Page 58 of Pelvic Flaws

“I suppose that does change things. I know you helped Katie when the car broke down.”

At the mention of the car, Dex stiffened beside me and his palm landed on my shoulder. I glanced at him and saw the tick in his jaw – he really had issues with my car.

“Yeah, I did,” Dex replied, his voice tight.

“So where are you from, Dex?” Sophie asked brightly.

The change in subject was sudden and if I didn’t know better, I’d say she knew Carl was on thin ice on the subject of my crap car. She ought to know, I suppose. Carl and I’d had enough arguments about it over the last couple of years.

“Ah well, I thought you’d want to know all about me, so I put this together for you.” Dex moved his arm from around my back, shifted in his seat, and reached behind to his jeans’ pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Carl. “Everything you need to know about me should be on there.”

Carl unfolded it and looked down at the words, which I could see were in neat typeface.

“You got one of those for me?” I whispered in Dex’s ear as Carl and Sophie read the notes.

“Yeah, but yours have some vital measurements on it.” Dex grinned at me and moved his arm back into its original position around me. “However, I can think of much better ways of us getting to know each other, Katie Cat.”

“Katie Cat?” I echoed, leaning back to look at him.

“Hmm,” he replied, flicking his tongue along his bottom lip. “I kinda like it. It’s cute, like you. And I hate those generic shit nicknames like babe or baby – it’s a lazy way to conduct a relationship.”

“You call me darlin’.”

“Yeah, but I call lots of people darlin’. Katie Cat is my name just for you. You okay with it?” Dex asked.

I looked into his eyes that were sparkling and I felt my heart skip a beat.

“Yeah, I agree,” I whispered. “I like Katie Cat much better.”

“Good.”

He lifted his drink and watched me carefully as he took a sip. Watching to check I wasn’t over thinking things again and because I wasn’t, as soon as he put his glass back on the table, I leaned in and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you for doing this.”

“My pleasure,” he replied. “If it makes life easier for all of us, then it’s the least I can do.”

I was thinking about kissing him again, when Carl coughed to gain our attention.

“It all seems okay,” he said, tapping a finger on the piece of paper.

“You’re a tattoo artist?”

Sophie practically bounced in her seat and I knew what was coming, as I recalled my conversation with Annie about Sophie’s up and coming tattoo.

“Semi-retired,” Dex replied. “I only do work on a small group of regulars these days. Running the business takes up too much time.”

“Oh that’s a shame,” Sophie sighed, screwing up her tiny little nose. “I’m getting a tattoo aren’t I babe?”

Dex and I looked at each other, both holding back laughter.

“Yeah,” Carl replied, looking a little uncomfortable.

He no more wanted Dex to tattoo his wife than I did.

“Actually,” I said, hoping to distract Sophie. “We need to speak to you about Dex’s studio.”

“What about it?” Carl asked, looking between us.

---