Page 34 of The Other Princess

“I don’t have to go,” he told me, and I knew he meant it. He would choose to stay here with me even though I had no doubt my father knew he’d seen the message by now.

“Just do me a favor and tell my father he has no say in any relationship we may or may not have. What I do isn’t up for discussion, critique, or anything else from him.”

“Oh, we do have a relationship, Ev. You’re mine, and I’m yours. And you’re right that your father doesn’t have a single damn say in that. I do have to go though, because I have no doubt that he’ll send someone here to collect me sooner than later if I don’t show.” He leaned in and kissed me once more, gentler this time than when I’d been perched on his lap. “I’ll see you tomorrow, babe!” He told me as he pulled away and moved to the door that led outside instead of back into the tattoo studio where he’d waited for me before.

“See you,” I called out, and then shut and locked the door behind him.

~*~

Jay came in bright and early the next day to get his tattoo done, as he had planned with me. I took him back and got everything ready. He had already told me where I could possibly put it depending on what size image I had to ink. What I needed to put on his body was actually the smallest of the tattoos I’d created, but possibly the most meaningful, because once he figured it out, it might actually change the way he lived his life. I hoped it would anyway, for the sake of anyone else who crossed paths with the man.

It only took about 45 minutes to finish up, which shocked Jay, and when I covered his tat, and reminded him he wasn’t to look at it ahead of time he simply assured me he wouldn’t and didn’t bother asking any more questions. Still, his worried look both amused me and made me hurt for him all at once. He was expecting the worst from my tattoo and me. He was expecting revenge for what he’d done to me. He would get nothing like that from me. That’s why it was somewhat amusing. I once thought of this boy as a best friend, and a potential future life-partner, but I was finding out he never really knew me as either. If he had, he wouldn’t have bothered with the worry. The only thing I’d stamped on his body was some life advice, a reminder to be kind. As I was finishing up T-Bone and PeeWee walked in.

“Don’t suppose you have time for us today?” My brother asked as he eyed the worried look on J-Bird’s face.

“Actually, I have an appointment in 30 minutes,” I told him.

“No, you don’t,” Gretchen called from up front. “That guy just cancelled. Something about being afraid of your boyfriend.” Gretchen giggled after delivering that message, and added, “Pussy!”

T-Bone glanced back at Gretchen with a lascivious look that I did not want to think on any further. For her part, Gretchen went back to ignoring my brother while playing a game on her laptop she had set up on the front counter. “A gamer chick too?” My brother asked no one in particular before adjusting himself in a rather overt manner that I found disgusting. I could see Gretchen through his eyes though. She was a petite little thing with natural golden blond hair and big green eyes that almost looked like they belonged on a doll or an anime character instead of a human. Those eyes were framed with luscious thick lashes. Her perfect teeth and infectious smile just rounded out the whole perfect girl image. The blue streaks in her hair only added that hint of a wild child to her otherwise innocent features. She was just my brother’s type.

“If you ever learn some manners you might actually get a girl,” I told him. The guys all laughed at his expense prompting him to explain, “I get girls.” It was my turn to laugh. “Club whores don’t count. They’re basically paid to deal with your shit.” Again, the guys all laughed, and took the opportunity to jump in and call dibs on being next.

“Since your appointment canceled, I’ll go next. Lover boy there can wait his turn.”

“Sounds fair,” I agreed and sat him in my chair. I felt a little bad for Gretchen who then had to deal with my brother trying to convince her to give up her ice queen impression. I didn’t know if Gretchen was currently seeing anyone, but if my relentless brother had anything to do with it, she’d be seeing him, at least once. Unfortunately for her, my brother never dated girls seriously. He’d bed them and send them on their way, because he didn’t think the MC life was a place for families. I’d once asked him where he thought he came from, and all he’d said was “look how they treated you”. Fair enough. I’d let his theory drop after that, because honestly we weren’t at a place where either of us was offering life advice to the other anymore anyway.

It took around two hours to finish with PeeWee and then four to finally get done with my brother’s tattoo. Once I was added the last little bit of ink I had to give and turned my machine off my hand continued to buzz a bit as if I were still holding onto it. I shook my hands out, and then stood and stretched before wrapping him up and explaining the healing process and care procedure. It wasn’t as if my brother had never had ink before, but I still continued to go through the spiel with everyone to make it habit for when I worked with people new to tattoos.

“Okay, well, my work here is done,” I stated as a dismissal. My brother just sat there watching me as I started cleaning up around him. I wondered why he hadn’t taken the hint and gotten gone like PeeWee had once his tattoo was finished. I glanced over at him and he just grinned at me. “What?”

“So, what’s going on with you and Deck?”

“I don’t know,” I told him honestly.

“Aw, come on, I’m your brother you can tell me. I think he’s a good guy, so I’m not even going to beat his ass or anything.”

“Well, gee thanks, for that, I guess.” I rolled my eyes and went back to ignoring my brother.

“Seriously, what’s going on between the two of you? I know what he’s said, but I’m really curious about where you’re at with everything. It’s not like you have much experience dating.”

“Thanks for the reminder of how pathetic my life has been up to this point, Toby.” He winced and at least appeared to be sorry for his insensitivity. “Look,” I finally huffed out. “I don’t know what’s going on between us. We’ve gone out a couple times. That’s it.” I shrugged my shoulders up and down. “I don’t really know.”

“I thought we established the fact that you’re mine, and I’m yours, last night?” I turned to see Deck standing in the opening to my little station before tossing a glare back over at my brother. He had to know Deck was standing there when he started asking his questions. The asshole.

“Yeah, I know the words you said, but I don’t know what they mean,” I explained. Then I turned to my brother again. “You’re a dick!”

“Yeah, I figured when I heard Deck telling dad about what you two had decided that you probably didn’t understand, so now you can have a more in depth conversation about it.” My brother snatched up his shirt and his kutte and put them both back on before standing in front of Deck and grinning like a lunatic. “I’d suggest maybe keeping a few feet distance while you do it, because shoving your tongue down her throat isn’t going to make her understand your meaning, brother.”

“Fuck off already!” Deck’s response was pretty much the same as mine would have been if I weren’t busy trying to hide the burning red blush that was staining my cheeks. Clearly, I’d missed something in our conversation last night that I should have understood better if I had any experience with relationships.

Once my brother was gone Deck turned back to me with a smile on his face only to have it drop and be replaced by a look of concern. “You all right, babe?”

I swiped some stray hairs out of my face and sighed deeply. “I’m just wiped out. That was pretty much seven straight hours of tattooing not including prep work and clean ups. Apparently, we need to have a conversation about things I’m too naïve to understand, but honestly, I’m going to put that on hold until my brain can function properly if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind, but I am going to get you some food before you pass out completely. Go on upstairs and get cleaned up and comfortable. By the time you get done, I’ll be back with food.”

“I’m too tired to argue, so I’ll see you in a bit.”

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