“No.” Fuck, the kids knew our pattern. Typically when they called this late in the day, I was already buzzing from my multiple cups of coffee.
“You sound weird.”
“I’m fine, baby. What’s up?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“Um, okay. We were wondering if you could stop by the shop today. I finished decorating the piercing room, and Izzy wants your opinion.”
“Sure, Michael. I’ll be there in a couple hours.” I turned, looking at the clock and staring at it as it showed one in the afternoon.
“She’ll be here in a couple hours!” Mike yelled before speaking to me again. “Okay, Ma. Bring Pop if you want to.” Static filled my ear, and I could hear muffled voices. “Izzy wants to know what time?”
“Tell her I’ll be there around three, and I’ll see if your father wants to come too.” I moved the phone above my head, yawning and trying to hide it.
“I don’t know, Izzy. She said three. You fucking talk to her,” Mike barked, his voice sounding distant.
“Ma, are you okay?” Izzy asked.
“I’m fine, Izzy. I’ll be there at three.” I closed my eyes, knowing she was going to start asking questions.
“Are you still in bed? You sound like you were sleeping.”
“Baby girl, your father and I fell back to sleep. Everything is fine. I’ll be there in two hours.”
“You were sleeping? What the hell, Ma? It’s afternoon.”
“We were exhausted and fell back to sleep. It happens sometimes.”
“I think they’re sick, Mike. Maybe you should go check on them,” Izzy said to Mike as the muffled voices in the shop were barely audible.
“No!” I yelled, sitting up in bed. “Izzy, do not come here. Jesus.”
“I’m worried about you two.”
“We had sex and fell back to sleep.”
“Fuck, Ma. I didn’t need to know that. Oh my God. My ears,” she hissed, a loud clank causing me to jerk the phone away from my ear. “They were having sex,” she said in the background.
“Ma?” Mike asked, returning to the phone.
“Yeah?” I puffed out air, waiting to hear his smartass remark.
“Way to go. See you at three.”
Before I could respond, the line clicked dead.
“Freak her out?” Sal asked, knowing how much Izzy hated hearing about our sex life.
“Yep,” I replied curtly, breaking out into laughter.
“Kids,” he mumbled, stretching as he yawned.
“It’s nice to drive them crazy for a change,” I said, still laughing as I thought about Izzy dropping the phone in horror.
“What time is it?” Sal asked, turning on his side and resting his hand on my leg.
“One.”
“Mm, just enough time for a quickie.” He smiled up at me, sliding his hand between my legs.
“Sal,” I warned, spreading my legs as I welcomed his touch.
“Let them wonder why we’re late, Mar.” His fingers raked through my wetness, my body still ready from earlier.
“You’re bad,” I whispered, lying back down.
“I’m going to show you just how bad I really am,” he promised, kissing my hip as he slipped his fingers inside.
Fuck. We were going to be really late. Sal wasn’t into quickies. It was against his nature. Inked and the kids would have to wait. It was adult time now, spending the day naked in bed with my husband, reliving our youth.
Chapter 5 - Sal
Strolling into Inked, the kids’ tattoo shop, we were about thirty minutes late. To my shock, Izzy wasn’t prowling at the entrance waiting for us.
“Finally,” Izzy moaned, standing from her chair as I let Maria walk in front of me when we entered the work area.
“Sorry,” Maria said, holding up her hands to stop Izzy from continuing. “We were busy.”
“Hey, Pop,” Joe said, walking over to shake my hand and give his mother a kiss.
“Hey, son,” I replied, looking around the shop. They’d done a ton of work. It looked nothing like it had when they purchased the store last year. Every time I visited, something would be changed, and I was truly in awe of their hard work. “It’s looking damn good in here.”
“Thanks. Just when we think we’re done, Izzy has to change something. She’s so damn picky.” Joe rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“She’s a Gallo. Nothing is ever perfect.”
“Fuck, I know it,” he hissed, raking his fingers through his hair as he walked back to his station.
“So what was so important for me to see?” Maria asked, walking over to the wall and checking out some new artwork that had been hung. “These are stunning,” she said, touching the glass.
“Thanks, Ma. I just hung them up the other day,” Joe replied, sitting in his chair as he cleaned off his workspace.
“You made these?” she asked, staring at them in amazement.
“Yeah.” He smiled, puffing out his chest as he took pride in his work.
“You’re so talented, Joseph.” She turned, smiling at him.
His face turned pink, showing a moment of embarrassment. Joe wasn’t one to take a compliment. “Thanks, Ma.”
“I’m so proud of each of you. The shop looks amazing.” I beamed with pride, watching their faces light up. No matter how old they were, they still wanted our approval.
“Thanks, Daddy,” Izzy said, giving me a peck on the cheek before grabbing Maria’s hand. “I wanted you to see how I changed the piercing room, Ma. Come see,” she said, pulling Maria toward the back of the shop.
“Does it matter, Izzy? Why someone would want another hole in their body, I’ll never understand.” Maria shook her head as she sighed.
“It’s decoration, Ma, and makes a statement. It’s about beauty, just like a tattoo,” Izzy answered.
“A necklac
e is a hell of a lot easier and less painful than a piercing. Kids these days. Thank God you kids haven’t scarred your bodies in that way.” She looked around the room, watching their reactions.
Each one of them looked away, staring at the floor or in the opposite direction. They didn’t have to admit it, but they all had a piercing. I hadn’t known firsthand, but their reactions confirmed it.
“All of you?” Maria asked as she turned to look at each of them. “Damn. How do I not know these things?” She put her face in her hands, shaking her head.
“It wasn’t important,” Anthony replied, looking at Maria when no one else would.
“I think it’s important to know that my children added holes to their bodies. Jesus,” she hissed, moving toward Michael. “Did you do them all?”
He shook his head, still staring at the floor as he whistled. “Nope,” he replied, not giving any more detail.
She sighed, shaking her head. “Nothing I can do now.” She shrugged. “Show me the room, Izzy.”
“I’m sorry, Ma,” Izzy stated, leaning over and kissing Maria on the cheek. “Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not. You’re all grown and can make your own decisions. Just don’t hide anything from me again. Got it?” she asked.
“Yes,” they each answered, nodding their heads as they looked at Maria.
“Good. Now let’s see it.” Izzy smiled, grabbing Maria’s hand and taking her in the back room.
“How’s business?” I asked, sitting down in Joe’s customer chair.
“Busy. We’re booked the entire evening. People are still hungover from New Year’s,” Joe answered, kicking back in his chair and placing his hands behind his head.
“I knew the shop would be successful. Is there anything I can help with?” They never asked for anything. Whether it was painting, picking out the location, or setting up a business, they handled everything and never asked for help.
“Nah, Pop. We got everything handled,” Anthony replied with a giant smile on his face.
“I’m always here if you ever need anything or just want advice.”
“We know. How about we take you and Ma to lunch? Have you eaten?” Joe asked, rubbing his stomach. “I’m starving.”
“Sure, son. I worked up quite an appetite this morning.”
“Jesus,” Izzy groaned as she walked back in the room right as I made the statement. “I love you two, really, I do. But there are some things that aren’t meant to be shared.”
I laughed, knowing she was probably right, but it was too much fun watching her freak out. “Okay, baby girl. You’re right.”
“Did someone say lunch?” Maria asked, resting her hand on Izzy’s shoulder and smiling at me.
“Yeah, Ma. We want to take you and Pop to lunch.” Anthony stood from his
