Page 52 of Happy Krampus Xmas & the Meet Not Cute
Both my eyebrows rise in surprise. “Why?”
“Hoping to change your mind?”
Well fuck! Persistence is one of my favorite character traits—which I’ll never tell Lori. Plus, it’s icy cold, going by car sounds better than getting frozen fingers riding my bike.
“Let’s go,” I say. The beaming smile he gives me lightens up his entire face, his eyes gleaming with contentment. I forget to breathe for the duration of two heartbeats.
The drive to the parlor is fairly short by car. TJ’s jeep is fucking fantastic, and it surprised me to learn that he paid for it himself. He worked part-time jobs all through high school and the first two years of college. He’s a junior, while I should be a freshman, but I got enough credits transferred to be a sophomore. I like to study, and I’m good at it.
“The car belonged to a friend of my mother, so he gave me a good price,” he finishes. Still, he must have saved every single penny.
“You can park there,” I tell him, pointing at the spot in front of the tattoo shop. When he stops the car, I open the door and turn to him before getting out. “You coming?”
“Really?” he asks, looking as excited as a small puppy. Another glowing grin appears on his face, and I roll my eyes at him, hiding my stupid smile when I walk to the parlor.
The rainbow shimmering sign on the door says Trice & Vice Tattoos. A guy from my psychology class recommended it, so I decided to check out the artists here.
There’s nobody at the reception desk when we enter. I tap on the little bell while admiring the amazing designs framed on the walls. Maybe I found the right place.
“Fucking coming!” a voice yells from somewhere inside. And I frown at it. Not for the crass delivery, but because I know that voice.
“Ash?” I call before he appears from around the corner.
“Who else, man? What the fuck are you doing here?” He comes over and gives me a bro hug.
“Getting inked. So, this is where you work. Lori told me it was doing great.”
“Of course. I co-own it.” He spreads his arms around and raises aduheyebrow.
“Oh, this is TJ,” I introduce him.
“What’s up?” Ash tilts his pointed chin at him. I met him through Lori. He and his triplet brothers run a pet shelter I volunteer at when I can.
“Hey, man,” TJ greets him back.
Ash checks the computer behind the counter. “Well, you’re in luck. Leela is sick, so I’m gonna ink you tonight. Follow me.”
“Are the designs on the wall yours?” TJ asks him.
“Most of them.” Ash nods.
“Then fuck yes, you are in luck,” TJ states, making Ash chuckle, which is a fucking small miracle. Ash is as tight as a virgin butthole. And thinking about virgin holes, I can’t stop my eyes from falling on TJ’s plump ass, perfectly wrapped in those gray sweats.
We enter Ash’s room. It has a long tattoo bed, a table covered with all the essentials, a small sink, two comfy armchairs, and a small round stool. More incredible designs cover the walls. If I knew Ash was this talented, I’d have come to see him much sooner.
He taps on his tablet and shows me the drawing I already approved with his colleague.
“Where do you want the fucker?” Ash asks.
I smirk. “My shoulder.”
“Bare yourself to me then,” he jokes as he turns to wash his hands and put gloves on.
I take off the various layers of clothes and then sit on the bed, still wearing my black jeans. TJ is is standing near the armchairs, his heated eyes are zeroed in on my body. I used to train in a boxing gym almost everyday, but since I moved to college I’ve been focusing more on studying than anything else. Despite that I’m still fucking well-built and damn good-looking.
“Nice cave,” he tells Ash after a minute. “Got some cool music?”
“Of fucking course!”
