Page 115 of Fragile Lives

“I promise you, your life will be changed forever after this,” I announce, dead set on convincing him to change something in his uptight life.

“Yeah, when my dick falls off, I bet it will.” He starts backing toward the door, sobering up every second.

“It feels real good,” TJ chimes in while he pours whiskey into three plastic cups.

Kenneth pauses for a moment. “You’ve got one?”

“Yep,” he downs his glass, “and my wife loves it.”

I quirk a brow, surprised at this piece of information. Not surprised that he has one because TJ is a badass, but surprised he decided to share—the man seems tight-lipped.

“Alright, good for you.” Kenneth slowly walks back, “I’m not doing it, but I’d love to hear a story. Or two.”

I exchange looks with TJ while we both barely contain our laughter, and he pushes the full cup toward Kenneth. “Sure, I’ve got a few.”

Thirty minutes later, we’re shitfaced. Myself included. But not TJ—that man has the tolerance of a horse.

“So, what do you think?” he asks Kenneth. “Want to change your life for the best?”

“Ya know what?” Kenneth smacks his open palm on the table. “I do.”

I pause, the cup midair. “Really?”

“Pff, yeah.” He rolls his eyes. “I could use a change, ya know.”

I know, because I’ve seen Kenneth getting stuck in that circle of hell where only good boys go.

“Let’s do it.” He smacks his palm again, knocking my cup off. “But you won’t do it,” he tells me and then points his wavering finger at TJ. “You, though, look sober enough for it. I don’t want to end up with holes in my balls if he touches it.” He waves his hand at me dismissively, making me chuckle. I’ve never done apiercing wrong, but I’ve also never done one while intoxicated like this.

“Deal.” TJ’s turn to smack the table.

What the hell is wrong with people constantly smacking everything? Don’t they know how to deal with emotions another way?

TJ hurries to the back of the parlor to collect the needed supplies, clearly in a rush so Ken wouldn’t change his mind.

“Ya know, my mother likes to throw her proper friends’ daughters at me in hope that I’ll finally settle.” He chuckles and rubs his hands together with an evil look on his face. “I bet they’d be surprised to find ma dick pierced.”

“They sure will.” I smile but feel bad for him. He doesn’t have my demons, but he has his own. The oldest of the family, he was born to be the good one and to take care of everyone else. People forget that sometimes, even the oldest kid needs to be taken care of too.

TJ comes back and preps the table. Then he pats it. “Hop on it and pull your pants down.”

“With pleasure.” He laughs at his innuendo and follows TJ’s instructions. “You’ve got some painkillers?”

“Sure we do, boy.” TJ grabs the bottle and passes it to him. “That’s your pain medicine.”

Kenneth chuckles and takes a generous sip. It’s the second bottle TJ produced from under the table, and I wonder how many more he has in there. Then he puts his gloves on and preps…the area.

“Ouch, it’s cold.”

I roll my lips trying not to smile—if he’s complaining now, he sure won’t like what’s to follow.

When the needle pierces his skin, he cries out and grabs my hand, squeezing it hard.

“Don’t be a pussy,” TJ says as he tries to pull the wand through. I’m not allowed to say anything, but TJ sure as fuck can laugh at him. At this point, I’m super tipsy, and the situation seems very comical to me. Knowing Kenneth, he’ll come to kill me tomorrow. I can’t wait.

At TJ’s words, Kenneth starts cursing. “Ya didn’t tell me the shit’s so painful.”

“It’s your dick,” TJ deadpans, cleaning the area. “What did you expect?”