Unable to allow her to see me as a wimp who can’t hold his shit together, I keep my eyes fixed to the concrete, but the selfish side of me allows her hand to remain on my forearm. It feels too damn good. Confirming what a selfish prick I am.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s okay.” She scoots a little closer to me and silently sits there.

Buckling up from the outburst, I force back my tears and rest my head on the wall of the garage. She’s quiet; her hand slowly grazes back and forth on my arm. Right over my tattoo of Jessa’s lips. Seriously, what a bonehead move that was.

This is insane, allowing Paige to witness my unfolding. I need to grab my emotions and chuck them in the damn Cuyahoga River. In Rob fashion, I divert.

“You want to go get a tattoo?” I ask her, jumping up and brushing my ass off.

“What?” She cocks her head, confused by my complete change. “I’m sure you aren’t going to get in.”

“I know the guy. He’ll squeeze me in.” I swipe my keys off the garage floor and turn her way. “So?” I ask and she stares at me wearily while rising to her feet.

“Um.”

“Are you coming?” I pull my phone out to text Jed over at Zen’s.

Her eyes dart everywhere in the garage. “Sure.”

I swing the keys around my pointer finger and nod to my car for her to climb in.

Once she’s securely next to me, my phone beeps back from Jed. I smile over to her, waving it in my hand. “See, connections, baby. It’s all about connections.” She remains quiet, staring at me and my body as it falls into the seat, almost embarrassed by my see-through veil of arrogance. “I give him a lot of business,” I relent, the real reason Jed is available whenever I am.

Her eyes scan over my arms covered with tattoos and her lips curl at the corners. “I can tell.”

ROB’S COCKY MASK exhausts me. I’m not even sure why I’m sitting beside him while he drives over to the tattoo shop. Maybe I’ll walk home, or hitch a ride from someone. Sitting there while the fake persona he’s mastered so well brings laughter to other people, I’ll know I’m right. That my assumption there’s something hidden, he shares with no one lingers so far down, I’m not sure he can retrieve it.

I felt his desire for me all over my body at Ace’s. It was there, he wanted me as much as I wanted him. The fact that when I asked him to kiss me, his lips smashed down so hard on mine, my head almost smacked against the wall. Then Rob showed that he’s not all about himself. His hands cupped my cheeks, making sure my head stayed in place. Which is probably a reason I’m in the car with him. That, and my body refuses to leave the close proximity of his.

He’s so relaxed in his seat as he leans back with his hand resting on the gear shift, moving it back and forth while his foot presses the clutch. There’s something oddly sexy about a man who drives a stick shift. Rob drives it with such finesse, my core tingles with every movement. Only making me question how good he would maneuver me in bed. There’s another reason I’m here.

As my mind races with the million unimportant tidbits that float around my brain every day, we park along the curb. Everyone knows Zen’s in Western. The first tattoo place along a row of a few newer shops. They’re the go to place and if you can’t get in, you try down the street. Smart move on the second best parlor’s part on joining Zen’s location.

“It’s busy,” I say, noticing the chairs that line the window packed as well as some people hanging around outside.

“Don’t worry.” He climbs out of the car, moving around to my side. I open my door before he gets a chance and I notice his shoulders slump that I didn’t allow him to do a gentlemanly act. Happiness spurs inside of me that he wanted to.

He recovers quickly, by shutting the door. I barely hear the beep of his lock before we’re in the parlor and I’m following him to the back of the building. Huffs and moans release from the other half-drunk patrons waiting.

“That’s Rob Winters,” a girl says to another and my head whips around. Is he really that well-known around here? Then I notice it’s more than some fan girl; she works here and is explaining it to someone else. “He has a standing appointment,” she continues and the other girl shakes her head.

“Of course he does,” the young girl crosses her arms and plops down in the chair.

“Paige!”

I flip back around and find Rob yelling from the back. When I notice him, he waves me over and I zigzag through the stations trying not to accidentally bump anyone, or anything. Just the embarrassment if I messed up something permanent on someone’s skin heats my face.

When I reach Rob, I notice a few private stations lined along one side of the hallway. Is this where the no one knows tattoos get done, or the discrete piercings happen?

“I lost you.” Rob’s arm weaves across my waist and I’m alarmed by the intimate squeeze.

“Oh.” I feel every one of my limbs stiffen. Not because I don’t like his intimacy but the fact he shifts moods faster than his car on that drag strip.

He removes himself and guilt racks me because I can’t stop wanting to make his face look like a boy on Christmas morning. So, when his eyes turn down, I inch forward fast and snatch his hand up. He glances back, a smirk across his face. “Jed’s waiting.”

He tugs me down the hallway as black curtains forbid me to see what the buzzing devices are marking on skin. Once we’re fourth down, Rob steps back to allow me to enter first. A long black vinyl bed sits along a wall with only a doctor-type stool and a small rolling tray next it. There’s no extra chair, and I bite the inside of my cheek wondering if I should have stayed out front.

Before I have any time to second guess my decision, a big burly guy plods through the curtained-off room. He’s probably six-three, broad shoulders, goatee and piercings popping out in numerous places. If I was in a dark alley, I’d most likely turn and bolt. Then a wide grin splashes across his face and that intimidating, scary as hell figure, turns teddy bear with only the shining of his teeth.

“Jed!” Rob welcomes him into the room with a boisterous chuckle.

“What’s up, asshole?” Jed shakes his head, making his way over to the station. “You decide now to cover up your dumb ass idea?” Although his words aren’t friendly, his demeanor is. “Don’t be shy, buttercup; take a seat next to asshole.” He points to the spot next to Rob and I step over. Once I’m seated down, he rolls over on the doctor chair. “I’m Jed.” He holds his hand out to me and I see something tattooed on each knuckle, but I can’t catch it all before he pulls away.

“Paige,” I meekly say, sounding way too mousy between these two guys with larger than life personalities.

“Pleasure.” He winks his brown eye and scratches his goatee before rolling back over to the cart, assembling his station. “What the hell are you going to cover it with?” He turns, crossing his leg over his ankle, resting back against the wall.

I turn toward Rob and his eyes flicker to mine before back to Jed’s. “I have no fucking clue. I just think it’s time that it’s gone.” My eyes scan Rob’s arms and I spot the lips next to the guitar.

“Drunken night of stupidity?” I ask, easing back against the wall.

Jed starts laughing and points to Rob. “Not this one. He was sober. Fucking idiot.” He turns to me. “Are you virgin?

“Excuse me?” I know guys like him can be forward, but this is a whole new level for me.

The crinkles around his eyes lift. “Shit, sorry. I mean your skin.”

“Are you asking me if I have a tattoo?” I clarify and Rob chuckles next to me.

Jed nods. “Yep.”

“Maybe I’ll entice you after tonight.”