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I was half tempted to suggest we just hang out in her room, but I also wanted the tattoo.
Natty grabbed a red jacket from a coat rack, and then her small backpack purse came around her shoulders.
We exited the room, and I noticed Natty locked the door behind her. It seemed so odd to me that the club was her home, but also, she had managed to create a safe space for herself that seemed so opposite of the chaotic club below her room. A beautiful life that seemed happy. Like someone had handed her a knife and then given her full rein to carve out a world within these walls.
It made me glad for her and invigorated that maybe I too would carve out my own place here and belong.
Making our way outside and to Callie’s car, we stopped first at the Shake Shack. Callie had worked at the small establishment as a teen, so we were regaled with stories and hilarious memories while we waited for our orders.
Once we had a ridiculous number of fries, three different flavors of shakes and burgers, we headed over to Dead Roses, the tattoo parlor. Since it was a slower night, there was only one other artist on shift, who was currently watching Netflix out front, waiting for any walk-ins.
Which left us alone in the back. We knew Harris and Giles were around, watching, but they weren’t inside with us, which allowed us some privacy. I was shocked that Giles didn’t stay behind and send someone else. When I asked, he merely smiled and said he was right where Killian wanted him. I could tell he was proud of that, and I felt…like I’d somehow become more precious than even his club.
We sat at the table in the break room with our food spread out. Natty got a veggie burger but attacked it with the same ferocity as my pregnant friend did with her beef patty.
“You decide on a name yet?” Natty asked around a bite of her food.
Callie took a sip of her shake then cleared her throat. “We’re thinking about Ford.”
“Ford Ryan?” I quirked a brow, teasing my friend so she wouldn’t catch onto the fact that I had secretly wanted that name. I had left dozens of little post its around her house, in her purse, and in the club. To keep up the ruse, I’d suggest something that started with an L.
Her face flushed. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you.”
Natty started silently laughing while still chewing.
“What about Logan Ryan or Lee Ryan?”
Her hazel eyes rolled as she crinkled the paper for her burger. She’d already devoured it. “You need to let this L obsession go.”
“Just promise me you’ll name her after me when she turns out to be a girl.”
Callie slid out of her chair and threw her dinner away. “I will do no such thing.”
We all laughed, and as soon as Natty and I finished, we moved toward Callie’s space.
“What are we designing today?” Callie asked me, while pulling out her sketchbook.
I was suddenly nervous as I considered what this would mean when her and Natty saw it. And more importantly, when Killian saw it.
“Here, let me sketch it.” I grabbed her notebook.
Callie’s attention went to Natty who was flipping through a book with previous designs.
She stopped and stared at one in particular and then slid it in front of my best friend.
“Can you do this, with the shading?”
Callie’s brow furrowed as she studied it.
“Where do you want it?”
Natty drew closer then pointed at her chest. “Over my heart.”
Curious, I peered over at the binder where Natty had found her image. The one she’d selected was a myriad of trees. Withered and dying trees, with twisted roots and bare branches. I wondered at its significance when Callie turned back toward me.
“We’re going to start with you because it’ll take me longer.” She pulled on a pair of latex gloves and then started digging through her rolling desk of supplies.
“Between the shoulder blades?” she asked, while pulling on a pair of glasses.
