Page 17 of Atlas
I turn back to Howard and give him a grin. “Alright man, looks like our time is up until Monday.”
“Did you get a picture of that pretty new wife of yours yet?” He asks as I wheel him out of the community area of the nursing home. This is one of the community services I am required to do. Three times a week I come here and hang out with some of the residents. The first couple of times I was either being looked at like a criminal or groped. And let me tell you, those ladies may not be able to open their pill containers, but they have an iron grip on my ass.
The second or third time I came, Howard – the appointed asshole of the nursing home, told me to get my money and play cards with him. And now that is what we do. Howard is ninety-two, wheelchair bound, and is ready to go see his wife again. He has seven children, fourteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and has had zero visitors since he was forced to move here after his wife died, five years ago.
“Nah,” I smile as we stand outside. “I’ll take some this weekend while we are at her dad’s birthday party and I’ll show you next time.”
Howard nods and seems to look past me. “Want a word of advice?”
“Depends,” I smirk as I lean against one of the pillars. “Are you the one giving it to me?”
Howard cracks a smirk, a rarity for him I’m told. “Smart ass,” He shakes his head before running his hand over his stubble. I notice how splotchy his shave is and make a note to help him get a clean shave on the next visit. “Take all the pictures. Doesn’t matter if she’s all dolled up or she’s just waking up. One day…” There is a tremble in his voice and he lets out a small cough before continuing. “Erm… You never want to look back and wish you could have that photo of her staring at you from across your bed as the sunlight illuminates her. Your generation is blessed to have the ability to capture memories so much easier than we could. Don’t take that for granted.”
Me: Hey Beautiful
Princess: Atlas… are you ever going to stop doing that?
Me: Absolutely! The moment you stop being my beautiful Princess goddess.
Princess: … beautiful Princess goddess? Can someone be all three at once?
Me: Before meeting you, I would’ve said it was impossible, but here you are, rocking the shit out of it. A regular triple threat.
Princess: Oh you are laying it on thick thick. What do you want? Forget about a date you already had scheduled for the weekend and you need to cancel on me?
My smile fallsfrom my face when I read her text. That stung more than I want to admit. But of course, I will never tell her that.
Me: Never! These eyes only see you, my beautiful bride. I need to go to Ash’s after work to grab my suit. DON’T take Bruno on his long nighttime walk until I get there.
Princess: You do realize that I have been taking Bruno on nightly walks alone since I got him right?
Me: Don’t remind me
Me: OR TEST ME
Princess: Yes Daddy *eye roll emoji*
Me: I mean… I’ll be your daddy *wink emoji*
Princess: OH MY GOD! Go tattoo somebody!
Snickering, I lay my phone down on my station and pick up my sketch pad to continue to work on the sketch for my client’s sternum tattoo. Sternum tattoos are one of my favorite pieces to do on a woman, and it’s in a completely non-perverted way. The vast majority of the sternum tattoos I’ve done on a woman have been a work of fucking art. If it’s on their chest, womentend to want it to be very intricate, and intricacy is where I really shine. When I am tattooing, I hyper-focus and you will leave my table with the best of the best. This particular client is getting lace cupping the underside of her breasts and a gemstone in the middle. It’s going to be big, colorful and probably exactly what I’m going to need after a weekend with Ren’s parents.
Poor Ren has been sick over this party. It’s a little insulting, like she thinks I will purposefully fuck up her dad’s party or something. I’m a nice guy, I’m funny and charming. I’m freaking adorable to look at. Sure, I’m not some super posh doctor or lawyer, but fuck, I make more money than most of those pretentious assholes do anyway! I’m a famous fucking tattoo artist, I know I don’t have the look of some rich fuck with his khaki shorts and shirt with the sweater tied over his shoulders, but that’s because I don’t feel a need to show off that I have money. It doesn’t mean I’m broke. I mean, I am no multi-millionaire, but I, like the rest of us here at Hel's, are comfortable. It confuses and frustrates me that she is under the assumption that I’m going to fuck things up. It also is causing a bout of anxiety I can’t seem to shake because, am I going to fuck it up?
“You alright, bud?” Derek’s voice startles me and I snap my gaze to him and cock my brow.
“Yeah, why?” Derek motions to my hands and I see my broken pencil in my death grip.
I sigh and toss the pencil in the trash and put the sketch pad on the table before running my hands over my scruffy face. “I think Ren is afraid I’m going to embarrass her this weekend in front of her parents.”
Derek grabs a bottle of water and sits in Fox’s chair. Fox and Janie took off for a couple’s spa retreat or some shit. It’s frightening the amount of pull that tiny woman has over Fox.But, he’s happy and they’re in love, so I’m happy for them. Envious as fuck, but happy.
Ash continues to clean up his station. “Dude, there is no way Ren is worried about you embarrassing her. We all know she’s got a thing for you.”
Derek snorts, “Which pales in comparison to the boner you’ve been rocking for her for…how many years now?”
I glare at the man. “Listen Virginia,” I smirk as the muscle in his jaw ticks. He hates being reminded of his home state, and I love nothing more than to remind him when he starts riding my dick. “I understand that for an unfeeling robot like you, it can be hard to understand why I never jumped in with her.”
