43. Tattoos are Forever

FORTY-THREE

The flashing lights didn't register when we walked out of the restaurant. All I cared about was being with Parker and going wherever he had planned. I didn't expect the driver to pull over in front of a tattoo shop downtown. The limo caused people on the street to look twice before they recognized Parker, but he rushed me inside before anyone could stop him. I didn't have a chance to ask what the hell we were doing before we were standing at the front desk.

The man working was older, with tattoos covering every inch of visible skin except his face. He reached out his hand to shake Parker's, and it was decorated in small pieces that seamlessly weaved together.

"Parker James, it's good to see you man. Who's the lovely lady?"

"This is my girlfriend, Delilah." He turned to me. "This is my tattoo artist, Rick. We've spent a lot of time together."

Rick assessed me. "Delilah, huh?"

"I told you it wouldn't be a mistake, Rick. I don't make decisions lightly."

I looked between them. "What are you guys talking about?"

Rick rounded the counter and pushed Parker's shoulder. "We're talking about that time about two years ago that this idiot came into this shop, drunk off his ass, and demanded I tattoo your name across his heart."

I covered my mouth with my hand, shocked. I didn't know Parker was drunk when he got the tattoo.

"I refused." Rick pointed to the sign on the door that stated that he had the right to deny any service and didn't tattoo people who weren't able to consent. "But this fucker came back the next day with a green smoothie or some shit and asked again."

"He still wasn't going to do it. I had to pay well."

"I'm not in the business of giving people tattoos they'll regret later on. I have plenty of those myself." He lifted the sleeve of his t-shirt to show us a faded red heart with the name "Mary" inside. "My ex-wife thinks it's hilarious."

I was speechless. I didn't know what to say to Rick about his ex-wife or to Parker after finding out the backstory of my name being forever inked on his chest.

"I laugh at it every time I see it." The woman who came out of the back room was equally tatted up and looked like a total badass with short, black hair that was spiked up to look like a biker. All she was missing was the leather pants and jacket. She extended her hand to me and I took it. "Hi, I'm Mary."

"Hi Mary, I'm Delilah."

"Ahh, so Parker wasn't a dumbass for getting that tattoo." She nodded her head as she cataloged my features. "Lucky guy, you're a cute little thing."

Rick just rolled his eyes and beckoned us to follow him to his work station. "Hence the reason she's my ex."

"I heard that, old man."

"Good," he called over his shoulder. To me he whispered, "Her wife thinks she's so sweet, but she's a pain in my ass."

"She's your better half and you know it," Parker spoke to him like he was an old friend. I'd always admired his ability to connect with people wherever he went.

"Yeah, yeah. I have your design ready. Wanna see it again before I start?" Rick asked the question flippantly, like it was a formality.

"Yeah, I think I want to see this one." When Parker saw the confused look on my face he explained, "I told Rick my idea for my sleeve and he did it piece by piece and surprised me."

"He's not my only client that does this, but he was the first to trust me with a whole sleeve. It was pretty fun to design."

"That's a little crazy, but it obviously worked out well. I love his tattoos."

"Parker has brought a lot of business here in the last couple years. I owe him a lot for bringing in his buddies."

"Your work speaks for itself Rick." Parker peered down at the design and nodded his head. "Looks good. Let's get started."

"Am I allowed to see?"

"Nah." Parker started to tease me, but Rick held the drawing out so I could see. It wasn't the most obvious sentiment, but I knew exactly what the flower was. A rose lily for our tiny girl.

"Oh wow, I?—"

"Think it's too girly?" Rick interrupted. "I don't blame you."

"Oh, you old fart. Do you read any of the news?" Mary sashayed her way over and sat down in the chair next to mine. "Lily is their daughter. It's been plastered all over social media."

Rick grumbled. "That's not the news, woman."

"It's literally called E! News." She rolled her eyes. "I don't know how much more straightforward it could be."

"I figure if there's an update about something with mister big leagues he'll tell me himself, right?"

The smooth lines of Parker's forehead creased when he winced. "Well actually, Mary's right. I haven't been back in town for quite a while, and we do have a daughter."

"I told you," Mary sing-songed.

Their easy banter made me comfortable, along with Parker's obvious familiarity with these people.

I pulled out my phone and turned to Mary. "Would you like to see pictures? I have thousands. She looks just like him."

Mary gushed over the photos we took on Halloween. They were still the lockscreen on my phone because they were some of the few family photos we had right now.

"I wish we had more of all of us together."

"I can fix that." Parker shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. "We'll do more."

Rick was peeking over Mary's shoulder. "She's a good mix, but she's lucky she looks more like you, Del. Good thing she doesn't have his mean mug." He jerked his thumb at Parker.

I laughed along with the joke, but I took it to heart. I knew she really looked more like Parker, and that was totally okay because he was gorgeous. I also knew no one had ill intentions by saying she was Parker's twin, but it felt good to be included. I didn't carry her for nine months and then raise her alone for six just to lose out on the recognition.

"Well, let"s get tattooing before it gets too late. Since you're a dad and shit now. Probably have a curfew, too."

Mary was quick to clap back at him. "You act like you won't be asleep in your recliner by nine tonight."

Rick huffed and waved her off, not taking the bait at another squabble. "Where do you want it?" He held the stencil up, and again I marveled at the gorgeous design. He remembered when I told him I named our daughter after the lily of the valley.

Parker unbuttoned his dress shirt and revealed a chest full of artwork. With a closer look, I could tell that it was all done in the same style.

"Have you done all of Parker's ink?"

"Yeah, the boy got a bug after the first one and well…" He gestured to Parker's chest and left arm that were intricately woven with black and gray ink, creating a stormy sky with lightning strikes highlighted in the intricate shading around my name. "I'll admit, I was a little worried when you sent me your idea for the design a couple months ago."

I blinked. A couple months ago?

"I'm pretty confident when I make my mind up about something." He looked me up and down, totally unflinchingly as he laid back on the cushioned table. The dichotomy of the way I felt when he looked at me was hard to navigate. The heat behind his eyes made every hair on my body stand up. He was out of my league in every way, but for some reason he wanted me. Then, in the next breath, he was the same guy I'd loved most of my life. "Commitment isn't something I'm afraid of."

"Apparently not," Mary laughed. "Want me to tattoo her name on your forehead so you don't have to walk around with your shirt off?" She held a finger to her lips like she was pondering the idea.

I rarely got shy, but I could feel my face turning red. Rick started tattooing so I didn't have to say anything in rebuttal. I hid my face and leafed through his binder full of designs, zoned out while the buzzing of the needle filled the room.

Rick did quick work and I was fully entertained, listening to him and Parker go back and forth while they caught up on life since they'd seen each other last.

When the stocky man was finished, Parker stood and walked to the full length mirror leaning against the red brick wall. I peeked around him and he lifted his arm so I could walk under and see better. The intricate lines were cleaner than I expected from someone who looked like Rick. He was the kind of guy I'd think would have greasy hands and bad handwriting.

I caught his eye over my shoulder. "You're fucking talented, Rick."

"I do alright." He shrugged, but I saw the slight upward tilt to his mouth at my compliment.

I surprised myself with the next words that came out of my mouth. "Think you have time to do one for me?"

Parker flashed me a wide grin and traced his finger tip down my cheek. "A tattoo on your perfect body?"

"You can decorate your skin, but I can't?" I challenged him.

"I never said that." He put his hands up. "Don't shoot, Mama."

Mary cackled from the other side of the room where she'd been working on the computer. "The rizz on this boy."

"What are you spouting off about now?" Her ex-husband gave her a confused look.

"Rizz. It's short for charisma, you wouldn't know anything about that, old man."

I left Busted Ink with my first tattoo. I wore it like a badge of honor, and my cheeks were sore from smiling so much.