Page 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“L et’s just run in there quickly and tell Coyote your car will be in the lot,” Maya suggested when I parked.

“No problem.” It was a problem, though. Drake was probably there, and I wasn’t ready to talk to him. I should be, though. He was my friend, and I’d hurt his feelings by pushing him away. Literally and figuratively.

I shouldn’t be nervous walking in here.

This was ridiculous.

Silly.

These were my people. My friends.

Cowboy stood behind the counter. “Hey, Maya, you’re back again. Hi, Swan. What can I do for you both?”

I waved to him while Maya leaned into the counter. “Can you tell my brother?—”

“Which one?”

“Both or either one of them. We’re leaving Swan’s car in the lot, and we’ll be back for it.”

“I just remembered Drake left anyway. He’s got a client booked in at Texas’s. But I’ll let Coyote know.”

Drake was going to be at Texas’s tattoo studio. I’d forgotten he started apprenticing there a few months ago, and that was between working in the garage and helping his brother here. He must have natural talent to gain a client already.

Good for him.

Though my belly still twisted from nerves at facing him. It shouldn’t. I knew he’d understand why I had, but pushing him away was still rude when he’d just wanted to help.

“Thanks, Cowboy. Oh, and I forgot to ask before. How’s Mimi going?”

Cowboy blushed. “She’s staying at her brother’s for a couple of days, but she’s going well.”

“Will she be back for Dad’s surprise birthday party?”

Cowboy froze, but his eyes flicked left and right. “It was a surprise party?”

“Did you say something to Dad?” Maya asked and laughed when his eyes widened. “Relax. It was supposed to be a surprise, but Dad knows everything. He knew about this even before Mum tried to organise it.”

“Is it a special one?” I asked. I hadn’t heard anything about it, but then again, I hadn’t really been involved.

“Nope. He’s just turning fifty-six, but Mum wanted to celebrate. Anyway, we’re going. Bye, Cowboy.”

“Later, ladies,” he said with a wave, which I returned with an easy smile.

Outside, we went to Maya’s car and got in. I took in a deep breath and glanced to the back seat.

“You’ve been to Channa’s?”

“Sure have. I was dropping off the guys’ lunch here before taking some to Texas.”

“It’s going to be cold by the time we get there.”

She shrugged, pulling out onto the road to drive off. “We’re talking about Channa’s treats. It’s good hot, warm, or cold.”

That was true. Okay, I didn’t feel as bad delaying her.

I glanced over at Maya, who was happily singing along to a song. It was then I noticed a nose stud.

“You got your nose pierced.”

She smiled. “Monnie did it for me. You should get one.”

“Ah, I don’t know about that.” I wasn’t too adventurous. Actually, I wasn’t at all. I would have been if I’d gone to Japan with….

“Just take a look at the gems we have in and see what you think when we’re there,” Maya suggested.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

When we pulled up out the front of the tattoo parlour, my stomach fluttered.

It was weird that I was nervous about seeing Drake.

He’d probably be busy with his client anyway.

Maya grabbed the containers of food from the back seat before we went inside. I’d only been to Texas’s shop a handful of times, but I loved the smell of it. The place also had such a soft mood to it, and I loved the colourful seating area as soon as you walked through the door. The music was never heavy enough where you had to shout over each other to be heard.

“Girl, your man is in a mood. A client didn’t show and is dodging his calls.”

Maya winced. “Dang. He could have booked in someone else if he’d known.”

Monnie clicked her fingers and pointed at Maya. “Exactly.” She tipped her chin my way. “Hey-ya, sunshine.”

“Hi, Mon.”

“I’m trying to talk Swan into a nose stud. Show her some of the new gems and work your magic, Mon, while I drop this out the back.”

Mon winked. “You got it.” While Maya left, I went over to the counter and looked through the glass. There were a lot of shiny things—round, square, big, small.

Mon reached under and pulled a tray out. “We have rings and studs with the prettiest colours. See this green? I think it’d go well with your dark eyes.”

“Hmm,” I mumbled. I wasn’t sure if I could go through with getting one done. “I didn’t ask Maya, but I’ve heard it hurts.”

“For all of five seconds. Once it’s in, it’s done.” She laughed. “That’s what he said.” I joined in with her giggle. Mum and Julian, Maya’s uncle, liked that saying too.

“Okay, let’s do it,” I suddenly said.

Mon gaped. “Wait, really?”

I nodded. “Are you able to do it now before I chicken out?”

“Hell yes. Which one are you after?”

“That green stud, please.”

“Perfect. Step into my room, second door down on the right. I’ll grab the form for you to sign.”

“Thanks,” I said. Nerves rattled around inside me, causing my stomach to act up.

Should I do this?

I went to step by the first door, but it was slightly ajar, and I heard Drake say, “You’re doin’ good. We’re nearly done. Lucky it’s such a small piece.”

“I’m in love with it, Dragon.”

The buzzing of the tattoo gun cut off. “Glad to hear that, babe.”

I moved closer and peeked in. His head went back down to hover over the woman’s hip.

“I’ll be sure to spread the word that you’re taking clients.”

I’m sure she’d like to spread something else.

I stiffened.

Where had that thought come from? I took a step back.

Drake chuckled. “Don’t tell too many. Not lookin’ to be booked up just yet.”

“You got it.”

“Just a few more highlights,” he said and lowered his head as the tattoo gun buzzed to life again.

“Ready, Swan?” Mon called.

I jolted, blushed, and quickly ducked into her room when the buzzing stopped from Drake’s.

“Thanks for doing this,” I said, sitting down on the table.

“Anytime you want to get stabbed with a needle, I’ll gladly help.” She grinned. Her gaze flicked over me, observing how tightly I gripped the table edge. “You want Maya in here for moral support?”

“Um, yeah. Please.”

“No problem. I’ll get her. Back in a sec.”

My stomach spun even more when I was alone in the room.

This was a bad decision.

I shouldn’t be doing this.

I’d only just decided earlier to try and be in the present more.

This was going too far.

I should tell her I changed my mind when she comes back.

The door pushed open further, and I opened my mouth to tell Mon but snapped my lips shut when I saw Drake filling the space.

He cocked a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. “What’re you doin’, Birdy?”

I swallowed and heat hit my face. “Having my nose pierced.”

“Mon’s doin’ it?”

“Who else would?”

“Texas or Hex could. They both learned.”

“Oh. Um, yeah, Mon’s doing it. How’s… work?”

His lips twitched as he moved closer. “Good.”

I nodded. Why was my heart beating so fast? Should I apologise now? Was he done with the client? Had he heard Mon call out to me and that was why he was in here?

He walked over to the counter and picked something up before he turned and came towards me.

“Um, I’m very sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to push you away. I was just in a moment coming straight from… well, you know. We are friends, Drake. I don’t want you to think I wouldn’t talk to you or that I needed someone else. I just wasn’t in the mood to talk.”

“I know.”

He did?

“You do?”

“Yeah, Birdy. We ain’t like besties, like you and my sister, but I know if you wanted to share with me, you would have. I walked away because I didn’t want you to feel like you had to share when you didn’t want to.”

He was always such a nice kid.

Man.

He was a man.

When Drake looked down, I did too. He took the lid off a marker and stared at me with a cute curl to the corner of his lips.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“You trust me to mark where Mon should stick the needle?”

“Oh, um, I trust you. But she’ll probably be back in a second.”

“I saw Hex draggin’ his woman into his room for a beat. Not sure how long that’ll be.”

True . “Okay then.”

He stepped close so his hips touched my jean-clad knees. On instinct, I spread them, and he moved between them.

My heart tripped and then flew.

I bit the inside of my cheek when he pinched my chin and tilted my head to the side.

This felt strange. And strange in a way that I didn’t want to think about since Drake was family and I was messed up.

But my body didn’t get my brain’s memo. It reacted like it was a damsel ready to swoon.

What the heck?

It was wrong, right?

To react to Drake in this way after….

Close that thought down, Swan.

“There,” he said and touched the tip of the marker to my nose. He popped the lid back on and took a step away from me. “Take a look in the mirror and see if that’s where you’d like it to go.”

“I-I’m okay. I trust you.”

Drake’s stare intensified before he abruptly turned and went to the door.

“Good luck, Birdy. Catch ya ’round.” He shot two fingers in the air before he walked out.

Why did he leave so quickly?

Why was my heart racing?

Shaking my head, I blew out a breath.

There was something different about Drake, and it wasn’t just because his outrageous flirting had dimmed a lot since…. There was something else I couldn’t pinpoint.

Mon entered, saying, “Sorry, honey. Hex distracted me. Maya’s on her way.” She got close, brows bunching.

“Drake, I mean Dragon, was just in here. He marked my nose. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, totally. But I’m going to have to wipe if off to clean the area first. I’ll take a photo of where he put it to make sure it’s in the same spot when I redo it. Sound good?”

I nodded and kept still as she took a photo.

“I can’t believe you’re going through with this,” Maya said when she entered. She stopped beside me and took my hand. “You know you don’t have to do this.”

Rolling my eyes, I let out a quick laugh. “I know. I want to.”

“Awesome.” Maya watched Mon wiping and cleaning the side of my nose. “How come you’re wiping off the dot you already did?”

“I didn’t. Your brother did it before I cleaned the nose. I grabbed a photo to place the dot in the same spot.”

“I thought he was with a client,” Maya commented.

So he hadn’t finished his appointment?

Was he still in there with her?

Did that mean he did stop to come see me?

That was nice of him.

“All right, are you ready?” Mon asked. She had her gloves on, needle ready.

I drew in a deep breath. “Let’s do it.”

Mon stepped right up to me, and Maya squeezed my hand again while I gripped hers back.

“It’s normal for your eyes to water,” Mon said.

I hummed, not daring to move as she got close to my face with the pointy end.

“Three, two, one.”

The sharp stab of pain was there and then gone as my eyes watered and my nose throbbed a little.

“Just slipping the stud in, and… we’re done.” Mon grinned and shifted to the side. “Take a look.”

I slipped off the table as Maya said, “Love that stud. It’s beautiful.”

In front of the mirror, I saw the green gem shining at the side of my nose, which was a little red. Leaning in, I smiled at my reflection.

“I love it.”

“Yay,” Mon said.

I caught Maya’s two thumbs up and big smile behind me.

Turning, I pulled my phone out and asked, “How much?”

“Let’s head out the front, and we’ll figure it out.” When I walked by Drake’s room, I heard voices behind the closed door, but I couldn’t make anything out.

In the waiting area, Mon went behind the desk as Maya kept smiling and looking at my nose.

“Looks amazing,” she said.

“I’m glad I got it.”

“Huh,” Mon said.

“What?” Maya asked.

“There’s a note here saying it’s already paid for.”

Wait, what? “From who?” I asked.

“I think it was Dragon. Looks like his handwriting.”

Drake.

“I’ll have to give him the money, then. How much was it?”

Maya snorted and Mon huffed.

“What?”

Mon said, “You think he’ll let you? Girl, I wouldn’t bother. Take the gift and say thanks when you see him next.”

Sighing, I nodded and tucked my phone away. Friends did things like this all the time. It didn’t matter that it was Drake. He was just being nice.

When I glanced up, I caught Maya staring at me.

“Something wrong?”

She shook her head and smiled. “Nothing.”