9. Indy

CHAPTER NINE

Indy

" B ye!" Janie and I wave to the group of kids before heading out of the hospital room. I sigh and nudge my friend. "Thanks for doing this with me."

"Hard to say no when you look this cute," she smirks. I'm in my new princess dress. Powder blue, off the shoulders, and sparkly. I got my hair straightened and then curled in massive waves in a half-up-do, complete with a silver tiara, and I even wore white gloves for a more elegant feel.

Janie was wearing a pretty yellow dress, but she had been smart enough to bring clothes to change into. Not that it really matters. I have spare clothes at Hel's, and can change once we get there. I smile politely at our Uber driver as I grab my dress and slide into the back of the car.

"So, how are things?" Janie asks once we start moving. "How are you feeling?"

"Yellow day," I smile brightly. "And things are fantastic! I'm so excited to be back at work today!" Today is my first day back since I had my relapse a little over two weeks ago. It'll also be my first time seeing Derek since I left his place four days ago. I told him I would look for a place, but I lied. I got an Uber while he was in the shower that night and went to Ash and Sunday's. Then the following day, our mutual friend, Luca, said he would be out of town for two weeks and said I could stay in his apartment if I wanted to. His place is nice and way too luxurious. But, with luxuries come things like walk-in showers and elevators, so I was happy to take the place.

Looking at my phone, I feel the nervous twist in my stomach return. Derek has been texting and calling me since I left. I never answered the calls or read the texts. I would've listened to the voicemails had he left any, but the weirdo didn't. I didn't read the texts because I didn't want him to see I'd read them. Atlas did text me, though, saying that he was going to tell Derek I was okay because he had been ‘extra dickish'. Considering how much I seemed to pester the guy, I find that hard to believe.

I feel awful about it. I hadn't meant to come in and take over his space. I just thought maybe I could help by doing his laundry and making the place smell nice. It never occurred to me that he liked it a certain way. Which had been short-sighted on my part, and I'm embarrassed. I've wanted to call or text him and apologize, but I also thought it would be best to give him some space for a few days and allow him to get back into his normal routine. Maybe now I can apologize, and we can be friends. Or whatever Derek would call it.

We pull into the parking lot of Hel's, and I thank Janie as she helps me out. I'm doing a lot better. My body feels as though it is about back at baseline, which is exciting because I want to go to the tattoo and piercing convention with the group that's coming up. I look up at the stairs and smile as my big brother, Ash, jogs down the steps to help me up.

"Indy," Janie calls when she reaches the top. "It's t-shirt Thursday, so grab one of the new shirts from the front to wear!" I give her a thumbs-up before Ash lets me get on his back.

"I'm yellow. How are you?" I say before he can ask. He laughs lightly.

"I'm good, Indy. Really good, actually." I raise a brow, and Ash shakes his head. "Just happy is all." I smile warmly as I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a squeeze.

"Good, you deserve it. I wanna come over soon. Wade owes me a rematch on rock band." I get off his back as he opens the door for me.

"Yeah, come over before the convention. Sunday and Wade are going to hang out with Mom and Neil while we're gone.".

"Sunday is going to the Christmas house without you? Brave girl." I raise my brow. Our mom, Celeste, is whimsical, which is saying something coming from me. I can't blame her, though. She's where I get my positive attitude from. My father abused both my mom and Ash. He was and probably still is a terrible man. Thankfully, he left when I was very young, so there aren't too many bad memories. Mom struggled to raise us. She had multiple jobs and never enough money or reliable help. And when I started getting sick, well, it was a lot. But she always tried to look at the positive side of things.

Mom moved into the Johnson Christmas Ranch when I turned twenty. It is exactly how it sounds. A bed-and-breakfast that is completely Christmas-themed. I think the place is terrifying, but she adores it. She doesn't get many visitors, but that's okay because it's more for her than a business. Thankfully, she has Neil. Neil is technically our stepfather. They met about three years ago and just got married last year. He adores my mom and treats her like the queen she is. It makes me so happy that the two dearest people in my life, my mom and Ash, have found their other halves. They truly deserve it.

"Mari will be there, and you know how close Mari and Sunday are. Plus, Wade is obsessed with her. He insists that becoming a doctor like her is his goal…if tattooing doesn't pan out." I smile softly at Ash's words. Mari is Neil's daughter. She is a doctor who travels with Doctors Without Borders. She's a true hero, making a real difference in this world.

Unlike some…

I let out a shaky breath as I push my dark thoughts back while walking into the tattoo area of Hel's Ink.

"Indy, you look so pretty!" Atlas says, looking up from his client. I blush lightly as I walk past him.

"Thanks, At! Just for that, I'm wearing your shirt design today!"

"Wow," Ash deadpans. "The betrayal." I laugh as I round the corner and nearly smack right into Derek.

"Oh!" I cry out in surprise, and I step back. "Sorry." I smile apologetically. Derek, who is standing at the counter while two guys look through portfolios, widens his brown eyes when he sees me, and he drops the pen he had been holding.

"Shit," he mutters, picking it up, his eyes never leaving me.

"Nice dress. Are you late for your ball?" One of the guys laughs while he walks over to the clothing rack where I'm standing. He snickers, and his buddy follows suit.

"I mean, I could be your prince charming." He licks his lips suggestively, and I shudder before turning to look at the shirts. Ignoring them seems like the best option.

"You fucksticks looking to have your faces rearranged?" Derek walks up behind me, and my god, he really is a giant. I mean, I'm small, I know that, but I don't even reach the top of his chest.

The first guy laughs uncomfortably. "Sorry, man, we were just messing around."

"I'm not your man. Now get the fuck out before I put you in the hospital." He growls under his breath, and I watch his tattooed hand reach out and pull me behind him. It's so sweet but also completely unnecessary. Once the guys leave, Derek lets out an annoyed breath before turning to look at me.

"Are you alright?" He asks with a softness to his voice I'm neither familiar nor comfortable with.

"Yeah?" I say slowly, looking at him curiously. "Are you?" I laugh, and he shakes his head.

"Those fuckers just pissed me off. You look so damn pretty, and they had to go and be shits like that." I smile when I see the shock appear on his face.

"You think I'm pretty?" I tease him. He groans and rolls his eyes.

"I said you look pretty. It was an obvious statement. Like the sky is blue, or Ash apparently had Indian food for lunch." I decide to let it go and turn to grab a shirt. "Where are you staying?" He asks abruptly, and I see his face scrunch as if he regrets letting it out.

"Currently, I'm at my friend Luca's. He's out of town, so he lent me his apartment. But it's temporary. I'll be looking for a place once I get back from the convention." I look over at him. He's wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the original Hel's Ink logo on it. "Why do you have on long sleeves?"

He laughs in surprise before looking at his shirt, and I notice him tugging on his sleeve. "I don't know, I guess I was cold. What does it matter?"

I shrug slightly while pulling up my dress so it doesn't drag on the floor. "It doesn't. I just find it peculiar. You're covered in beautiful tattoos, but no one is getting to see them. Plus, you run very warm. Like your air conditioner is constantly running." I walk past him, heading to the piercing area to get changed.

"My tattoos aren't for others' enjoyment." I hear him mutter as I continue toward the piercing area to get changed.

"Ugh!" Stevie growls as she throws a pillow at the wall. "He just makes me want to strangle him! Why? Why would you do this to me, Janie?" She whines.

"We need security, and he knows us and the shop."

Stevie glares at the redhead before stomping her feet and flaring her nostrils. "I ain't going if that asshole is going,"

"Stevie," I protest, tired of this argument. "We get that you don't like Brooks, but he keeps us safe! And besides the peach danish, has he really done anything to upset you?" You would think I betrayed her in the most personal of ways by the way she turns to stare at me.

"He mocks me!" She whispers harshly. "He calls me… Peaches." She spits out the name like a curse, and Janie starts laughing.

"Yeah? And the guys have a whole slew of unflattering nicknames for me. Stevie, you're our piercer, I need you there." Janie lets out a breath. "If it upsets you this much to have Brooks with us, I'll see if one of his other guys can go, okay?" Janie heads to the front of the shop, and Stevie sighs.

"I'm not trying to make things difficult. I just," she shifts uncomfortably as she stares at the floor. "The convention is in New Orleans."

"Yeah?" I say, genuinely confused.

"I'm afraid my old boss will be there and… I would feel safer with someone who I'm not at war with. I don't need two assholes riding me." She mutters the last part, and I pat her knee.

"I'm sorry they upset you. But you're so strong, and you're going to do amazing. And if you find yourself feeling unsure about anything, I'll be there to boost you back up." Stevie gives me a small smile before reaching over and hugging me.

"I love you, Indy," she whispers, and I pat her back.

"I love you too, Stevie. Now, can you do me a favor?" I ask sweetly.

"Well, sure, anything."

"Can you pierce my nose?" I ask nervously, and Stevie chuckles.

"Well, yeah. Pick out the stud you want. But why are you acting weird about it?"

"I, ummm… I don't have any tattoos, and my only piercings are my lobes." I state as I show her my small penguin stud earrings.

"That's odd considering—"

"I know," I interrupt as I sigh. "Ash won't tattoo me, and the guys are all afraid of him or something."

"Well, you're a grown woman, and your brother doesn't scare me. Let me sterilize everything, and I'll get you all ready to go."