I go to him and he stands to hug me. "Me too, CD."
We seem to be back to a friendly rhythm by the time Sully walks in and my client a few feet behind him. "Mya?" I ask and hug her. Cal's sister is a gorgeous array of tattoos, thick brown hair and the same Dorian eyes as my son and his father. "What brings you by?"
"I am here to get a tragus. I have some bad headaches and my Doctor actually told me that the tragus can stop or minimalize them."
I nod. "Totally, I have a ton of clients get them for the same reason." I step back and show the jewelry display. "Pick any of these, they’re the right size for a tragus."
She looks at the jewelry and picks a cubic zirconia and follows me to my room and I shut the door. "So, you and Sam looked to be all flirty. What was that about?" I ask as I set up the trey and have her pull her long brown hair back.
"Who is Sam?" She asks as she knots her hair on top of her head.
"Sully?" I ask and forget that when here he is known as Sully, it is to us that he is Sam, our friend.
"Oh, hell that guy is drop dead gorgeous Jen." She laughs and shivers at the idea of Sam and his effect on all women. "Tats and piercings don’t freak me out. Obviously, I have six holes in my ear now, my cleft and nose as well as seven tattoos. My brother, hello look at his friends right." She shakes her head and I get it, she needs to defend as a lot of women do. Sam isn’t just tattooed. He is covered from the chin down and somehow it works for him. "He just has something that is untouchable and oh my God, I want to touch it."
I laugh and dot her ear before I push the needle through, gauge and all. "Done." I say and twist the ball to the back of the barbell and hand her the small package and the cleaning instructions.
"That was fast." She says and stands. "Like we need some girl talk on you and my brother..."
I roll my eyes and hide the tumbles in my tummy as I replay the message he sent in my mind. "Nothing to tell, just taking it slow and steady."
"Wins the race... I get it but when steady becomes love let me know." She smiles huge and I step from the room hoping she won’t poke and prod for details anymore.
She pays and chats with me a few more minutes about Axe and his sleepover plans this Friday night.
"I didn’t know you were keeping him Friday." I say and look at my books and see I am blocked out and wasn’t earlier. What the fuck?
"Cal called me earlier and asked if I could watch him, but I have plans so mom and dad are." She looks at me pointedly before rolling her eyes. "Fucking go with it Jen, don’t ask about why."
She lets her hair fall from her messy knot and I watch as Sam eyes her like ice cream on a hot day and though I want to know why there’s all this secrecy now, I let it go for the info on these two-eye fucking each other.
Sam sees me watching and winks before yelling Mya's name. "This thing coming up, you going to be there?"
Oh, now I am intrigued. Big time.
"Sure, will but I might be a few minutes late so save me a seat." She eyes between his legs. Blatantly before winking back at him. "Byee." She says and walks out the door.
Talks like a valley girly, walks like a valley girl, curses like a sailor.
"What is going on here Sam?" I ask and notice only three people working on a Friday night.
"What is none of your business, just a little something to welcome you to the shop." He says and hands me a plaque with my name on it, designed by him and all his artistic glory. "Sam..."
I look up at him and Asa, Otto and CD come hug me. "We are proud of you Jen." He says and takes one of the five-dollar bills Mya gave me for a tip and places it in the framed plaque and secures it. "You are officially one of us." He says and they all clap.
"You guys are nuts, I have been piercing a while."
Dali comes from the back hallway with Noah holding a cake that said 'Welcome to the Paradox' in hot pink and black plaid and I knew Bright made it when I saw the box's insignia Brew's Bakery.
"You just got your first client out the door, happy, successfully pierced and definitely returning. Your certificate is on the wall and the website now. That makes it official." Noah says and kisses my cheek.
"I wouldn’t be here without you Noah." I say and hug him closer.
"Back-atcha babes." He says and kisses my cheek again while everyone hugs me and welcomes me.
I take a picture of the cake and send it to Cal with a description.
Me: Your sister just got her tragus pierced by me and the whole shop got me a cake to celebrate my official start with a paying client, not a volunteer or walk in. Awesome right?
I take a picture of my plaque and send it to him to.
Me: They saved her tip to put here to.
I am basking in the glory of being Jenny Pope Branding, Dermal and Piercing specialist galore and leaving the cocktail waitress at the strip club behind. I don’t know if Axe would be proud of this one day, but I am. I look at my friends, my people and the family I built and am grateful.
"So, we are done for the day, we can celebrate and kick back or go home for the night?" Sam says and we all laugh at the last part.
"I am game." I say and everyone but Noah agrees.
"I can’t doll, I have some band business tonight as you know. But I will take you out for booze and grub this weekend. Deal?"
I of course agree, knowing he and the guys will be working late tonight on band promos or something. I look at my phone and see the messages from Cal.
Cal: Red, I am so proud of you. Winna pierce me?
Cal: That five bucks is worth five hundred Firefly. So proud.
I melt at his text and the words proud are the greatest he could give me.
Me: I will pierce your dick, you bet.
I send, so happy that there is no weirdness from his earlier text. I believe his words and effort every day and that’s enough.
Cal: There better be one hell of an incentive to get me to agree to that Red.
I laugh out loud and they all look at me. "Sorry, hold on and I will give you my attention." I say and shoot him another text.
Me: I can think of twenty right now. I will tell you all about them tonight. We are celebrating on Sully's dime tonight, so I will be home late too. Thanks, you for letting Noah come congratulate me.
Cal: Have fun, you deserve it. Call me if you need a ride Firefly.
Just to fuck with him I send another text even though everyone is waiting on me.
Me: I will just call an Uber.
Chapter Fifteen
Cal
Noah told me they were surprising her today and though I wanted to be there I understood the initiation in their shop so I stayed back and kept working. The last few weeks had been spent slowly leaking the collaboration between Lex and I, as well as getting a solid five song set to play live.
Currently we were focused on the one song I worked the most on, both lyrically and composition and once Noah was back it was time to play it through and perfect it.
Shows are as much about good music as they are a big production and this song was the finale. We rented a piano and orchestral drum set for this track and I asked the guys to get involved on this one track.
I needed the power that her beats bring, but the show and the song need their presence. My boys are the baddest out there and were all on board to help, with the support and permission from the wives. I sent them the sheet music a few days ago and now we were playing it and I was nervous and anxious and dreading it as much as I love it.
We have been getting Shame and Chad to work in sync for hours and I am stressing waiting on Noah to get back and guide the God Damned Bass!
"Stop, for fucks sake stop." I say and scrub my face as I stand from the piano again. "It’s too strong, like you play it fine but I cannot pinpoint the sound. Can we wait on Noah?" I say, at my wits end trying to get this shit to give me what I want is like trying to get a damn elephant to shit a brass trumpet.
Not happening.
"What's the problem?" Noah says as
he bounds down the steps of his now, semi sound proofed basement. I had to pad the walls because the echo was so bad. It’s a lot better now, but I am in no mood to dick around anymore and need the help.
"The bass..." I say and wave my hand to start from my hook on the first verse. The minute he hits the bass Noah shakes his head no and goes to the guitar to readjust the sound...to no fucking avail.
"Fuck this, maybe it needs to be electronic. I need classical instruments, a double bass or cello or something. Basic bass isn’t cutting it."
We all look around, search our phones and pray because it’s not there. Fuck me, I hear it but I can’t produce it. "This shit won’t work without it." I say and I am two seconds from searching Craig’s list for someone to play this shit when Chad blows us away.
"Okay, so look..." He says, red faced and grabs his phone and calls Carrie.
What the fuck?
"Dude, can Carrie play a standing bass?" I ask Noah. I am exhausted and stressed and obviously not catching the drift here.
"Thanks babe, see you soon." He says and hangs up. Shame and Noah look like they will die of laughter and Chad looks like he will kill them.
What did I miss?
"What?" I ask and can’t help but smile for whatever is happening.
"Chad can play that bass." Shame says, rolling with laughter and Noah starts in.
"He is classically trained in double bass."
I do not find this funny. This shit is a Godsend.
"Are you serious?" I ask and cannot contain my excitement.
He nods and flips Shame off, who is in hysterics at the drum kit.
"Please tell me Harvey has pictures?" He says, laughing harder and Noah and I join in.
"Like, Harvey paid for you to get snob classes?" Noah laughs.
"I am crushed that you aren’t a true ride or die rocker." I say and now we all have jokes and can’t stop as Chad just glares.
When Carrie showed up with the enormous monster that Bright had to help her carry, we all fucking died.
"Oh fuck..." Shame says and busts up laughing, falling from his stool. I see Chad looking two seconds from beating him bloody and try to get my bearings.
"Okay, enough. We need this shit so let’s all be adults." I say, still laughing as the double before him is as big as he is.
Another fit of laughter as he tunes it and I don’t know if I can watch this. Chad Blake is a Rock God, the man women masturbate too. Seeing him sit pretty with a double bass is impossible to describe.
I try and focus on the fact he is saving my ass here, and the thought sobers me up. "Look, enough. Honestly this is a Godsend man. Tune it or whatever and let’s try it with that big ass bass."
Cal
I was early for my tattoo and was waiting on Noah and Jen to show up. I was surprising her with the firefly tattoo I was getting today, next to a cricket for the kid and showing her tomorrow after the show. My phone buzzed in my pocket as I chatted with Sully and Asa.
Tayla: I need to see you. It's important. Are you home?
I roll my eyes knowing damn well she wants to sink her dagger teeth into this thing with Lex.
Me: No, I am getting tattooed. Whatever is going on you can tell me via text.
I had no desire to get into it with her here, or anywhere for that matter. She is too thirsty for the act and I refuse to give even a centimeter more that I am legally required to on my contract with Coven.
Tayla: I am close, I will come there.
Before I can respond and tell her no, Noah calls me. "Hey what’s up? Where you at?" I ask and step into the side hall that leads to the back door and the restrooms.
"Hey we are in Federal Way in traffic but we will be there soon. Tell Sam to show you what I drew up. It's in the manila folder on my table." He says and bitches about the traffic when he drops the call.
I make my way into his booth and find the folder and look at the art he drew for me and his art is hard to explain. My body is covered in his work, my arms sleeved with the old mic and guitars with banners of lyrics. The work he has added and the ode to my band are remarkable, and this piece will be no exception.
"Cal?" Sully asks with trepidation in his voice.
"What’s up man." I say and show him the work, but he seems uncomfortable. "Noah called and told me to check the work out before he lays it." I defend, thinking maybe he is pissed I came in here without staff or some shit, though it’s a stretch with as close we are.
"Hey, no its cool you being in here my man, just...uh..." He looks over his shoulder and I see Tay walking toward us and want to kick my own ass for getting distracted.
I sigh and nod looking at Sully. "It's fine man." I say just as Tayla, a blubbering crying mess walks in the booth and falls into my arms hysterically crying.
"What the fuck?" I say, and yes, I try to comfort her because something obviously awful happened and I worry for her. It was in this moment that I realize it isn’t all contempt and betrayal I have for her. I pull her back gently, my hands on her shoulders as I try to see her face. "What's up Tay? Calm down." I fear for her mom or her sister's health based on the tears. "Is everyone okay?"
She nods and cries harder. "I don’t know why I came here, it’s inappropriate..." She says and sits on the bed Noah has in the booth.
I sit beside her, not really sure why she is here. "So, talk to me and we can figure it out." I say and I honestly don’t know what to say because I have only ever seen her react in such anguish when someone was dead or dying. Not even that Thanksgiving was she this upset.
"Robert and I broke up." She says and starts wailing again and I swear to God... No, I won’t say it or think it because it’s too harsh. She is right, it is inappropriate to be here crying to me about his ass.
"Yeah, this is out of line. I get your upset but I am not the shoulder to cry on here Tay." I scrub my hands over my face and kick the stool I was sitting in. "Do you get how fucking shitty this is?"
The nerve of her running to me only pisses me off. I see her, here sad and crying desperate for comfort and I only want Jen. I see it now and though I felt Jen was it for me, I know it now.
"I know, I know I am hurting you-"
I cut her off with a cruel laugh. "I’m not hurt Tayla. I am happy and in love actually." I motion between us when she looks at me with shock. "We are done Tayla and have been for some time, to the point I was going to reach out and talk to you about divesting any rights to Axe. That’s how not hurt I am."
Her thinking I give to shits and still pine for her makes it impossible to not feel the rush of anger of who she has become. "You’re in love?" She says on a choked sob and starts crying again.
I try to be as gentle as I can here. I don’t want to hurt her, I won already. I know it wasn’t a competition but after everything played itself out and came full circle. I won.
"Yeah, Tay. I am in love."
She takes a shaky breath and looks at me with a sad smile, her eyes are red and free of makeup and her cheeks are blotchy with pink spots. "I’m glad." She says on another shaky breath. "I was scared I ruined you."
I nod in agreement. "Me too, turns out broken and ruined are two different things."
She nods in agreement or acknowledgement, I’m not sure. I just know for once, there’s a peace between us instead of tension and pain.
"Think we will ever be able to talk and be friends?" She asks and still with the stuttering sighs from crying, but she is calming down.
I shrug and sit beside her, placing a friendly arm around her. "I don’t know. There’s a lot of bad shit between us that we allowed to stay buried there. I have to think of Axe in it all...and her feelings in it too."
"Do I know her?" She asks me and I don’t keep Jen out of this for Tayla's sake, but because she deserves to be the first person to hear it out loud. One thing to admit I am in love, different to tell the ex and now the one I love.
I nod and as she goes to ask I put my hand up. "I am waiting until tomorrow after the show t
o tell her so I am not saying anything until then." I say and she seems to accept the answer. I feel like I need to break the tension and ask about her and why she needed to see me. Talking about my love life with the woman who tried killing me with ours was too strange.
"What did you need from me?" I ask and we both cringe at how shitty it sounded. "I just meant to change the subject." I explain.
She sighs and looks at me, an uncomfortable touch as she cups my bearded cheek in her hand. "You grew it back, it fits you." She says off handedly and drops her hand. "I have no friends Cal. None. I have industry reps that I associate with, but when I chose Robert I lost everyone."
I always suspected that the girls picked sides after Christmas the year she went to Noah's with Robert Black, but now it is confirmed. "I'm sorry Tayla." I say and I mean it. I never wanted everyone to choose, but even that isn’t true. I knew they would choose. "I hate that this had to happen. Everyone was hurt in this."
She nods. "I know..." She looks at me with sadness and maybe even a little regret, though I get the regret in this moment I know our regrets are completely different.
"Cal, I should have told you. I never should have gone behind your back. Sam was right that night, any chance I had in having any dignity was long gone in how I confronted it."
I laugh without humor. "Confronted it? You didn’t confront shit. You blamed everyone else after you were busted." I try to keep my tone low and from causing a scene. If she was thinking we were going to hash it out and have this fight here, she was wrong.
"I know, but after everything is said and done, for what it’s worth I was wrong and admit it was a mistake." She looks at me through her lashes and I feel a shot of pain, maybe I always will with the looks she gives me. But I won’t let it affect me. I suffered far more than any man should to open Jenny to me, I was not going to lose my Red.
Fix Me_TAT_A Rocker Romance Page 19
