Page 90 of Scrimmage

“Half the espresso.”

“But she likes—”

“Yeah, I know what she likes.” I give him an easy smile. “But she doesn’t need to die from a heart attack.”

Cole weighs his options. “Your funeral.”

When he hands me the drink carrier he almost doesn’t let it go. Then he tells me to tell Ashland to text him later. I fucking won’t. The tattoo shop has two people sitting on the couches when I get inside.

Angel's eyes widen in surprise. “Wow, you came back." The guys on the couch give me the once over before taking their coffee.

“So you’re Ashland’s new puppy?” One of them snickers.

“You don’t look anything like the other one,” the other guy says.

“So you know Cole?” I ask casually.

Angel immediately rolls her eyes. “The guy is helpless.”

“Hey, free coffee though.”

“Does he come here a lot?” I ask.

“He did for a while,” one guys says. “She had Prince scare him off with some shit about this not being a hangout.”

That actually makes me laugh. Fuck Cole. They start talking about the convention as I push open Prince’s door. They’re sitting there huddled over some sketches.

“Coffee?”

“Oh, fuck yes.” Ashland rushes me and snatches them out of my hand.

Prince offers me a confused smile. “Thanks, man.”

This guy seems nice. Not the overbearing Cole type of nice, but just like a chill guy. I honestly feel better about her being here.

I start to leave when Ashland calls for me. “Ko?”

“Sup?”

“I’ll be off at nine.”

I stick my tongue in my cheek. Victory tastes sweet. “I’ll be here.”

They immediately go back to whatever it is that they’re discussing. On my way out everyone actually gives me a wave. Angel smiles. Her canines have been turned into vampire teeth. Usually that would irritate me, but it just fits the atmosphere of the whole place.

Over the course of the afternoon I hang out with Penny and Alexi, who manage to constantly talk. When dinner rolls around they grab food at some sandwich place a few doors down from the tattoo shop, then they manage to talk that entire time, too. Alexi takes Penny home, and I’m left to sit in my car and wait. I fuck around on my phone for a while and eventually I get a text from Slut.

Give me dick.

Fucking gladly. I head upstairs and grab her stuff. Prince is already gone, but Angel is still hanging around chatting with her. Ash doesn’t acknowledge me until she’s back in the car. Her mood is better, but not all the way. She turns on some heavy metal shit and doesn’t say a word while I take her back to my place. Once we’re inside, she drops her stuff in the foyer and trails me into the kitchen.

“Can you take me home after?” she asks nonchalant.

“Is this a fucking appointment?”

“Fine. I’ll get a rideshare.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll take you home.” I don’t know what it is, but she seems relieved. “So they call you Sweetheart?” I pry.

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