Inking Up Love (Insta Love Shy Girl Romance 4)

“Don’t make fun of her,” I said flatly. Although I said it quietly, she caught my tone.

“Okay, sorry. But Leah, don’t waste the guy’s time if you’re not–”

“She’s not wasting my time at all,” I said quickly. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to try out a new method for temporary tattoos. Leah, would you mind helping me? You could let me know how long this stuff lasts on your skin?”

“Sure,” she said brightly.

Alison shrugged, then went up to the front to pay while I pulled out a book for Leah to study. “Does anything catch your eye?”

She had the strangest way of tilting her head from side to side very slightly while she thought. “If I were to get a tattoo,” she said, as she flashed me a little grin. “Completely imaginary of course.”

“Of course.”

“I’d want it to have some meaning behind it.”

“I agree. Is there a new direction you’d like to guide your life in? Is there something you’re trying to overcome, or a part of your life where you want to focus more energy?” I asked.

I could see her hesitation, then she took a breath and looked up at me. “I don’t want to be this shy anymore. The whole world makes me a bit nervous, and I want to try to improve, just a little.

I could tell her how hard it was for her to say that to me. Reaching out, I took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Leah, I think that’s an amazing goal. And I think that’s really brave of you to tell me.”

I dropped her hand quickly as Alison came back.

“Well, I can see that you two are having a moment,” she said with a weird side-eyed glance to Leah. “I’ll text you later, okay?”

“Sure,” Leah said.

I was relieved that Alison was gone, not just so that I could be alone with Leah. I didn’t like that girl’s vibe at all.

“Some people think that symbols of nature are inspirational,” I said to Leah, flipping through the photo book of my previous tattoos. “Symbols of growth. Symbols of opening up to the sun.” I looked up at her with a wink. “Everyone has a little bit of hippie in them, right?”

She had such a lovely laugh. “Yes, I guess so. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have good, positive energy.”

“Precisely. So do you think a flower opening would represent you coming out of your shell and being more open? Blooming?”

“Absolutely,” she said.

“What’s your favorite kind of flower?” I asked, desperately hoping that I had some samples in the book of whatever it was.

“I’ve never really had one before,” she said thoughtfully, flipping pages slowly. “I don’t think roses are right. Too formal. I think something less structured.”

I nodded, turning the page with her and pointing. “What about that?”

“Oh!” she squealed. “I love that. What is it?”

“It’s alstroemeria. The lily of Peru.”

Her beautiful stormy eyes were quickly scanning the entire page of lilies. “When I was little we lived in the country, and lilies like this one –” she pointed to a bright orange marsh lily, “Would grow wild in the ditches of the country roads in some spots.”

“What if I sort of blended the two together and made something new?” I asked. “Use the color and size of your wild daylily, with the different tones and little freckles of the South American lily?”

She laughed again. “Can you just cobble together a flower like that?”

“Yes ma’am,” I chuckled. “I’m a mad scientist of art, and I can do anything. How big would you like it, and where would you like me to put it?” I cringed inside realizing how what I had just said could be interpreted.

I saw her mouth tense for a moment as if she was holding back laughter.

“I think I like the spot you mentioned yesterday,” she said. “But,” she glanced around the room. My station was tucked into the corner, so it was relatively private. “I wouldn’t have to lay out on your table half-naked or anything, would I?”