Page 29 of Strelitzias in Spring

“Glad you like it. I’ll walk with you up to Aubrey, and she’ll get you checked out. Remember the aftercare instructions. If anything happens, give me a call.” The piece I just did, a Sailor Jerry cocktail pinup girl, is bold and bright, standing out against his pale skin. Pinups aren’t my favorite thing to draw, but this one came out cool as shit.

Once we reach the receptionist’s desk, I nod at Anthony and leave him with Aubrey to take care of his final payment. Like most men who come into the shop, Anthony’s eyes take on an appreciative gleam the moment Aubrey’s dark skin, colorful tattoos, and bright blonde dreadlocks come into view. It’s almost funny when Trent growls at the guys who get a little too flirty with his fiancée.

“Hey, beautiful. How’s it going?” Anthony comments, his voice taking on a grating tone. “Is that a new tattoo?” He waves toward her body, offering up a bullshit excuse for checking her chest out.

“Nope, still the same sternum tattoo you commented on last time, Tony. You owe five-fifty for today. How are you planning on paying?” Though Aubrey’s voice is sweet, her eyes communicate that she will disembowel him if he makes another comment about her or her appearance.

“Are you sure? It looks—”

“Eh, Tony. Keep your eyes off her body, you fuck,” Trent calls out, cutting him off mid-sentence.

“I’ve got it covered, Trenton,” Aubrey sighs, though there’s no annoyance behind her words.

“I know, baby, but you shouldn’t have to. Fucking pigs,” Trent murmurs loud enough for the rest of the shop to hear him. While the tattoo stations are set up in private rooms, some of the artists use the consultation tables and illuminated drafting tables in the center of the shop to meet with clients or draw out their work. Though Trent is my right-hand man, second only to Aubrey, and has a good setup in his private room, he likes keeping an eye on Aubs.

Unlike Trent, who can’t seem to help himself when it comes to defending his woman’s honor, I don’t step in unless Aubrey asks me to. Not because I don’t value her safety or protection but because I’ve seen Aubrey flay a man’s pride with an effortless combination of words, and I trust her to de-escalate a situation. Plus, I trained her on self-defense, so she could easily kick someone’s ass if they get out of line.

Anthony must sense that he’s on the verge of a takedown and on the fringes of both Aubrey and Trent’s shit lists because he thrusts his card out at her and throws a wad of cash at me before running out of the shop.

“God, watching them shit themselves never gets old.” Trent laughs, shaking his head like it’s the funniest shit he’s ever witnessed.

“Trenton Phillips, stop bothering me when I’m with clients. I swear to you, I will tell your mother that you are being a jackass.”

“Baby, he was ogling you like a fucking piece of meat. You wanted me to sit on my ass while he sexualized my fiancée?”

“I am capable of handling the occasional pervert that comes in here without losing the shop clients. If I need help, I’ll ask for it, but I’m not weak, and I’m not a damsel, so don’t treat me like one.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, holding back the laugh that threatens to break out at Aubrey’s chastising.

“Oh, don’t look so smug over there, you redheaded pussy. I saw you inching closer to that twat.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, man; don’t bring me into your shit.”

“Fuck off. You used to do the same shit with that harpy, Kelly.”

I sober real fucking quick at the mention of my ex-girlfriend and the memory of our encounter on Friday night. I’ve had so much other shit on my mind since Friday that I almost forgot about the training session with Gage and Jedd. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Kelly was there, filming the entire session for her dumbass social media followers and giving away all of Gage’s weaknesses.

Honestly, that shit made my day when he realized she was live streaming his instruction and giving his opponent an advantage for his upcoming fight.

“I don’t want to talk about her.”

“She still with that prick, Gage?”

“What fucking part of ‘I don’t want to talk about her’ don’t you get?”

“Dude, calm down. You seem a little frazzled. When’s the last time you had some company?” Trent wiggles his eyebrows before wincing as a tape dispenser is thrown across the shop, right at his head.

“We have clients here, you imbecile,” Aubrey hisses, looking around to determine if anyone heard Trent. “God, I am marrying a man-child.”

“Thanks for defending my honor, Aubs. I don’t think anyone overheard him, not that you should be concerned with my sex life, you freak.” I glare at him. “I’m your boss.”

“Go. Outside, now,” Aubrey orders, pointing to the side door of the shop, where employees take their smoke breaks and breathers when shit gets too heavy inside.

“Fine, I need a smoke anyway.” Trent walks over to Aubrey and plants a kiss on her cheek before turning toward the door. “Come on, you grizzly. Let’s give Aubrey time to recover from her heart attack.”

“Not funny, Trenton,” Aubrey grumbles, turning back to the computer and pressing down on the keys in a furious rhythm.

“She loves me, I swear,” Trent whispers as he walks past me, clapping me on the back as he goes. Unlike with my clients, I don’t bother curtailing my strength, and I punch him on the arm as I turn to the back door. “Ow, fuck, you beast. You’re lucky that’s not my drawing arm.”

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