“Well, let me see it then,” she teases, and he pulls a sketchbook from the counter behind him, handing it to her. She waves me over, and Mav follows closely behind.
This room is not made for this many people.
“That’s so good!” I exclaim, trying not to sound as shocked as I feel. I know Indi said that he was talented, but shit. Something so simple, yet so beautiful.
Rather than one arrow, it’s two crossed over, an infinity symbol at the crossing, sitting on top of a pink to blue watercolor puddle.
“I figured you could change the colors if you wanted, but this was what I saw in my head.”
She grins at me before turning back to him. “I love it. So freaking much. Thank you.”
“Okay, well then, let’s get started.” he says, picking up the tattoo gun on the tray beside the table. “You good with those colors?”
“Yep!” she says, popping her p. “V?”
I nod, leaning back onto Maverick as he wraps his arms around my waist. “I might lose the pink, go more for a green, but otherwise I’m good.”
“Where you putting it, princess?”
I chew on my lip, leaning toward the side of my wrist or back of my neck. “What do you think, Indi? Wrist? Neck?”
“I’m thinking foot, though I like the wrist idea. Side of?”
“Ooooo, Pixie Spice is brave,” Maverick teases and she flips him the bird.
I shake my head, and focus back on my girl. “Side of the wrist is where I was thinking.”
“Decision made then.”
Ryker nods. “Okay, well I’m free-handing your other design. We still doing your hip?”
She nods and I take Mav’s hand as Ryker glares at us while she unbuttons her jeans. “Come on, let’s wait outside.”
“You don’t have to,” Indi says, her gaze flitting back to Ryker’s glare.
“It’s good.” I squeeze her hand. “I’ll be just outside.”
“You can stay,” Mav whispers in my ear. “I’ll go play Xbox with Dylan for a bit. Just holler at me before you get in that chair.” He kisses my cheek before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
Ryker nods at me before the buzz of the gun starts up and Indi takes my hand. She hisses as the needles touch her skin, her grip squeezing the life out of my hand.
I watch Ryker work, mesmerized as he draws on her skin. Indi clamps her jaw together, and I think this might be the longest I’ve been around her with her not talking unless she’s asleep.
Once he’s finished the first piece, he shows it to her and tears fill her eyes.
It’s stunning.
An anchor, lying beside a compass. More watercolor blues behind it, and the words, ‘Let your past be your compass, but never your anchor.’
I get the feeling there is more to that than I know, but I squeeze her hand back, a giant grin on my face. I feel a little better about Ryker’s skills having seen it, and my nerves disappear.
“Ready for part two?” he asks her softly.
“Can we pause for a minute? Let Mav do V’s first one or something?”
He watches her closely, as if searching for something hidden in her words. “Sure thing.”
I open the door and find Mav and Dylan in a heated COD war, grinning as they shoot shit at each other.