by Kayla Carson
“We need to find a laundry mat.” I said lifting the heavy bag, and dragging it towards the corner of the room.
“I was thinking.” Owen said, as he sat down on the end of the bed. “Since it's already so late in the afternoon, and we lost so much time yesterday. Why don't we stay in Maryland for the day? We can head to New Jersey first thing in the morning.”
“I'm going to call Adam!” Morgan squealed, as she dug around in her purse for her phone.
“Adam?” Owen asked, directing the question towards me.
“The tow truck driver.” I answered back, as I continued to organize my suitcase.
“I guess that just leaves the two of us.” He said, as he came to stand behind me.
He placed his hands on my waist, and tilted his head so that his chin was resting in the crook of my neck. I instantly stiffened completely aware of where we were, and who was with us. Morgan was facing away from us, staring out the window while she spoke with Adam on the phone. Owen took advantage of this, and placed a feather soft kiss just on the base of my neck.
I closed my eyes, and dropped the shirt I was folding back into my suitcase. I felt his hands slowly start to rise up from my waist, stopping just under my breasts.
“You smell so damn good, Unicorn.” He whispered.
“I, you-” I tried to answer back, but I couldn't form the words.
His warm breath on my neck was sending tingles to all the right places, and if Morgan wasn't in the room I probably would have turned around and shoved him back onto the bed. He pulled away from me then, reclaiming his seat on the end of the bed just as Morgan ended her phone call. Had he been paying attention to her conversation? How could he focus? My mind, and body were both still reeling from the minuscule contact that we'd just shared.
“Adam's picking me up in an hour!” Morgan said, pulling her makeup bag from her purse.
“That's great.” I said, pretending that I wasn't so worked up that I could explode.
“Oh.” Morgan said, spinning to face me. “I'm sorry, did you want to do something today? I know we haven't spent much time together on this trip. I can totally cancel my plans with Adam, if-”
“Slow down.” I laughed. “It's fine. I'm sure Owen, and I can find something fun to do.”
“I'm sure you can.” She winked.
“THIS WASN'T EXACTLY what I had in mind when I said we had the day to ourselves, Unicorn.” Owen said, as he pulled the clothing from the dryer at the laundromat.
“Just be glad it was only one load.” I said, checking to make sure that we didn't leave anything behind. “If it were Morgan's clothing bag we'd be here for an entire week.”
He laughed, before tossing the bag over his shoulder, and gesturing towards the door.
“After you.”
“Such a gentleman.” I smirked, before brushing past him so that I could open the door for him.
When we reached the truck, and the laundry was safely tossed into the back we found ourselves with nothing left to do.
“We could grab dinner?” Owen offered.
I turned towards him then, my eyes instantly drawn to the tattoo sleeves covering his arms.
“I want to get a tattoo.” I blurted out.
“You do?” He asked, arching a brow. “I thought it wouldn't fit with your 'image?'”
“I'll just have to get it somewhere that no one will see it then.”
“No one but the man giving you the tattoo.”
I rolled my eyes. “They're professionals. I'm sure they see naked women almost daily.”
“Alright, Unicorn. Let's get you a tattoo.”
I grinned, as I watched Owen do a quick search on his cell for a tattoo parlor. I thought I'd be nervous, but I was feeling the complete opposite. I was excited. I could already feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins. I was finally doing something for me, because I wanted it, and it was a feeling I couldn't describe.
“Looks like there's a reputable shop about twenty minutes from here.”
“Just tell me which way to go.”
He chuckled, as I pulled out onto the road. “Do you even know what you want?”
“I think I do.” I said, matter of factly.
“Well don't leave me hanging.”
“I want a bird cage with the door open, and the bird flying free.”
“Why?”
“It's a representation. I'm finally free, and I don't intend on being caged again.”
“A woman like you should never be caged, Ronnie.” He said, reaching for my hand.
I felt his thumb brush over mine, and I couldn't help but smile. It had been a long time since I'd truly felt happy, and the more time I spent with Owen, the happier I felt. We spent the rest of the drive to the tattoo parlor in comfortable silence. The radio played country music in the background, and Owen held my hand the entire way.
When we pulled into the small shop, there were only two other cars in the lot. Upon further inspection a neon sign lit in red, sat just above the door frame. It read 'Capone's Ink,' and had two more neon signs on either side of the door. The one on the left was lit up, and read 'open,' while the other said 'closed.'
“Are you sure about this?” Owen asked, as we climbed out of the truck, and approached the door.
“Absolutely.” I said reaching for the door handle, and stepping inside.
When the bell rang announcing our arrival, a tall red head with tattoos covering nearly every inch of bare skin came around the corner to greet us. She smiled kindly, and reached her hand out to Owen to introduce herself. Of course she'd think we were here because of him.
“What can I help you with today.”
“Actually.” Owen said, placing his hands on my shoulders from behind. “We're here to pop her cherry.”
My eyes grew wide, and the woman behind the counter laughed.
“Well I'd be happy to be her first.” She winked, before turning her attention onto me. “I'm Gia.”
“Ronnie.”
“We don't usually take walk ins, but I just had a cancellation. Depending on what you're looking for, I'm sure we can work something out.”
I told her what I wanted, and after sitting with her for a few minutes she came up with a rough sketch. She also showed me a few that were pre-drawn from other artists. She said she wouldn't draw them because she liked to use her own work, but it gave me a few ideas for the cage design.
In the end, I wound up with a design that I was really happy with. She said it should only take two hours, and since I didn't want any color it wouldn't take as long to heal either. Owen, and I followed her back to a room then, and I sat down on the dental style chair in the center of the room. Owen grabbed a chair from the other side, and brought it over to sit beside me.
“Are you her boyfriend?” Gia asked, as she began to get her tools ready.
“No.” He said. “We uh, we're just-”
“We're sleeping together.” I answered for him. He may not be my boyfriend, but it didn't mean that I wanted Gia all over him either.
“What she said.” He answered, before looking at me, and biting back a smile.
I shrugged innocently, and he shook his head.
“Can't say that I blame you, girl.” Gia said, before scooting towards me on her stool. “Is it like, an exclusive thing? Or-”
“It is.” Owen answered this time, and hearing those two words fall from his lips was like winning the lottery.
“Message received.” Gia said before putting a pair of gloves on, and getting down to business. “You said you wanted it on your rib cage, right?”
“Yes.”
“OK. You can either take your shirt off, or just lift it up. Totally up to you.”
“When in Rome.” I said before sitting up, and lifting my shirt over my head.
I laid back in the chair, and watched as Gia transferred the sketch onto my skin. Her hands were steady, and she had a laser focus. Despite the fact that she hit on Owen, I kind of liked her. When she finish
ed with the transfer, she asked me to stand so that I could look in the mirror. She wanted to make sure that I was good with the placement before the real fun started.
The bird cage was the size of a tube of lipstick in height, and the intricate details she'd managed to blend into it were dazzling. She'd left a few of the bars mangled, and broken as if the bird had escaped. Seeing it, even though it wasn't finished brought actual tears to my eyes. Having the symbol of how I felt in my soul etched onto my skin felt somehow cathartic.
“It's perfect.” I said, before turning to show Owen. “What do you think?”
“It doesn't matter what I think, Unicorn. As long as it makes you happy.”
I nodded my head, before returning to the chair. With my confirmation, Gia fired up her tattoo gun, and dipped it into the ink. I closed my eyes at first, steeling myself for the pain that I imagined would come next. I won't lie, it hurt. A lot. But, it wasn't unbearable. Owen reached for my hand, and I opened my eyes on contact.
He smiled down at me, and it gave me the courage to turn towards Gia. I watched as she worked, and admired her talent. She was focused, and it was clear that she'd been at this for a very long time. It was almost second nature to her. When she finished with the outline of the bird, she asked if I needed a break before shading it in. I told her just to keep going, and that's when the pain got a little more intense.
I squinted, as the needle stroked over my rib cage, and Owen gave my hand a small squeeze.
“Look at me.” He said.
I turned my head, and he winked at me.
“It's a good thing you're so distracting.” I teased.
“Me? You're the one laying here with your shirt off, getting a tattoo.”
I laughed. “Are you going to get one too?”
“You know what, I think I will.”
“Where will you put it?”
He laughed this time. “I've got some space left on my chest.”
“Of course you do.”
“Hey if you get to be topless, then so do I.”
“Stop making her laugh.” Gia warned. “We don't want a crooked bird cage.”
I turned back to her then, glancing down.
“You've already finished shading the bird in?” I asked.
“Distraction.” She smiled. “Works every time.”
I looked at Owen, and he winked again.
“You're sneaky, I'll give you that.” I said.
“Is that all I am though?”
“Are you fishing for a compliment, because I'm pretty sure you already know you're sex on legs.”
“Amen.” Gia mumbled from beside me, and I smiled.
“See. You don't need to fish.”
“What about my mind though?” He asked, arching a brow.
I laughed so hard then, that Gia had to stop. She gave Owen a hard stare, and it only made me laugh harder. The look on his face was priceless, and after apologizing to Gia, he promised to keep his mouth shut for the rest of my session.
Nearly two hours later, and I was finally finished. Gia showed me how to care for my new tattoo so that it could heal properly, and set me up with all the supplies I'd need. After paying her, and giving her a generous tip for her trouble, Owen asked if she had time for one more. She was reluctant at first, but eventually gave in.
This time, Owen was in the hot seat. He pulled his shirt off, and tossed it at me hitting me right square in the face.
“Hey!” I said with annoyance, as I laid it in my lap.
“Alright.” Gia said, as she put a new pair of gloves on. “What do you want?”
Owen looked at me with what appeared to be nervousness before turning to face Gia.
“I'd like a unicorn.”
THIRTEEN
THE SILENCE THAT OWEN, and I were sharing in the truck right now was deafening. When he asked Gia to give him a unicorn tattoo, a million different emotions ran through me. At first I was flattered, but then I wondered what it meant. You don't put something like that on your body just because, and he told me that every tattoo meant something to him. So, what exactly did I mean to him?
After five minutes, I cleared my throat. One of us needed to break the silence.
“Do you want to grab something to eat?” I asked, as we stopped at a red light.
“There's a bar around the corner I wanted to check out.” He said, pointing towards the next road up.
“When did you have time to look?” I teased.
“While you were showering this morning. I had plenty of time.” He teased back.
“Are you saying that I shower slow? Try living with Morgan, and sharing a bathroom.”
He pretended to cringe, and I swatted his arm.
“Eyes on the road, Unicorn.” He said. “Remember what happened last time?”
“Asshole.” I said, as I turned onto the street where the bar was located.
He laughed, ignoring my little dig.
“The bar looks pretty crowded.” He said, leaning up in his seat to get a better look.
“Brass balls saloon?” I asked, crinkling my nose as I found a parking spot near the back.
“Come on, it's a landmark!”
“A landmark?” I asked, arching a brow skeptically.
“It's been here since nineteen eighty.” He shrugged. “Plus, I bet the outside tables have a pretty good view when the sun sets.”
“Aww, you want to watch the sun set with me?” I teased.
“I'd like to watch it rise with you too.” He winked.
I bit my bottom lip, and he slid across the seat so that he was sitting in the middle. He looked at my lips, and licked his own before leaning towards me. Our lips met in a sweet, sensual kiss, that made my heart race with excitement. My stomach was doing little flip flops, and when I felt his hands on my waist I had to fight back a little squeal when his fingertips brushed against my tattoo.
“Sorry.” He said, quickly pulling away from me. “How does it feel? Are you doing alright?”
“It's not as bad as I thought it would be. It's a kind of burning sensation, like a cut.”
He nodded. “Don't worry, I'll make sure to give it some extra attention tonight.”
“Tonight? Does that mean I'm staying with you, again?”
He winked. “I'm sure Morgan won't mind.”
“I'm sure you're right.”
He leaned in to kiss me again, and I smiled against his lips.
“Let's eat.” He nearly growled, sending me into a fit of giggles.
“I like making you laugh, Unicorn.”
“I like laughing.” I answered, before opening my door.
Owen soon followed suit, and the two of us started towards the entrance. When we stepped inside I was instantly impressed. The place was packed, and the interior vibe matched the exterior. It was directly on the board walk, so when Owen asked for an outdoor table we were so close to the water that we could almost feel it when it splashed onto the surf below.
“OK. This place is pretty amazing.” I said, as I took my seat.
There were outdoor booths instead of chairs, and with a little maneuvering you could walk right down to the beach. Most of the menu boasted surf, and turf, but I was more of a burger and fries kinda gal. I ordered the Texas burger with waffle fries, and Owen ordered the New York strip steak. We also ordered a deep eddy vodka lemonade each, since they were one of the bar's specialties.
While we waited for our food we sipped our drinks, and watched the waves as they rolled slowly over the sand. It was a beautiful night. The air was crisp, and the sky was clear, and the smells wafting from the kitchen were absolutely wonderful. I was lost in thought staring out over the ocean, when I found myself needing to ask the question that had been plaguing me.
“Owen?” I asked softly, as I turned to look at him.
“Unicorn?” He asked back, with a smirk on his face.
“I need to know.” I said, seriously. “Why did you get the unicorn tattoo?”
I watched as his smi
rk faded, and I felt like someone had just punched me in the gut. Maybe it had nothing to do with me at all? Maybe he was trying to decide how to let me down easy? Maybe he lied when he said he could see more with me?
“It's simple.” He started, before taking my hands in his across the table. “Every tattoo means something to me. You mean something to me. I'm not sure what to make of that yet, but I know that I don't want to forget you.”
“Oh.” I said, a bit awkwardly. “I guess, my tattoo will always remind me of you too. Since you were with me when I got it. Thank you for that by the way. For being there. I don't think I would have gone through with it alone.”
“I'm glad I could be there with you.”
“You mean something to me too, Owen.” I added, needing him to know that I'd heard him.
He smiled, and the waitress came by with our food then. He released my hands so that we could eat, and I immediately dug into mine. It had been a long day, and I was starving. The waffle fries were crispy on the outside, and had just the right amount of seasoning. My cheeseburger was enormous, so I was only able to finish half of it, but Owen demolished his plate.
The waitress asked if we'd like dessert, and when we turned her down she came back with our check shortly after. I offered to pay for my share, but Owen wasn't having it. Who was I to turn down chivalry? After paying the bill, we decided to take a walk on the beach. The sun was already setting, and the sky was lit with the most magnificent hues of orange, red, and yellow. There was even a bit of purple attempting to shine through, and I had never seen something so beautiful.
I was wearing sandals, so I stopped to take them off. The feeling of the cool sand beneath my feet reminded me of when I was younger. My parents used to take me to the beach nearly every weekend, and the memory made me smile. With my shoes in one hand, Owen reached for my other, and we began to walk down the beach. The sound, and smell of the ocean was calming, and the company didn't hurt either.
After we'd been walking for a while, he cleared his throat.
