Oliver shrugs. “Maybe a little sore, but it’s barely noticeable.”
While I’m this close to Oliver, I take the chance to admire his hair. It’s a lovely shade of sandy blonde—darker at the roots and lightening through to the tips. For a dude, he clearly takes good care of his hair and scalp. It occurs to me, though, that I’ve never seen it out of a bun or ponytail. How long would it be if he wore it down? Maybe shoulder-length? Perhaps a little past his shoulders?
“What is it?” Oliver asks nervously. “Does the piercing look weird? Do I have something in my hair?”
I shake my head. “No, nothing’s wrong or weird.” I try to come up with a lie about what I was doing, but then I rememberI don’t have to. “I was just admiring your hair. Have I told you lately how pretty it is?”
Oliver’s concern morphs into confusion, then he flashes a coy smile. “Not recently,” he answers.
“You should wear it down more often, maybe.”
“Maybe I will.”
“Okay, Oliver, are you ready for the second one?”
“Ready!”
It’s over just as quickly as the first, and Oliver eagerly strides to the mirror to check for himself. “Damn, I look amazing!”
“You sure do, babe,” I agree, winking at his reflection.
“Everything looks good, then?” Bree asks, peeling off her gloves.
“They look perfect,” Oliver answers. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome! Now it’s Jude’s turn.”
Bree repeats the process for me, cleaning my nose with the alcohol wipe, marking the placement on my left nostril, and having me confirm it. I spend a few extra seconds in front of the mirror, staring at my face and contemplating my decision for the millionth time. Am I sure I want to do this?
“You’re not getting cold feet, are you?” Oliver asks, watching my reflection.
I sigh. “What if my parents are right? Will this affect my job prospects?”
“Look at it this way,” Oliver says, once again resting a grounding palm in the middle of my back. “Do you really want to work for a place that would hesitate to hire someone based on their appearance alone?”
Huh. I hadn’t thought of it like that. “Not at all.”
“Then I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
Relief washes over me, and I smile. “Thanks, Oliver.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I give Bree the all clear and return to the chair. Oliver steps to my right and offers his hand, which I eagerly accept. With our fingers intertwined, I nervously anticipate the needle.
“Now, you’re going to feel some uncomfortable pressure as I get it into position, and it’s going to hurt like hell, but once the needle is through, that’s it.” Bree makes direct eye contact. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Everything Bree describes is accurate, and tears fill my eyes from the pain, but then it’s over. “And, we’re done!”
“Oh no, are you okay?” Oliver asks, his finger brushing my cheek where a tear has trickled. “You’re crying.”
“That’s normal,” Bree reassures him. “It’s quite a bit more painful than lobe piercings.”
“Yeah, it definitely hurt,” I say with a chuckle. “But I’m fine now.”
“It looks rad,” Oliver says with a grin. “Go take a look!”
