He waved me towards a glass display case. “We’ve got plenty of options. All of them are either stainless steel, sterling silver, or gold. No need to worry about weird reactions to some funky metal.”
Beckett placed a hand on my lower back as we walked, seeming to know that I needed the contact. Caleb moved away from the case as we approached, giving me plenty of space. I should’ve been embarrassed, but I appreciated the kindness.
I bent over the glass and peered inside. There was an array of different options. Beckett immediately pointed to a pair in the upper right corner. “Skulls with little diamonds for eyes. Perfect.”
I couldn’t hold in my snort. “Maybe for pair number two.”
“You’ll want to go with something you feel good about for everyday wear because this pair will stay in for six weeks,” Caleb interjected.
“Definitely no skulls, then.” I studied row after row of earrings, examining each set. I thought about just going for a simple pair of cubic zirconia studs, but that felt like playing it safe. Boring. I needed to try different things on for size like Beckett had suggested.
There was a cute pair of sparkly stars that might work. Then my gaze caught on a pair of studs. They had all sorts of blues swirled together. Something about them reminded me of the falls that had always been my first taste of freedom, an escape when I’d needed it the most.
I pointed to the pair. “Can I do those?”
Caleb moved behind the counter to see which set I was motioning to. “Great choice. A local glass artist makes these.”
“They’re beautiful.”
Beckett’s heat pressed into my back. “They’re you.”
They were. A melding of my past and present. Even though that past was ugly in so many ways, it had given me gifts and strengths I was grateful for. These earrings would remind me of that.
Caleb pulled the studs out of the case. “Let’s get these in those pretty ears of yours.”
Beckett glared at Caleb. “Careful, Casanova.”
Caleb’s lips twitched, and he held up his hands. “Not trying to encroach, man. Just making an observation.”
I waited for Beckett to correct his friend, to tell him there was nothing to encroach on, but the words never came. Instead, Beck
ett guided me over to a chair and motioned for me to sit down.
As soon as I settled into the leather seat, my heart picked up its pace. Blood roared in my ears as I watched Caleb moving around his station, cleaning and prepping things I didn’t want to look at too closely.
A warm hand slid into mine. The now-familiar, rough feel of Beckett’s skin was an immediate balm to the worst of my nerves. He swiped his thumb back and forth across my knuckles. “You got this.”
“You might not be saying that if I pass out.”
Caleb glanced over his shoulder. “Not a fan of needles?”
“They wouldn’t be at the top of my list of favorite things.”
He chuckled. “They aren’t for most people, but I promise, you’ll hardly feel a thing.”
I didn’t know how to explain to him that it wasn’t the pain I was scared of. It was something about the sensation that totally freaked me out. A needle or anything sharp cutting through flesh. I shivered.
Beckett pressed his lips to my temple. “I’m right here.”
My breath stuttered in my lungs. Those lips were softer than I would’ve thought possible and sent an entirely different kind of shiver down my spine. “Thanks.”
Caleb snapped on a pair of black nitrile gloves. “All right. Let’s get you cleaned up.” He held up a little wipe. “This is just alcohol. It’ll feel cold, but that’s it.”
I nodded, and Caleb wiped my ears as Beckett kept hold of my hand. Caleb tossed the pad into the trash and moved a tray to my left side. “We pierce with a needle here, not a gun. It’s safer and less traumatizing to the tissue.”
“I like less traumatizing.”
“Me, too.” Caleb lowered himself to a stool and picked up a needle.