“I don’t know,” I say as I remove my foot from the pedal and glance down at my client. “Do I?”
He nods and tells me he’ll take the opportunity to go have a smoke, so I set the tattoo gun down. As soon as he’s out of the room, I get to my feet, take my gloves off, then cross my arms over my chest after I’ve tossed them into the trash can.
Brunette closes the door, lingering with her back to me for a moment before she turns around and begins to wring her hands nervously.
“What’s up?”
“I wanted to say that I was sorry for running out the other day…”
“You mean yesterday?” I correct with a chuckle.
She nods, licking her lips nervously as she reaches into her handbag and fiddles around inside, retrieving her wallet.
“I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I ran, but I wanted to pay you for the full appointment time we had booked,” she explains as she holds out a couple of hundred dollar bills in the same timid manner as her tone.
Huh.
“Thanks,” I say as I reach forward and take the cash. I put the money into the wooden box I use for safekeeping until the day is over, “I appreciate this honestly.”
“Maybe I’ll get brave enough to finish this one day,” she jokes with a nervous laugh.
“Maybe.”
“Okay, well, hopefully you’ll be able to fit me in when the time comes.”
“Maybe,” I state, repeating my prior sentiment.
I’m not entirely sure I want to deal with all of the bucking and crying again but since she was nice enough to come back and pay me, I might set the aggravation aside to help her out.
“What’s your name again?” I ask as I reach for another pair of gloves. The door has been opened and my client has reentered the room so it’s time to get back to work.
“Hazel,” she replies shyly.
“Just like your eyes.” She blushes and I have to fight to roll my eyes. It wasn’t a flirtation or a compliment—it was merely an observation. “See you around, Hazel.”
With a nod, I dismiss her from the room as I prepare to get back to work.
“See you,” she replies softly.
Maybe karma is coming around sooner than I had hoped for.
Chapter Four
It’s always a great day when your customers tip well. Not that I ever require it because I think they pay enough, but everyone today added a little something extra to the pot.
As I walk into the front door of my home, I find myself in a good mood knowing that I can get more little keepsakes for Snow because of today’s generosity. I also find myself nervous and excited to give her the gift I bought for her.
My darling gal loves animals and I thought that this would be a great way to continue my needing to be forgiven for how I treated her.
I almost always greet her before I walk into the living room to let her know that I’m home, but I think that since I have a surprise for her, maybe she won’t mind me not announcing myself.
But when I enter the room, she’s not in the corner on all fours like she’s supposed to be. She’s still curled up in the same ball from the night before and it makes me wonder if that’s what she does when I’m out busting my balls to provide a good home for her.
“Snow!” I bark at her.
She gasps, instantly scrambles to her hands and knees, turning to face the wall.
I take as deep a steadying breath as I can and count to ten. I do my best not to throw away her gift. Knowing that I could so easily close my fist around it and crush the bag like the energy drink from yesterday probably wouldn’t impress her much.