Page 1 of Chic Steel

1

OLIVER

“You’re such a loser.”

“But what if?—”

“Go talk to her! Honestly, Ollie, it’s not hard.”

I scrub a hand over my jaw. Maddy’s right. I should go talk to her and everything will be fine.

“Ask her out like a normal human instead of getting more piercings.” She throws rubbish in the bin and crosses her arms. Annoyed at having this discussion. Again.

And because I interrupted her break between clients. She owns Whimsical Ink, a tattoo parlour beside Ella’s piercing store.

Torture for me, knowing my sister spends every day beside Ella while I’m across town trying to find a shred of courage to ask her out.

“I’m just getting the jewellery changed,” I say sulkily. Maybe I am a loser. I’ve run my business for years, led it to success, and I’m here complaining to my sister about asking a woman out.

A younger woman at that.

My chest clenches. Fuck. I’ve got no idea what I’m doing. Why I keep going back. Ella probably dreads the day I show up.

“Ollie, you can do it.” Maddy grasps my shoulders and shakes me while she speaks. “She’s lovely and you’re great and you can do it. Nothing’s stopping you. She hasn’t dated anyone since meeting you. You’re welcome for that info by the way, and she willingly pierces you instead of giving you to someone else.”

“Will you stop shaking me?”

“Fine.” She releases me and crosses her arms, flashing her watercolour tattoo. “Promise me you’ll ask her out.”

“I’ll try.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’ve said that for the past four years. Good luck, now go away.”

I smooth down my suit jacket Maddy creased, which has the added benefit of drying my sweaty palms.

“Tell me what happens,” Maddy yells as the door slams shut behind me.

If I’m ever successful asking Ella out, she’ll be the first to know.

It’s five steps from Maddy’s store to Chic Steel. Five steps to get my mind under control and calm my ragged breathing. How I can negotiate sales and manage over fifty employees without breaking a sweat when the thought of seeing Ella causes panic to tighten my chest and close my throat, I don’t know.

I hope she’s there. If she isn’t, I’ll turn around and come back another day.

The only reason I show up is to see her.

The only reason I have piercings is because I passed a new shop one day and sawher.

I was visiting my sister the day Chic Steel opened. There was a line down the street and I got caught in it while walking past.

And there she was.

Standing at the entrance greeting people, talking to them and offering advice.

Dark hair wavy against her jawline, silver hoops decorating her ears, with the occasional stud sparkling in the light.

I joined the line. I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to talk to her.Neededto talk to her.

Not that I’m any good at it.

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