the counter. “What do you want for this tattoo?”
Jimmy ventured out of his tattoo space with Norm. “Hi, girls.”
Norm snorted, then nodded. “Good luck and thanks.” He left without another word.
Jimmy stationed himself at the counter with Kurt.
Kurt laced his fingers together. “What design would you like?” He refused to do their ink tonight, not because of their walk-in status, but he smelled beer on them.
“A fairy.” The blond without the sash laughed. “Right now.”
“I’m sorry. We can’t do that.” Kurt shook his head. “Did you just come from the bar down the street?”
“So?” The brunette pouted. “It’s her birthday, and you should give us a deal.”
“We won’t ink you if you’ve been drinking,” Jimmy said. “This is a commitment, and it’s best to have a clear head when you do this. If you have regrets, you can’t easily undo the decision.”
He and Jimmy dealt with this all the time. If they tattooed everyone who came into the shop, it’d be a disaster.
The girl with the sash opened the design book. “There are so many fairies. Shit. We never decided which one.”
“Or where,” the blond added. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Why don’t you set a date and get together to decide which fairy you want?” Kurt asked. “Then you can discuss it.” And get out of my store before you puke on my floor.
“But it’s my birthday,” the girl with the sash cried. “I wanted a fairy for my present.”
Jimmy groaned softly. “We’ll give you a deal for your birthday if you come back later for your appointment.”
If they came back. Kurt forced a smile. He had no problem inking them at a later date if they knew what they wanted and were clear-headed.
“Fine.” The brunette sighed. “We got one more special at Clowsers. Let’s go.”
When the ladies left, Kurt relaxed on his stool. “Why is it always the birthday special somewhere else, after they’ve been drinking, that convinces them to come in for ink?”
“It’s the booze. A lot of them aren’t committed without a little liquid encouragement,” Jimmy replied.
The bell dinged, and a new person walked into the shop. Kurt flattened his hand on the counter to keep from bunching his hand into a fist. Brady would have to show up tonight. The man didn’t know how to leave well enough alone.
“Hi.” Brady hooked his fingers into his front pockets. “So, this is Tattoo You? I’m impressed.”
Kurt’s blood chilled. Shit. What did Brady need here?
“Can we help you?” Jimmy asked. “Are you interested in a tattoo? Piercing?”
Leaving? Kurt crooked his brow. “We’re not accepting walk-ins tonight.”
“I’m not a walk-in,” Brady said. “I thought I’d scope out the shop. I like to get a feel for what I’m looking at before I expect compensation.” He grinned. “You’ll want my branding for your shop.”
His branding? What the fuck was he talking about? Kurt fought the urge to shake his head.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Jimmy folded his arms. “Kurt and I have the right branding already.”
“You do?” Brady snorted.
“We do,” Jimmy said. “We built this business on our own.”
“You need a celebrity face. Without me, you won’t be a top shop,” Brady said. “I’ll get you to the next level.”
“We’re fine.” Jimmy stood tall. “Thanks, but no, thanks.”
Kurt refused to give the man who’d assaulted Sarah any credence. “You’re not the right image for our shop.”
“A celebrity endorsement goes a long way,” Brady said. “Or maybe you’d take my help in trade for a little assistance.”
“We help you and we help you? That’s hardly fair.” Kurt couldn’t hold back and shook his head. “No, thanks.”
“Take me as your celebrity face, or I’ll tell everyone that you and your piece of tail are blackmailing me,” Brady said, his voice smooth. “I’ll rep your brand if you get her to take back her accusations.”
The jackass. “Get out,” Kurt snapped. “Now.”
“You’d turn me down? Me? Do you know who I am?” Brady shouted. “Do you seriously know who I am?”
“Yeah, I do,” Kurt said. “I heard the argument already, and I still hate it, so no. Get out.”
“You heard him. Get out,” Jimmy said. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Your loss. You could’ve had a string of shops and gone global. Could’ve been famous. Now you’ll be bankrupt in six months,” Brady said and sneered. “It’s my word against hers, and I’ll take you all down.”
Kurt stood rooted to the spot. He didn’t want to make the situation worse, but Brady made his blood boil. How could this asshole think he had the right to ruin their lives?
“Get. Out.” Jimmy rounded the counter and opened the door for Brady. “Now.”
Brady sneered again but left without another word.
Jimmy slammed the door shut, and Kurt mashed the button to put the outer gate down.
“Jesus fuck.” Jimmy locked the door. “Who does he think he is?”
