“What the fuck are you doing?” Jesse says, looking back over his shoulder to watch me set up my station.

“Shut the fuck up and turn around,” I tell him, pocketing my phone, gloving up and trying to get Holly out of my head. The asshole is in for ink and I’ll be fucked if I’m going to sit around sharing stories.

“Who the fuck you texting? Never seen you look at your phone so much,” he states, turning back around.

“No one,” I tell him, cleaning the area I’m about to work on. I’m not about to tell him about Holly. The asshole will be all over that.

“Didn’t look like no one.”

“Jesse, shut the fuck up.”

“Whatever, they’ll soon realize what an asshole you are,” he laughs, but I don’t. Holly already knows I’m an asshole.

“Why the fuck are you in such a good mood this morning?” I ask him, checking the placement and making sure it’s even.

“Aww, man. Bagged this chick last night in the back room of Liquid. So freakin’ tight,” he groans, remembering the moment.

“Jesus, Jesse, I don’t want to know about that shit,” I scold. Jesse is the biggest fucking whore. I sometimes worry about his manhood. “I hope you’re fucking wrapping that shit up.”

“Always, brother, always,” he laughs, resting back.

“How’s that?” I ask, checking the placement on his ribs. This design he’s had me working on for the last few weeks will eventually be huge. Starting from the top of his ribs, down his side and around to his back; each and every detail of the drawing is a significant moment to him. I don’t ask questions. I just draw up his design. In this case, I tidied up Jesse’s design. I didn’t expect to learn he had hand-drawn the sketch he handed me a few weeks back himself.

“Fucking A,” he says, standing in front of the mirror. “Let's do this,” he insists, coming to lie back down on his side.

“You at Liquid tonight?” I ask, settling in for the two-hour job. This is the only place you’ll ever find me seeking out pointless conversation. The sound of my ink gun buzzing, and dull, monotonous talk—there is something about it that calms my mind.

“Yeah, girls have their party tomorrow night. Need to sort that shit out,” he says, revealing one bit of the puzzle Holly has been hiding.

“They’re having it there?”

“Yeah, fucking stripper and all.”

What the fuck? Like hell is some fucker gonna swing his dick in Holly’s face.

“Does Nix know this?” I look up, pissed he would even be okay with this shit.

“I don’t think he does. Was going to talk to him about it tonight,” he says, looking down at the needle.

“Can’t see him being all right about it,” I put out there as I go back to tattooing Jesse’s side.

“I’m betting he won’t be, but he’s whipped so who fucking knows what he’s gonna do.”

“I say we cancel that shit. Some asshole swinging his dick in his old lady’s face… the picture alone will have him coming out of his skin,” Jesse laughs, moving too much for me to keep going. I don’t know about Nix, but the picture has me seeing fucking red.

“Or we could call in new talent,” he grins and I can already tell I’m going to like the idea that’s running through his head.

“What sort of new talent?”

“The sort that will piss them off, and make for a good fucking laugh.”

“Let’s do it,” I agree, not needing to think on it. Holly isn’t seeing some other guy’s cock when she only needs to see mine.

“Wanna run it by the Prez?” Jesse suggests, reaching for his cell.

“Fuck no, just do it,” I order. Nix will agree anyway. This way his hands are clean.

“Holly’s going to shit a brick,” he warns, searching his phone for the contact. She probably will, but I’d rather a pissed off Holly than a turned on one. If anyone is making her wet, it’s gonna be me. I don’t say that to Jesse, just continue tattooing his ribs while he makes the call. As of tomorrow, I know I’m in deep shit, but I can’t help the smile forming from just thinking about it.

***

“What’s happening at this bachelorette party?” I ask her later that day from my position on her sofa. As soon as I arrived at hers, I made myself comfortable and have been firmly fixed on my back while she reads.

“We’re just going to Liquid. Why?” she asks suspiciously, looking over her book at me. Her eyes narrow when I don’t respond.

“Anything else I need to know about?” I finally ask.

“Nope,” she smiles, going back to her book. Even if I didn’t know she was lying for sure, the guilt plastered all over her face is a dead-set give away.

“What the fuck are you reading anyway?” I ask, annoyed she isn’t giving me her attention.

“Just something Kadence left behind.” She goes back to reading. Her lips move as she reads, making her even cuter.

“Is this one of her porn books?” I lean forward and pull it out of her hands. I’ve heard Nix talk about these smut books she reads. He told us one night it was just pure porn.

“Sy, give it back.” She jumps up, trying to pry it out of my hands.

I keep her at arm’s distance and read aloud from the book. “He allowed his molten juices to intermingle with hers,” I read over her screaming. “What the actual fuck, Holly?” I ask, trying to hold her off as I read some more. She climbs onto me, her ass right in my lap, but I can’t even think about that now.