Page 44 of Happily Ever Never

“It’s not my fault you guys took so long. You should havelistened to me. I know all. Now, I came here to watch you give my favorite personin the world a tattoo. I trust him, May. But I want to be here. Plus, I cantake photos for your mother.”

May blushed, and I grinned.

“Really. I thought I wouldn’t meet your family untiltomorrow for dinner.” And that was going to be nerve-racking enough.

She swallowed hard. “Well, my aunt mentioned that she wantedto stop by, and now that I think about it, I didn’t actually tell you where Iwas getting my tattoo.” May narrowed her gaze. “That’s a little worrying.”

“I see all. I know all.” Brandi took her phone out and satin front of me. “Okay, get to work. I want to see this ink. Welcome to thefamily, Leo.” She winked as May blushed, and I laughed.

“You’re nothing but trouble.”

“It’s true.”

I set out all of my tools and thenworked on the stencil. It was a simple setting sun tattoo, just an outline,something small that would go on her inner wrist. But it had taken May a fullmonth to figure out what she wanted. That was May. She either went intosomething headfirst, or she took ages to come up with a plan. There was noin-between when it came to her.

But that was why I loved her.

I settled the stencil on her skin, and we looked it over,making sure we had it in the right position.

“Take your time. If you’re not ready, you can walk away.This is permanent, you know.”

“I’m ready. I trust you.”

“Aww,” Brandi said from my side before sighing.

I scowled at her. “Quiet in the peanut gallery.”

“I’m zipping my lips. And I may have both phones in my handsbecause her mother’s on the call, too.”

I winced but waved at the phone, knowing she could see me,but I couldn’t see her. May simply rolled her eyes and held out her wrist.

“Okay. Let’s get this done.”

I leaned forward and kissed her softly. “I’m ready.”

“Do you kiss all your clients?”

“He hasn’t kissed me yet. I feel like I’ve been left out.”

“Brandi, shut up. Let me see my daughter,” May’s mom saidfrom the phone, and Brandi turned the phone so May could say hi.

We both waved, and then I focused on May and her ink, makingsure I got it right.

It was a quick tattoo, and May didn’t even wince. She justsmiled at me, her eyes wide as she watched me work.

I loved my job. I loved inking flesh and making art thatwould last forever. This was a moment in time that danced on someone’s skin.One that would never go away. They were taking part of me with them, even if itwas only the experience.

And this was my May. I wanted to make sure she hadeverything she wanted.

“Okay. We already went over the aftercare but let’s makesure we have it down,” I said as I went through everything again, covering hertattoo with the clear bandage.

“It didn’t even hurt. I liked it.”

“Oh, great, now my daughter is like my sister—an addict,”May’s mom said with a laugh. “You did a great job, Leo. We’ll see you tomorrowfor dinner. Goodbye, baby,” her mom said and hung up. I winced.

“You know, that was my first time ever tattooing mygirlfriend while her family watched. It was a little nerve-racking.”

“Tell me about it. I’m stressedout,” Nick said from his station, and I barely resisted the urge to flip himoff.