Page 20 of Pierced Pages
Morgan put the mirror on top of some drawers and stared at the piercing again. She looked from side to side, then up and down, making sure it was properly positioned on her brow.
Everything looked good to her, too.
“Same instructions,” Morgan said, since the woman had been in before for a lip piercing. “Don’t twist it or touch it unless you’re cleaning it. Wash your hands, then clean it with saline spray and wipe gently around it with gauze pads a couple times a day. Six to eight weeks. Watch for signs of rejection, like we talked about. Anything weird, come see me.”
The young woman nodded. “Got it.”
“Then you’re all set,” Morgan said. “We can settle up out front.”
She walked behind the woman, around the corner and over to a payment pad sitting near the wall. She typed in the amount for the service and the jewelry, then gestured for the young woman to finish the transaction.
Morgan turned away, in part to not look over her shoulder while she decided on a tip. But she also wanted to take a look at how many people she had left waiting. Just one.
Wait.
She looked again.
Justtheone. The one Morgan wondered would show up that night or not. The one she wasn’t supposed to be waiting for, but couldn’t help it.
She’d been excited to see Danielle’s text earlier in the week. She’d been trying not to think about her and had been doing a good job of it. Until that text.
Forgetting all about her last client, Morgan walked toward the counter and stood across from the waiting area.
“You came.”
Danielle’s green eyes lit up as a wide smile splashed across her face. “Thanks for telling me when to come. I can’t believe this place isn’t busier.”
Her voice was smooth and self-assured, but Morgan could sense a slight wobble beneath that confident exterior.
“You should have seen it earlier,” she said.
“Well, I’m excited anyway.” Danielle’s voice lowered as she leaned forward slightly. “And a little nervous.”
Morgan smiled. Danielle had seemed so confident during their first meeting when she’d sat down at Morgan’s table. This was a different side of her that was also endearing.
Nope. No endearing thoughts.
“Thanks,” the young woman said as she put a hand on Morgan’s shoulder and walked past her.
“Let me know if you have any issues at all.”
Danielle watched the woman walk out, then turned back to Morgan while pointing at her brow. “Was that what you did just now?”
Morgan nodded. “She’s been in a few times.”
“That one’s so cool.”
“Sure you don’t want one?” Morgan said with a sly grin. She knew the answer. But it was fun to hear it.
“Oh no. I’m too much of a wimp for that.” She raised her brow in thought. “Maybe one day, though? Yeah. Maybe one day.”
Morgan stared at her, her mind wandering back to that evening in the reception hall. Their conversation. Their ease together.
But thinking about that ceremony only brought her mind to another ceremony. One she had a day left to decide if she’d attend it or not.
She was never this indecisive. Never. She hated the feeling. Hated her mother even more for making her feel like she couldn’t go. She felt trapped by the decision. A feeling she thought she’d shed long ago.
“You okay?” Danielle asked. “I can come back another day if?—”
