Page 49 of My Mistake To Make

Fucking sisters… why did I come here again? I need guy time, stat.

‘There he is.’

I walk into the tattoo shop a full half hour before my appointment time, and my best buddy, Leo, stands to grab my hand and pull me into a hug.

‘Hey, man. Jeez, you look huge.’

I haven’t seen him in months. Between his life and work up in the city and all my shit back in Forest Falls, we haven’t been able to get together to hang out. I figured the best way to get some time with him was to book in for a session on my chest piece and hope I could convince him to grab a beer or two afterward.

‘Yeah, I’ve been trying to pull back on dating and hooking up for a while, so I’ve been hitting the gym extra hard.’

I laugh. ‘Don’t try to convince me those arms aren’t just from jacking off.’

He punches my arm. ‘You would know.’

He kicks out a stool for me to sit on and pulls out my designs.

‘Why aren’t you hooking up?’

Leo gets laid more than anyone I have ever met. We’ve been friends since we were kids and became interested in girls at the same time, so being as close as we were, we learned to talk to each other about everything, and we still do.

‘I think I’m ready to settle down. One woman for the rest of my life kind of deal.’ I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Leo has never talked about wanting anything serious before, not once. ‘I know. I know. But I’m getting old, man.’

‘Dude, you’re thirty-one.’

‘It’s okay for you. You have Bowie. If I don’t get the girl soon, by the time I have kids, I’m going to be an old dad, and I don’t want that.’

‘Fuck, man, I didn’t think you even wanted kids.’

‘I didn’t.’ He blows out a breath. ‘I thought I got somebody pregnant a while back.’ I open my mouth to question further, but he holds up his hand. ‘I didn’t. It was a false alarm, but when that test was negative, and she and the idea of that baby walked away, I felt this sense of loss that fucking shook me.’

‘Shit, man.’

‘I know.’ He nods, ‘Anyway, that’s where I’m at, brother, and I’m owning it, so no hooking up, no dating until I figure out what I really want. Now, check out these designs, and let’s get started so you can tell me what’s going on with you.’

There’s something about the sound of a tattoo machine that soothes me. When I’m in that chair, I have nowhere else to be, nothing else to do.

‘This is looking sick, man.’ Leo says as he wipes away some of the blood and ink to check his progress.

‘I love it. You’re a talented man.’ I offer a small smile, and he gets back to work. ‘Thank you for this.’

Leo knows how much I need this time with him. He knows how much getting tattooed helps me get the brain space I need, so he not only gives me the best friend rate but also lets me pay him monthly.

‘You know it’s cool, brother.’ He nods. Leo is the most genuine person I’ve ever met. He’s honest and loyal and blunt. Straight to the point, always. I appreciate that. ‘What’s new with you?’ I knew it was only a matter of time. He knows, as much as I love getting tattooed, I don’t spend the time or money on it unless I want to kill two birds with one stone. Getting inked and getting his advice.

I sigh, and he leans back to look at me wide-eyed.

‘Oh shit. It’s like that.’ I stare up at the ceiling. ‘Fuck, man. I thought you were done with women.’

‘I am. Just try telling my dick that.’

Leo laughs, and I shake my head.

‘So, you got laid, big deal. Jessie can’t keep calling the shots forever.’

‘I didn’t get laid. I kissed her, but that’s all.’

Leo pulls the needle from my skin once more to lean back and frown down at me.

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