Page 37 of Under My Skin

Chapter Thirty-Seven

LUCY

The words Copper Ridge Tattoo Co. stare back at me from my laptop screen.

I’ve been working on Everett’s new logo for most of the morning, but as simple as the design may be, I haven’t perfected it yet.

I’ve been trying to find a font that resembles his dad’s leather keychain, but nothing feels like a good fit yet.

He and Simon are both at work, and the quiet apartment doused in the soft golden glow of morning light has me more relaxed than I’ve felt in weeks.

Pudge bumps against my legs, and I tap my fingers on the couch cushion beside me for him to jump up.

He does, curling into himself before flopping onto his side and stretching his legs out on either end, his paws flexing.

I gently scratch him behind the ears as I stare at the screen.

With my other hand, I test out a few other fonts that could work, but my phone rings before I’ve found something I’m happy with.

Allison’s name appears on my screen, and I abandon scratching Pudge to answer. “Hey, stranger.”

“I know, I know. I’ve been swamped,” she says, and it sounds like she’s on the move. “How’s it going with your parents? ”

“Fine, I guess. If anything, they’re the most easy-going soon-to-be-divorced people I’ve ever seen.”

I can hear the frown in her voice when she says, “Damn. Still no answers?”

“None.” I sigh as I lean against the back of the couch and run my fingers through my hair. “Simon is still so unbothered by the whole thing, too.”

“Maybe the two of you should confront them together . . . if you really want to know.”

I sit up straight. “What do you mean, ‘if I really want to know’?”

She sighs into the phone. “I don’t know. They’re your parents. Do you really want to know their dirty laundry?”

“Yes.”

She laughs, and the sound makes me feel lighter. “Look, I’m all for sticking it to those who deserve it, but these are your parents. You’re kind of stuck with them, for better or worse.”

I scoff. “The unbreakable vow.”

“You know what I mean.” A chime sounds in the background, like one you might find hanging over the door of a shop. “Whatever it is might make you see them differently. If they haven’t told you still, there’s a good chance that’s what they’re afraid of.”

“Did you get the chance to stop by the apartment?” I wait for her response with bated breath.

“I did . . . Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”

I slowly close my laptop. “Umm, the good news I guess?”

“The good news is I can handle it.”

I frown. “I’m not following. Handle what?”

“Jasmine,” she answers sharply.

The blood drains from my face. “The apartment? What’s wrong with it?” I set my laptop down and tuck my legs beneath me. “What happened?”

“No damage!” she answers too quickly. “But, Lucy, why didn’t you tell me? ”

I bite my thumbnail. “Tell you what?”

“ Lucy.”

“It wasn’t something you needed to worry about,” I say, suddenly defensive. “I had it all under control, but I wasn’t expecting to have to come home.”

“Hmm,” she says, and I know she isn’t satisfied with my response.

A knot forms in my throat. “How bad is the apartment?”

She lets out a humorless laugh. “Are you sure you don’t want to keep talking about your parents?”

I groan. “That bad?”

“Oh. I’m pissed.” Her voice is lethal until she quickly adds, “Not at you, of course. Dina should have warned me before letting her move in with you. I knew Jasmine in passing, but she was usually in her room while I was over at their place. I had no idea living with her would be such a shit show.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “How bad is the apartment, Allison?”

“Bad.”

My head falls back against the couch. “Shit. I’ll come home.”

“Oh no, you won’t.” I’m assuming she covers the bottom of the phone to speak to someone else because her next words come out muffled. “Picking up for the Anderson wedding.”

“Want to call me back later?”

“No,” she answers simply. “And you better not look at flights. I told you, I have it under control.”

“You did,” I say slowly. “But you also have a full-time job being Denver’s best wedding planner, your own apartment to worry about, and a badass wife.”

She makes a noise that crosses a laugh and a scoff. “While I appreciate the inaccurately high praise, I have the time. Plus, Dina knows she’s on my shit list for this and wants to help.”

“Wants to help?” I ask with a laugh as I get to my feet. I told my parents I’d come by the house today to go through the rest of my room, and I guess I’ve delayed it long enough. Everett’s logo will have to wait.

“This is one hundred percent her fault. She brought Jasmine into our lives, so she’ll rediscover your living room floor if it kills her.”

I stop in my tracks. “What the hell happened to the apartment, Allison?”

There’s a quiet, “Thanks,” and I’m assuming she picked up her order. Then, a much louder, “How the hell should I know?” comes through the phone. “I’m the only one who has never lived with her. Why didn’t you tell me she was such a mess?”

I grimace. “I don’t know. I didn’t want you to feel guilty about moving out early, I guess.”

There’s another chime as she leaves the shop. “I figured you’d say as much. Which is why you’re going to stay exactly where you are, with your brother’s hot friend.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If there’s something wrong at home, I should be there. I want that security deposit back.”

“Oh, you’ll get it back,” she practically growls.

“Dina will make sure of it.” Poor Dina. I’m not sure she’s ever been on this end of Allison’s wrath.

Before I can open my mouth to play devil’s advocate, Allison adds, “Besides, you need to stay there. When’s the last time you’ve wanted to sleep with a man more than once? ”

“Hey!” I answer defensively. “I’ve slept with the same guy a few . . . more than one.”

“Who?”

“Huh?”

“Who have you slept with more than once? And don’t even think about naming that asshole you dated in college.”

I frown. “Stefan wasn’t an asshole.”

There’s a beat of silence, and I wonder if she’s rolling her eyes. “He asked for no croutons on a salad we were all sharing.”

“So?”

“So, what if croutons are my favorite part? What if they’re the whole reason I even want the stupid salad in the first place? He could have just picked them off if he didn’t want them.”

I search for Simon’s keys, so I can drive to my parents’ house and mutter, “How do you even remember these things? Didn’t he have a gluten allergy or something?”

“Not important. What’s important is that you let yourself explore things with hot tattoo guy?—”

“Everett.”

“Yes, Hot Tattoo Guy Everett. Explore. Discover. Conquer. Do all the things you won’t be able to do once you get back here. Understand?”

I eventually find the keys to his old silver Corolla in a seemingly random basket on top of the dryer. “Are you giving me sex homework?”

“I mean, I figured it would be a self-study, but sure. You officially have sex homework.” My laugh gets cut short when she scolds me. “This is serious, Lucy.”

“Trust me, I’ve never taken an assignment so seriously in my life.”

“Atta girl.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

I hear the smile in her voice when she says, “I’m just a great wing-woman.”

I shake my head. “Wouldn’t you have to be here for that?”

There’s a slight pause before she says, “No. If anything my absence is just a testament to how good I am.”

I peek out the window, pressing the unlock button on the fob to make sure the thing still works. I wonder if he ever takes the car aside from winter. There’s a good chance it’s been sitting here all year. “Let’s hope your talents cover salvaging apartments, too.”

“Of course they do,” she answers simply. “You should see some of the wedding venues I use. Total transformation. I can make that place look like Jasmine never stepped foot in it.”

I don’t doubt her, but it doesn’t feel right that she and Dina have to pick up the pieces while I’m gone. “Just let me know if you need me. I’m only four hours away.”

“Will do. But your presence won’t be necessary, babe.”

Taking a steadying breath, I nod. “Okay. If you say so.” Allison wouldn’t lie.

If she needed me or thought she was in over her head, she’d tell me.

I wish I could see the apartment for myself.

Did Jasmine really get worse after I left?

I thought the place would be dirty without me there to clean up after her, but how bad is it?

“Hey, I have to run, but I’ll keep you posted. If anything changes, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Okay, thanks. Good luck.” I step outside and wrap my sweater around myself tighter in the cool mountain air. It seems like the temperatures drop a little more each day.

“You too,” she says. “Let me know how it goes.”

I know she’s referring to my parents, so I say, “It will probably be wonderful. We’ll laugh and talk at great lengths about nothing. Then by the end of it, my room will be empty, they’ll still be getting a divorce, and I’ll leave a little angrier and more confused than I am now.”

“At least you know what to expect?” she says, and I imagine her wincing as she says it.

“At least I know what to expect,” I agree.

By the time we end the call, I’m behind the wheel and hoping what I said to Allison was wrong. I hope my parents and I can have a conversation that doesn’t feel like dancing around the giant elephant in the room.