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Instead, I’m sitting in my chair at Valor Ink, drawing up my next client’s design. My phone rings and I look up, praying that it’s Bristle, but instead I see Zeke’s name flash across the screen.
“Hey, man,” I answer with a smile as I lean back in my chair.
I can hear the constant sound of buzzing in the background which means he must be at his tattoo shop, Eye Candy Ink.
“Hey, how’s it going?” He asks, sounding a little scatterbrained and I toss down my pencil, turning all of my attention to the phone call.
“Good, busy,” I tell him and I can tell that he’s moving.
A second later, the buzzing noise dies down and I know that he must have gone into his office and closed the door.
“I thought you had retired?” I joke and he laughs.
“I did, but Trixie wasn’t feeling good tonight so I’m here covering her clients. I called Mischa in so I can go home and take care of her, but he’s taking forever to get his shit ready.”
“I heard that, Dad!” I hear Mischa call and I grin.
Mischa is another tattoo artist at Eye Candy Ink, and that guy is such a riot. I met him, Atlas, Nico, and Sam when I was there a few years ago to study under Zeke and we had hit it off right away. It’s hard to not get along with him and the rest of the employees though. They’re all good people.
The whole time that I was there, Mischa kept calling Zeke “dad” and it took me a full day to realize that he wasn’t actually his son, and that he was just teasing him. Nico told me to just ignore him.
“Go do that tattoothang,” Zeke drawls and I’m pretty sure that Mischa just flipped him off, judging by the way Zeke starts laughing.
“Anyway, I was just calling to see if you wanted a job. We’re hiring for the new tattoo shop and I thought of you. Want to join the Eye Candy Ink team?”
“Thanks for thinking of me, man, but I’m going to have to pass. I love it here in Valor too much.”
“I can keep Mischa here at this shop if that changes your mind,” Zeke jokes and I laugh.
“No, it’s not that. I actually like the little guy.”
“I’m definitely telling him that you said that.”
“I look forward to the text from him later tonight then,” I say with a laugh. “I like Valor. The MC is here and so is my girl.”
“You got a girl now?” He asks, his tone interested.
“Just met her last night but I know already. She’s the one for me.”
“Does she know that yet?” He asks.
“Not yet. I’ll catch her up later.”
Zeke laughs and I grin. I didn’t realize how much I missed talking to him.
“Well congratulations,” he says. I love that he doesn’t question my feelings. He fell for his wife, Trixie, just as quickly so he can’t really judge me. “Let me know if you ever change your mind. We’ll always have a spot for you here,” he tells me.
“Thanks Zeke. Tell Trixie that I hope she feels better soon. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Talk later,” he says, sounding distracted at the mention of his wife.
We hang up and I pick up my pencil, finishing the final touches on my newest design. My client should be here any minute but while I wait, I pick up my phone and send another message to Bristle.
WILD:Thinking of you.
I know that I won’t get a response to this message either, so I head up to the front lobby. Valor Ink is downtown and there’s always a bunch of people hanging out inside, watching the artists as they work, or checking out all of the art and designs on the walls.
It’s a retro looking tattoo shop with black and white floors and red vinyl chairs. Every time I walk in, I get the feeling that I should see a pin-up girl standing in the corner or something.
