Page 78 of Breathing Without You

“I get it, trust me I went through it with Winter before.” He pats me on the back as we start heading into Crazy’s.

It’s just the two of us working today and we’re not open for long, his uncle lets us work whenever we want on the weekendand we both have appointments at the same time, two friends coming in to get matching flower tattoos on their hip.

“Hey, welcome to Crazy’s, how can we help you today?” I ask standing at the counter as a female walks in smiling at me like she’s never seen a man before.

“Well, hello there, how are you?” She attempts to wink but her eye just looks like it’s twitching.

“I’m doing good, how about you?” I’m trying to be friendly, but not in the mood for it.

“I’m a lot better now.”

“Well, that’s good to hear, what can I help you with today?” I ask again, getting annoyed that she avoided the question.

“I wanted to get my tongue pierced, you guys do those right?” she asks, leaning forward on the wooden part of the front desk.

“Yes, we do, let me get my friend out here to get the papers signed and everything while I go and set everything up for you,” I tell her as I walk towards the back to go get Carsten.

“Hey man, can you get paperwork set up and signed for me so I can get this set up real quick to do a tongue piercing?” I ask him in a monotone voice, just not in the mood for anything.

“Ya man, I’ll go right up there.”

“Thanks man, you can send her back when you’re done,” I tell him, walking away.

I walk into my office and start sanitizing and preparing everything for her as she walks in.

“Man, I didn’t think there was going to be two hot men that worked here.” She flirts with me, staring out the door as Carsten walks by, she waves and giggles.

“Well sweetie, sorry to break your heart but he’s married with children,” I tell her as she looks away shocked.

“Married and has kids, damn. Well, what about you, handsome?” she asks me in a seductive voice, walking towards me slowly.

“I have a girlfriend.” I lie because I’m not in the mood to be flirted with and I hope with me saying that she stops flirting.

“Well, I know how to keep a secret.” She winks and I don’t even react, I don’t even know if I heard what she said fully.

“Here, come have a seat in my chair so we can get your piercing done.” I still ignore what she says and move to grab my gloves and everything else I need.

“Alright, I’m going to place this under your tongue to absorb any spit until I’m ready, and I’m going to have you tuck this into your shirt to collect any drool that might come out of your mouth in the process.”

“Yes, sir.” She winks at me and It’s so hard not to roll my eyes. I mean she’s attractive, but not my type at all. My only type I have right now is Emerald and it still hits me like a ton of bricks every time I think about the fact that we’re not together anymore.

“Alright, stick your tongue out as far as you can for me,” I tell her as I grab my clamps to place on her tongue. “Now I’m going to place this on your tongue, it’s honestly probably going to hurt more than the actual piercing itself,” I tell her because that’s what I’ve heard most of my customers say when I’ve pierced their tongues.

“Alright, I’m gonna have you take a deep breath in.” I push it through her tongue, and she scrunches her eyes, slightly wincing from the pain. “Then out.”

“Now take a deep breath again.” I put the jewelry in her tongue and remove the piercing needle.

“Alright, we’re all done,” I tell her, removing the cloth from under her tongue and her shirt.

“That wasn’t terrible.” She smiles slowly, licking her lips, scrunching her eyes closed when the tongue ring hits her tooth, and I try not to laugh.

“Nope, I’ve heard it’s not bad at all.”

“So, do you have any piercings?” She has a smirk on her face as she looks me up and down.

“Yep, plenty,” I tell her, waiting for her to ask what.

“Where are your piercings at?”

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