“Because you don't have to be. Always been a one-woman bloke, too hard trying to keep a couple on the go. While you’re keen to keep this going, you'll have no concerns from me."
"So, what's this?" Gabe asked later that night as we were cuddled up in bed. He pulled out the biker romance novel Tess had given me. "Not sure how I feel about you getting all hot and bothered over some other guy."
"A fictional guy," I scoffed.
“What's up, love, am I not enough to get your motor going?"
I looked over at the long golden length of him, his abdomen flexing as he shifted on the bed, balling the pillow and shoving it under his head. His smile broadened as he saw me try to look past the splendid display of man flesh and fail. “Seriously, if you got my motor going anymore, I think my vagina would wear out and I’d have to get another one transplanted.”
“That’s what a fella wants to hear.”
22
Things settled into a comfortable pace for once. No more strange people popping up at inopportune times, well, except for Merlin, but we were all getting used to him, Tess especially. I woke up every morning and knew exactly who would be in it, me and more times than not, Gabe. I didn’t really know where this was going, but I felt no urgency to work that out. Right then, it was good sex and good times.
Tess was still reading through Nan’s notebooks, of course, she did. I think she was in some way disappointed that the visits from men of myth and legend had stopped, but seeing Merlin on the regular seemed to satisfy her.
A month or so later after they’d taken over the library, Wizards of Ink had its opening. I’d ducked home that night to grab some clean clothes. I wasn’t sure what tattoo shop opening etiquette was, but I figured an old black shirt I’d bought as a teen with a heavy metal logo and some tight faded jeans and boots kinda had enough of a rock chick vibe that I wouldn’t stand out too much. I laid on what eighteen-year-old me would have thought was an appropriate level of black eyeliner and gave my hair a bit of texture with some product and hairspray and headed out.
“Wow!” I said, standing in the doorway to the tattoo shop. Flea was busily blowing up helium balloons, Gabe was talking to a phalanx of waitresses, each one in a shiny leather mini, crazy black heels, seamed fishnet stockings and black bustiers. Flea grinned when he saw me, grabbed the nearest balloon and promptly inhaled the contents.
“Welcome to our fine shop!” he said in a cartoonishly high voice.
“It is damn fine. I don’t know what my grandmother would have thought, but this is nothing like what I expected.” I’d kept clear of the space as it was being developed, both because it was what Flea wanted and it was easier for me. Along with the incredible mural they’d ripped up the old carpet and laid down black and white tile on the floor. Big, black leather benches and old purple-velvet, wingback chairs were lined up along the wall near the front door, for customers to wait comfortably on. The flash art was displayed inside ornate flat-black frames, the walls sans mural painted a tobacco brown. There was even a big shiny vintage cash register on the counter.
“Looking good, babe,” Gabe said with a grin, coming over and then beckoning to a waitress to approach. “What will you have?”
“Um . . . a Coke I guess?”
“Rum and Coke times three,” he said to the girl who just nodded and click-clacked away. I cocked an eyebrow at this, but he gestured to Flea to abandon the balloons. He grinned, tied off the last one and then tossed the balloon high to match the others on the roof.
“Well, it’s done,” Flea said, slinging an arm around each of our shoulders as we took our drinks from the waitress. “And I’m damn proud of what we’ve achieved. Thanks for taking a chance on us, Ash. Many landlords would have started screaming the moment the spray cans came out.”
“Hey, it looks awesome in here. Flea, you’re a devil with a spray can.”
“You want to do a facelift next door? I got some ideas.”
I laughed, “Not sure if the magic shop crew could deal with that much awesome.” Flea nodded sagely.
“Well, a toast,” Gabe said, moving to face us. He raised the glass and we followed along. “To Wizards of Ink.”
“May she live long and prosper,” I said and took a deep swallow of the sweet burning drink.
“Damn straight,” Flea said.
Flea sculled his drink and busied himself with re-checking the tattoo stations. He was going to have a few friends help out tonight to drum up business, hopefully, to add some more staff to the roster. A waitress came over and took our empty glasses from us as soon as we were finished. I watched the chick’s micro mini as she returned to the bar and said, “Lucky I’m a trusting woman,” I said to Gabe, “these chicks are smoking hot.” Those grey eyes met mine, pausing for a moment before cupping my face in his hand.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about, love,” he said. I looked away, wanting to take a step back, force his hand down, but not wanting to upset him. He’s a good guy, I told myself, don’t hurt him.
“Have you seen Tess? She should still be here.” I said. His eyes didn’t drop from my face, even when mine were looking everywhere else but. He just seemed to watch the flicker of my expressions, then shook his head slightly and smiled.
“Not yet, but it’s still early.”
“That doesn’t make sense. She was staying back to close up and do a final tidy up. I’ll duck into the storeroom, see if she’s still here.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer when I didn’t move automatically and dropping his lips down to kiss the top of my head. “I’ll be here waiting when you’re done.”
Tess stood beaming in front of an open portal. For a moment I thought she had been working back with Merlin again, but when I looked around, she was there all by herself. Her face was alight as she looked up at the apricot and turquoise sky of the gnome kingdom. “Tess!” She jerked guiltily, her smile wiped away. She slowly stepped out of the portal and back into the storeroom. “What are you doing?”