Page 37 of Back to Me
“When are you looking at getting it done?”
“I am off for two days this weekend, so I was hoping to do it then?” I nodded, remembering Beau’s crew was off; it was why Savannah was organizing her baby announcement and gender reveal for then. I reached into the set of drawers, taking out the tablet we made our appointments on.
“Give me two minutes?” He nodded. I turned and went to the door of Gabby’s booth. I knocked and opened the door. She was sitting down with a sketch book in her lap. “I need to ask a favor—”
“No.”
“You don’t even know what I am going to ask.”
“If it involves my ex, the answer is no.”
“Please? I will do up the tattoo, I just need you to do it for me. I have a family thing on this weekend, and he wants it done while he has the time off.”
“Oh, so you get the easy part! No dice. Plus, I don’t want to tattoo someone with another artist’s work.”
“Okay, so you do it then. It’s a half sleeve and you can set the price… Do you really want to turn that down?” She looked up with a sigh.
“Is it unethical to gag our clients?” Coughing back a laugh, I nodded.
“Yeah, just a little.”
“Fine, tell me what he wants, and I will quote him. You can message it to him later after I work it out.” I quickly turned and left before she changed her mind, heading back to Grady.
“I have a family thing on this weekend, but Gabby said that she will do it for you. She’ll draw it up for you and I will send you the quote if that works?”
“Really? She agreed? How the hell did you get her to do that?”
“I told her she could price it.”
“Alright, let’s do it. Lock it in before she changes her mind.” I nodded and added the booking to the calendar. He paid the deposit, and I told him that I would be in touch. Once he had left, I put the tablet away and locked the draw again. Ripping off the piece of paper with what he wanted, I went back to Gabby and gave it to her. She took one look at it, and I could see the regret in her face.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. This tattoo just got a lot harder though.”
“Why?”
“Because I know exactly what he wants, and I was the one who first designed it.”
“Why does that make it harder?”
“It’s the significance behind it, the story I’m not ready to tell yet.”
“I’m not going to pry, but if you want to talk about it, I am a good listener. If the tattoo is too hard, let me know and I will cancel the appointment and make it for when I can do it for him.” She nodded softly.
“I will let you know. Thanks, Austin.”
Leaving her alone, I closed the door behind me and went to my office to finish off what I was doing. I still had the design Ally wanted me to do for her to start as well. Is it too early to start drinking?
ChapterNineteen
Ally
It waspast six when Austin arrived home after work. When he came into the house and found me cooking dinner, I noticed his shoulders relax. He looked tired and worn out.
“Long day?”
“There were a lot of times today that I had to keep reminding myself that I love what I do or not tattoo ‘dickhead’ on someone.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing as he dropped his stuff and came to wrap his arms around me. Leaning into him, I pressed my lips to his jaw.
