Page 5 of JoJo

“She used to date Ed Warrick,” Tash answered for me. Eddie may not have been the most loyal boyfriend, but he had been a sexy, inked-up badass.

A grunt answered Tash’s proclamation, but she just grinned and continued on. “Hey, maybe he’d be the answer to your marriage issues.” Tash followed up her comment with a suggestive waggling of her eyebrows.

“Doubt it since his very pregnant wife came in to see him while I was there getting inked.” At my questioning look, he smirked. “Eddie Warrick inked this for me.” He pointed at the newer looking tattoo on his inner forearm. It had a 1950s style pin up girl straddling the notorious skull the guys in Aces High use as their mascot. Only instead of the cards sitting in front of the skull, the pinup was holding four aces in her hand.

“Looks like he’s stepped up his tattoo game since I last saw him. Vegas has done wonders for his art.” I was truly impressed with the tattoo. It had a level of detail Ed wouldn’t have been capable of two years ago when I last saw him. My smile felt wrong even though it was real enough. “Maybe now I’ll trust him to ink me.”

“I hope you didn’t break his heart,” Steel spat out rudely. “No telling what he’d ink you with.”

I just smiled as I spilled another hurtful layer of my own miserable life story. “He bailed when my dad got sick and Vegas was calling his name. If anyone were to have hurt feelings, it would be me, and I don’t. I think it’s awesome that he found his happiness.” I reached into my pocket then and pulled out a cherry flavored Dum Dums, unwrapped it, and popped it in my mouth. “Okay, seriously, you guys have better things to do in Vegas, and I apparently have to go congratulate an old friend on his work finally being acceptable,” I chuckled around my lollipop. Just about everyone in the room looked weary and afraid to leave so I took the initiative, snatched my little mini backpack style purse off the couch and walked right out the door.

I was waiting on the elevator at the end of the hall when he called to me. The doors dinged open, and I slipped in as his voice rang out again. “Hold the door, damn it!” I snickered as they began to close. No way was I holding the door for the newest Aces High asshole. Unfortunately, his palm slapped down sideways on the edge of the door causing them to spring back open while he slid his bulky frame inside. “Thanks for holding the door,” he managed to get out with all the sarcasm possible.

“Sure, anytime,” I deadpanned right back to him.

“I told Ed I’d stop in and let him get pictures of my tat once it healed, so I figured I’d go with you. We can save on the cab by riding together.” Steel smiled over at me victorious, obviously thinking he’d already won some prize.

“Whatever floats your boat,” I answered before tacking on a muttered, “asshole.”

“Contrary to popular belief neither my given name or road name are actually asshole. I’m not sure why people keep getting them confused.” I’ll admit, my lip twitched while trying not to smile at his dumb comment. He must have seen the minute movement though, because the smug look plastered to his too-chiseled face was one of pure satisfaction. Those steely eyes of his all but twinkled at me from their sockets. Neither of us spoke again until we were both seated in a cab.

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