Page 65 of Just Breathe

Callum

It was hard to play cool meeting Jane’s brother than I thought it was. Most tattoo artists that have tattooed me seem cool on social media but end up being big drama queens or way too fucking full of themselves. JD was a really cool dude. The forest drawing he drew up was bad ass. It was long enough that it covered most of the side of my torso.

He worked in silence but would occasionally ask me questions about Colorado or the work that I did. The sound of the tattoo machine was like a lullaby to me. Even though it should have hurt like a bitch, I welcomed the bite of the needle.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had someone stay so still while I’m tattooing their ribs,” he said as he was doing the shading part of the tattoo.

“I know it should hurt, but honestly, it just feels like an itch I need to scratch, but if I think about something enough, it will go away.” The need to move was becoming a little annoying.

“Let’s take a break, my hands cramping up and we’ve got probably another hour left.” He stopped the machine, standing up and stretching his back. I hopped off the table, stretching before I walked around the studio, admiring all the artwork on the walls. It was a clean place, very hip, but kind of old school.

“Do you know what you’ve gotten yourself into this weekend?” JD asked as he leaned on the table. He tried to look intimidating. He was a little smaller than me build wise but looked like he could fight. I fought the urge to smirk, but I knew he had to do his protective brother stint.

I looked at him, studying him for a moment before I answered. “I think so. It sounds like she needs some support to just get through a weekend of selfishness and who knows what else. Her brother wasn’t very nice on the phone, and she really didn’t look like she wanted to come on her own.” I grabbed a water bottle and took a drink.

He nodded his head. “Our brother has some old beef with my sister that he can’t let go of and that puts a strain on their relationship. Add that to him being the center of attention it’s going to be bad. I just hope you’re here for the right reasons.”

The door to the shop opened and in walked some guy with a six-pack of beers.

“I’m over this fucking wedding, man.” A guy looking like JD came through the door, looking frustrated as hell. He looked up at us in relief. “Great, did I miss the don’t mess with my sister chat?”

I smirked as JD rolled his eyes. “Not very intimidating when I have to do it by myself.”

“I’m sure you were very intimidating. Hi, I’m Matthew, Jane’s oldest brother.” He held out his hand, and I remembered Jane saying he was a marine. I took his hand and gave it a good squeeze.

“Callum,” I said, looking into his eyes.

“Alright, did you finish the intimidating?” He sat down in another chair, and we all stared at each other.

“I just told him to make sure he came for the right reason.” JD leaned back against a table.

Matthew looked at me for a moment. “Look, we aren’t Jane’s keepers and she’s a grown ass woman who can take care of herself, but she’s been through a lot. I just want you to realize Jane isn’t the hit it and quit it type of woman. She brought you because she likes you and I don’t know what’s going on but if you don’t want that then don’t lead her on, man.”

“Look, I just came for support. I’m not here to rush her to do anything. I think she’s beautiful. We’ve hung out and had fun before, but I will not pressure her into anything.” Just having to say this made me mad. Was it all the tattoos that made them judge me this way, or were they just worried? I tried not to let it get to me.

They both stared at me for a few seconds more and they both nodded at me like my answer was the right one. “Alright now that’s over, let’s have a beer.” Matthew popped opened three beers and gave them to us.

“Let’s get you finished up before that beer hits you and you bleed everywhere.” JD motioned for me to get back up on the table.

“Damn Callum, no disrespect, but you’re normally not Jane’s type. How many tattoos do you have?” Matthew brought a chair close to us.

“I stopped counting after thirty,” I replied, getting into the zone of the rhythmic sound of the gun.

“How many do you have?” I asked, trying to be friendly. I felt like I had to make at least a decent impression on these guys. Meeting a girl’s family was a first for me and I was out of my element.

“I have six, but the one on my back is massive. JDs has to touch up some shading on that one because the guy I got it from when I was in the Marines wasn’t that great. We’ve been slowly making it better or covering something up.”

“Jane mentioned you were in the Marines.” I nodded my head at him. “Aiden and I were in the Marines, too.”

“No shit? Man, none of the intimidation was going to work, JD. Only real men go into the Marines.” Matthew chuckled.

“Unfortunately, didn’t have a choice. It was that or they would turn in me and probably serve jail time.” I almost shrug my shoulder but kept still.

“Did a judge offer you that?” Matthew asked.

“No, it was a foster parent who said if I didn’t get my shit together, she would turn me in, and I would go to jail. She would also send my sister to another foster parent, and I couldn’t risk her getting sent to some pedophile, especially by herself. So I went into the Marines because she was actually a decent woman and I needed someone to take care of my sister.”

“Damn, that’s rough, but great that she helped you in a weird way.” Matthew took a sip of his beer. “Did you choose the Marines, or did she?”

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