Part 17 (1/2)

And London's eyes are locked on her b.o.o.bs. Because I have a complex or somethin', I blurt out, ”Hey, I was hopin' to add on to mine while we're here.”

That's a big lie. But no way is he getting his hands on her. I'll make him work on me instead.

”Really? You're going to do it with me?” Hayley's eyes brighten and dude, she looks so happy, I'm glad I came up with the BS even if it means I gotta get stabbed in the wrist again.

”Yeah.”

”Sa-weet!” She grabs my wrist and yanks off the leather band I keep around it. ”What are you going to do?”

”Yeah, Bro...” London smiles, leaning against the counter again... towards Hayles. ”What kind of add on are you looking to get?”

Maybe it's *cause I'm a douche, but I feel like punchin' him in the mouth. But my already sore knuckles tell me it's not worth it. The flirting may be my imagination anyways.

”I dunno. Like a chain or something to wrap the two symbols together?”

”Oh! That'll look supa awesome.” Hayles traces around the ink on my wrist, making swirly patterns between the marks already there. ”That reminds me...” She drops my hand. ”You never told me what they mean.”

London c.o.c.ks an eyebrow as he tongues his lip ring. He pushes off the counter and goes into the back, leavin' us alone.

”Later?”

She huffs, but smiles. ”Okay, but you owe me that story.”

”I know, I know.”

We're quiet while she flips through more designs... well, I'm quiet. She's humming a song under her breath and tapping her foot.

”You know...” Voice-box shuts down. I was goin' to tell her how amazin' her voice is, but I've lost my nerve. And I can't think of anything else to say.

”Was there an end to that sentence?” She giggles, shuts the book and leans on it.

Yes. ”I guess not.”

She laughs again.

”All right!”

London comes out with Marisa, the other artist in the shop. She's got next to nothing on top, and her gauged ears have pen caps in them. She gives us both a wide smile and says, ”Okay, I call that hot piece of a.s.s.”

Reason 15: You rock some s.e.xy ink.

I must be really arrogant, *cause I swear Marisa was referring to my *hot piece of a.s.s', but she links elbows with Hayles and brings her into the back room, London protestin' the whole way.

”No you don't. I designed the lotus she wants. I get to put it on her.”

And Hayley thinks she's not hot? She better after this display of two older tattoo artists fightin' over who gets to put ink on her. Man, I wish I had the talent to do it, so I could get a vote thrown my way.

”Yo, London.” Better make it easy for them. ”I'd like you to do the chain on mine if you don't mind.” Think of a good reason, Brody. ”You know, since you did this one.” I point to my wrist like a d.a.m.n fool.

”Fine.” He looks at Marisa who's sticking her tongue out. ”But I get to do the next lotus.”

”Deal.”

Hayley's face is bright red, lookin' a little awkward. She catches my eye, throws me a grin and inches toward my hand. I grasp hers before she has a chance to change her mind.

”Okay, first thing's first.” Marisa squirts a glob of hand sanitizer in her palm and rubs it around. ”You got ID?”

Hayles nods, pulling her license from her back pocket. Marisa takes a quick look, then a double take, then squeals. ”Nice. Birthday tatt?”

”Yep. Isn't Brody an awesome buddy?”

Does she still not get that this is. A. Date? How can I be more obvious?

”Sure is.” Marisa hands back the ID, then gives us all the paperwork we gotta fill out. After twenty minutes of answerin' all the questions, Marisa says, ”Now, tell me where you want it.”

”Hmm...” Hayles pats her body, talkin' under her breath. I don't know if I'm meant to hear it, but I do.

Her fingers prod her hip bone. ”No... too chubby for that one.” Darn girl. She moves to her b.u.t.t. ”Maybe, but not sure if I want a flower next to the hole I use for waste, though it would make sense to put one there.”

I have to force back the laughter barreling from my mouth. Gotta turn it into one of those lame coughs. Hayles is still talkin' to herself as she runs her hands over her body. The b.o.o.bs are out because *they're not done growing'. If that's true, I'm in trouble. The stomach and sides are also a no because of the *chubby' thing. Girl is crazy. And the feet and ankles were a *frickin' NOT happening' because that would hurt more than a *bunch of lobsters in a hot tub'.

She looks up at Marisa, a slight frown on her face and her eyebrows creased right there in the middle that drives me insane.

”How about here?” I know it's an excuse to touch her, but I don't care. I gently press her left shoulder blade. Goose b.u.mps crawl up her neck, and she s.h.i.+vers. Blush fills her checks as she looks at me with a big smile.

”Yep. That's where I want it.” She shrugs off my hand. Okay, point taken. She's still not into the touching. ”Thanks, Brody.”

I nod and tuck my hands in my pockets to keep from movin' them all over her. Won't push my luck anymore tonight.

”*Kay, come have a seat right here...” Marisa pats the chair in the right corner. ”And Brody you can have the station next to her if you want to watch.”

”Yeah, please sit next to me,” says as she takes her place in the seat Marisa pointed to. ”I need someone to blabber to, *cause I'm a little nervous.”

For a second I get real stupid and think she's talkin' about being nervous about me. That I make her nervous. But duh... not me, the needle that'll be stabbin' her makes her more nervous than I ever will.

And I should not be jealous of a tatt gun.

I plop down at the station next to Hayles, waiting for London to bring me a design to look over. Marisa says she'll be right back, and then it's silent.

I should say somethin', but nothing is going through my brain. Hayley does look nervous, which is cute because I've never really seen her like this.

”You all right there, jumpy?”

She purses her lips together and nods like her head is going to fall off if she moves it too much.

”Liar.”

She throws me a sort of smile then starts tapping her knees.