Page 24 of Ink Wars

“I have time to kill before work,” she says.

I laugh, walking over to sit next to her. “I’m glad you stopped by,” I say, smiling.

She sits up straight and turns to look at me. Her eyes widen as she looks me up and down. “Oh my God, you had sex.”

“What? No I didn’t,” I say, laughing.

I suddenly wonder if my makeup is messed up or my hair is out of place or if maybe I have his scent on me.

“Who was it?” she pushes.

I shake my head, looking around the shop. “It was no one because I didn’t have sex. Believe me if I did, I’d be shouting from the rooftop.”

I can’t tell her about Corbin. She’ll lose her mind. Not because she’ll be pissed but because she’s been pushing me to bang it out with him for years. I refuse to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing.

Corbin said it will be our dirty secret and that’s exactly what it’s going to be.

I’ll always hate him, even while he’s fucking me.

She sighs and her head falls against the back of the couch. “I don’t believe you, but he must’ve been a waste of time if you aren’t willing to talk about it.”

I glance at her as she stares ahead. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing just tired, Leah. I’m tired of stripping. I’m tired of the late nights. I’m tired of the emotionless flings. Maybe Fay is right, maybe I need to find something else,” she says.

I wrap my arm around her and lean my head against the side of hers. “I’ll hire you as my receptionist. I told you that. But do you really wanna stop stripping? You love the money and maybe you won’t find your red heart in doing that, but maybe you will. Fay isn’t like us. She didn’t fight to get where she is like we did. I’ll support you in whatever choices you make but be sure they are your choices.”

Fay and I met Arya at a bar. She was new to the city and the three of us hit it off. She told us how she dreamed of becoming an actress. Her family was pissed she moved to New York to pursue that dream. I understood immediately since my mom felt the same way about me tattooing. Fay sympathized because she had seen what I’d been through, but she could never fully understand. Her parents were proud of her for moving out, even if it was with the trouble maker friend. That’s me. They don’t like me much because of my tattoos and my job, but Fay never let them sway her opinion of me. She’s been by my side since elementary school and when I wanted to move into the city, she didn’t hesitate when I asked her to come. She got a job working at a lawyer’s office and her parents were so proud.

Arya didn’t come to New York with the intention of being a stripper but becoming an actress isn’t something that just happens over night. She’s still struggling to even get auditions and stripping makes her good money. I’ll always support her and the choices she makes. Even if she decides acting isn’t what she wants anymore.

She squeezes my leg and smiles. “Thanks, Leah. I don’t think I’m ready to hang up my thong just yet.”

I laugh and stand up. “Good, now since you’re here, how about you check out the design Corbin and I are working on.”

That gets her excited and she jumps off the couch. “Yes, let me see.”

We spend the next twenty minutes looking at it and talking. She loves what we have so far and I’m thrilled because she’s a huge fan of the first movie so I appreciate her input.

“Alright, I’m going to head to work. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” she says.

“Have fun,” I yell.

As my last client walks out the door, I lock it and lean against it. I didn’t realize I was so booked today and I’m exhausted. I still need to clean up and go work on the design a bit before I can crash.

I start sanitizing the chair when my phone alerts me. I grab it and hate myself for the smile that hits my lips.

Asshole: I’m heading home if you want me to grab you.

Me: I need to finish cleaning up, my last client was an opinioned son of a bitch.

Asshole: Open the door.

I spin around and see him standing outside the door. I put my phone down and unlock it, pulling it open.

“What are you doing?”

He walks inside and locks the door behind him. “Waiting,” he says, staring down at me.

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