Page 43 of Lavender Moon

I know I was just as crazy to say yes as he was to propose… but there was no way in my heart I could say no. While so many of his comrades have whole families and loved ones to be there for them when they come home, Kaleb was asking me to be just that one person for him. No, it’s not the way I had always envisioned being proposed to, nor the circumstances, but this is my Kaleb, the exception to all my rules. And besides, we do love each other. Maybe it won’t be a ‘normal’ marriage at first, but I have faith that we’ll get there.

After fifteen minutes or so, the lines of trees give way to houses and more farmland, and eventually, opens up to a town that looks to be somewhat bigger than Coyote Creek. After a couple of turns, we roll into the lot of what is obviously a tattoo parlor.

“What are we doing here?” I ask, swinging my leg off and dismounting as Kaleb starts undoing the strap of his helmet. “Are you finally going to get more ink done on your right arm so that your left isn’t so weighed down?” I joke while undoing the strap on my own helmet. Although, to his credit, he seemed to be able to squeeze in a couple of military themed tats on that arm while away at training.

“You’re hilarious,” he deadpans and shakes his head at me as a pickup pulls into the empty lot.

“They don’t even look open,” I observe, and it makes sense considering it’s the middle of a Sunday.

“They’re not.,” He gives me that mischievous smile as the truck door opens, and a guy not much older looking than us strides in our direction.

“You owe me big, clown,” the guy greets with a shake of his head, but there’s a mirthful smile on his face as he chides Kaleb.

“Whatever, man,” Kaleb returns. “You’re the one who still owes me for taking the wrap for that tag job you did on the side of the school gym.”

“Yeah, yeah,” The guy dismisses him before reaching his hand out. “I’m Travis.”

“Luna,” I reply and shake back before he turns, and Kaleb leads me to follow him to the parlor’s back door.

“Is that something you did a lot?” I ask him as Travis unlocks the door. “Take the wrap for things you didn’t do?”

“I was seen as the bad boy around here,” he gives an almost proud smirk. “It was expected of me and I never had much to lose,” he sticks his tongue out through his teeth, as always, hiding behind that cocky veneer as we head in.

The place has black & and white checkered linoleum flooring, and the red neon signs that Travis flips on, make this the place reminding me of a fifties diner.

“So I know you like your ink, but what made you want to come out here on such a whim and make your poor friend open up on a Sunday?” I ask, placing my hands on my hips.

“I promised you a design,” he reminds me, and I think back to the last time at camp as when we were counselors.

“You did,” I confirm quietly when the memory morphs from fuzzy to clear.

“And I made one,” he adds. “And if you want, we can get it put on you today. And if you’re not comfortable, then I’ll just find something stupid for Travis to put on me,” he shrugs, humor dancing in his eyes.

“’Bout time you got that tramp stamp,” Travis jokes, and I bark out a laugh.

“Well, I can’t let that happen,” I return, before making my decision. Like at the lake, I think about looking back on this day, and the idea of saying I didn’t go for it. “Let’s do it.”

Kaleb’s brows actually chase his hairline at my response and he steps in closer to me. “Really, baby?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re fucking amazing, you know that?” He cups my cheeks and places a kiss to my forehead, before reaching inside his jacket pocket and pulling out a piece of paper. “It’s just an industrial stamp that says Property of Kaleb Shane on it, and I thought we could put it on your -– ow!”

My slap to his chest cuts off his bright idea to brand my butt, and he gives me a cheeky grin before handing me the paper. I feel a joyous smile take over my face when I look down to see a crescent moon, not quite like the one he drew me that’s on his arm. It’s gradient, with all the shades of purple you could imagine.

“It’s perfect,” I say simply, looking up at him with sincerity.

Once I’m settled in the chair, Kaleb helps me with the strap of my tank top, easing it down my arm as if preparing to make love to me. I pull my arm out of it, leaving that side of my chest bare before he cleans the area just below my collarbone.

Travis was okay letting us in off books and off hours, but he about lost his shit when Kaleb told him he wanted to be the one to tattoo me. There was some back and forth before I assured him I was okay with it, much to his chagrin. Now he lingers nearby, watching like a hawk while grabbing his cell phone from his back pocket. He holds it up like he’s taking a picture, but when he starts talking, I realize it’s actually a video.

“Okay, since our man, Kaleb, is not technically certified, this is you confirming that you’re okay with him putting a permanent tattoo on your body?” Travis questions, and I nod, smiling sheepishly at the camera before flitting my eyes back to Kaleb.

“Yeah, I trust him,” I say affectionately as Kaleb smiles, shaking his head.

“You won’t sue?”

“No, I won’t sue,” I promise. “If it sucks, I’ll just kick his ass,” I wink and then stick my tongue out at Kaleb who rolls his eyes.

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