Page 33 of Falling in Love with Two

“No, you’re lucky I have some extra time tonight. Just giving you a heads up that not everyone is as understanding…and awesome…as I am.”

“Oh, yeah. You’re one of a kind.” The look he’s giving me says he’s thinking about what we did the other night.

A certain warmth spreads over me as I remember it too. I can’t deny that it was a good time.

It doesn’t take me long to finish up a design. Holding it up, I say, “Once I get the outline on you, I will do more shading and make it look much better.”

It’s a film reel with the film unspooling with a clapperboard behind it.

“I love it,” he says.

“If there’s something you want to change, tell me. A tattoo is pretty permanent. I want it to be something you like.”

“Leah, I’m serious. I love it.”

“Alright then, take your shirt off, Sparky.”

I get the drawing on some transfer paper and get everything set up while I ask Dylan a few follow-up questions regarding the tattoo.

A few minutes later, I’m running the buzzing gun over his skin. He seems as relaxed as ever while it bores into his skin.

“You good?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he replies with a nod.

We are silent for a few minutes before he says, “You left in a hurry the other day.”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“I thought maybe we could get to know each other better, but you were gone.”

I pop my gum. “Getting attached probably wasn’t a good idea for either of us. Is that why you came? To try to get to know me better?”

“I told you why I came. Maybe we could get to know each other better in the process.”

It doesn’t sound awful, but I remember the photo.

“Maybe not,” I retort.

“Leah, did I do something to make you mad?”

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea when clearly, you’re attached.”

“Attached?” He looks confused. “To what?”

“To whatever girl you’re seeing.”

“Leah, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“I saw the photo of you and the girl kissing you on your mantle,” I confess.

He thinks for a minute before the lightbulb in his head flips on. “Oh, you mean the picture of my sister kissing me on the cheek?”

I stop tattooing for a second. “Sister?”

“Sister. My twin to be exact.”

My cheeks grow red with embarrassment. “I just thought…your place is so nice…and well decorated. It looks like a woman did it.”

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