Page 93 of Still Here Without You

“Aaand, done.” Michelle finishes the tattoo and runs through the instructions for care. I’m not going to lie; that was a lot more painful than I thought it would be, but pain I probably deserved.

“If you decide to fill it in, let me know. I’d love to get my needle into you again.”

“I bet you would. Thanks, Shell,” I say, itching to rub the site of the tattoo but knowing I can’t touch it.

“Pleasure’s all mine.” She grins as if knowing my thoughts.

We head out to the reception area, and Levy looks me over. “I didn’t hear any screaming, but I’ll bet he was a pussy.”

“A huge pussy,” Michelle says, and I fake a laugh. “Speaking of…”

“Nope.” I raise my hands in protest. “We’ve been through this before. I don’t want to be set up with any of your friends.”

“Why? You’ve slept with half the college,” she says with a pointed look.

“Why the fuck does everyone think that? I’m a virgin.” I wink.

“Fuck off, you are. I’ve heard the rumors.”

“Well, I can pretty much guarantee that ninety percent of them are just that…rumors.”

“Sure they are.”

I roll my eyes and throw my credit card on the counter. “No tip for you,” I joke as we settle up the check.

As I’m leaving the parlor, I bump straight into a girl walking past, catching her before she falls. When she looks up at me, it takes me a second to place her, given she now has pink hair, but then we both smile in recognition.

“Lainey, hi. It’s good to see you,” I say, genuinely meaning it. I haven’t seen her since last October, on a night we’d all rather forget, but it’s nice to see her again.

“Hi, Joel. How are you?” That’s a loaded question. I’m about to respond when she looks at the shop I just exited and gasps. “Did you get a tattoo?”

I laugh. “I did.”

“Wow, that’s perfect timing. Have you got a minute?”

We talk through some ideas she has for her own tattoo, and I agree to introduce her to Michelle. When the conversation moves to other topics and Summer’s mentioned, the mood changes.

“I was so worried about her. I mean, she texted like she said she would, I just…” She sighs as her shoulders droop.

Summer and Lainey went through something together last year. They were complete strangers at the time, but it’s something that deeply affected them both, and if Lainey hadn’t been there that night… I shudder at the thought.

“I get it. But I have a feeling she’d want to catch up, if you want to.”

“It’d be nice to see her.”

“Why don’t you come by the house sometime? She practically lives there. I’ll get her to text you.”

“Sounds great. Thanks, Joel. I’m glad I ran into you. Literally.”

I laugh as I walk away, thinking about everything Summer and Dylan have been through, and Cory and Nate. None of my friends have had it easy. Maybe there’s still hope for Delilah and me. We just have to work through our issues. Once we figure out what they are.

When I get back to my bike, I can’t help but smile as I think about my tattoo. I can’t believe I never thought of this idea before. It just came to me last night, and I had the strongest urge to get it done right away. It was the strangest feeling, but I’m so glad I listened to my gut because I’m so fucking happy with the result.

I take some time, riding around with no direction in mind before I head home. With only my thoughts to keep me company, I fly through the open roads, enjoying the rush it gives me. The faster I go, the happier I feel, until I’m riding recklessly through the mountains. Needing tofeelsomething.Anything. God, I need help.Taking a deep breath, I pull off to the side of the road. I wanted a distraction but this isn’t working. I still have time to think about her. When my pulse evens out after my adrenaline hit, I shoot off a text to Dylan to ask him to hang and hope like hell he’s available.

Dylan and Summer are curled up on the couch, watching a movie, when I arrive home. He never replied to my text, but too bad, I’ll just have to hang out with both of them.

“The guy in the vest did it,” I say as I plop down onto the beanbag.

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