Page 37 of Ex in the City
Taz, it turns out, has become quite a successful tattoo artist during the band’s hiatus. He has these kids’ washable tattoo pens in his bag so, with expert care and precision, he covered the boys’ arms with super-cool temporary tattoos. He told me they wash off straight away, with little more than water. I genuinely think there will be tears when they come off, the boys love them that much.
‘When can I get them done for real?’ Archie asks, waiting patiently for an answer, hopeful for one that will make him happy.
‘Not for a long, long time,’ I tell him. ‘Sorry, kid.’
‘Dylan has so many,’ Archie points out.
‘Well, Dylan is basically an old man,’ I reply – mostly to tease Dylan.
‘And Nicole doesn’t have any because she’s always been too scared,’ Dylan chimes in. ‘And too indecisive. So, if she ever didfeel brave enough to get one, by the time she decided what she wanted, she was too scared again.’
‘You’re a baby,’ Archie tells me.
‘I am,’ I say with a sigh. ‘Maybe one day I’ll surprise you but, for now, it’s bedtime. Say bye to Dill.’
‘Bye, Dylan,’ they sing, hugging him at the same time, before charging off towards the house.
‘Bye, Dylan,’ I say to him in a similar, childlike voice.
‘Bye, Nic,’ he replies, laughing at how goofy he sounds.
I hover in front of him for a second. I should hug him – the voice in my head is telling me to hug him. It would be normal to hug him, right?
‘You want one too?’ he asks, reading my mind.
Dylan takes me in his arms and pulls me close. God, I feel so at ease when I’m wrapped up in him.
‘I forget how hard you are,’ I tell him. It’s only when he laughs that I realise exactly what I just said. ‘Your body, I mean, your new muscles. Where has my squishy, smelly friend gone?’
‘I’m still smelly,’ he offers up in consolation.
‘No, you’re not,’ I reply.
We hold eye contact for a second as Dylan keeps me in his arms.
‘Nicole, I need a wee,’ Ned calls out.
‘And that’s my cue,’ I tell him. ‘See you later.’
‘Yeah, see you around the neighbourhood,’ he replies with a laugh.
He returns to his car, to make the very short journey back to Mr Campbell’s house.
‘Right, come on, boys, let’s?—’
My voice cuts off as I see Rowan standing in the doorway.
‘Oh, hello,’ I say, sounding a bit like I’ve been caught out, even though I haven’t done anything wrong.
‘Where the hell have you been?’ he asks me. Then he notices the boys’ temporary tattoos. ‘What have you done to my kids?’
‘I need a wee,’ Ned says.
‘It’s okay, kids, go inside,’ I tell them. ‘I’ll catch you up.’
‘Well?’ Rowan prompts me.
‘Oh, they’reyourkids?’ I reply. ‘That’s funny, because they were our kids when you left me looking after them this morning.’
