Restored

“I told you earlier this is the last time.” I hear a small laugh, but it’s not a lie; this time I mean it.

“The next time you text me in the middle of the night, I’ll remind you of that.”

I hear talking on the other side of the door and I look up.

“Don’t worry. I locked it.” Stacy confirms my unspoken question and I nod.

“How much longer?” I ask, ready to put my clothes back on.

There’s a long pause and then the pain is gone. “You’re all set.”

My feet are a little unsteady as I stand up and stretch. The muscles in my back ache but in a good way. Some people might not consider getting tattooed to be therapeutic, but in a weird way it helps me get through some shit in my head.

“One of these days you’re going to run out of skin,” he says as he packs up his tools.

“Nah, I’ll just put on some weight and make more.” I slap my hand across my belly and he shakes his head.

“You’ll just stretch out all my amazing artwork.” He takes off his gloves and tosses them in the trash. “Nadia told me you got arrested last night.”

I roll my eyes as I put my shirt back on. “Good news travels fast. Your girl still working dispatch at the station?”

“Yeah, she came home last night and said I’d probably be getting a call from you.”

“Sorry to be so predictable.”

“You know I don’t mind the work, but I just want to be doing it for the right reasons.” He nods to my back and then looks at me. “You ever going to show her?”

I shrug as I pull some cash out of my wallet and hand it over. “Thanks, Stacy.”

“I’ll take that as I should mind my own business.” He takes the money from me and I nod. “We’ll be at the cookout next week if I don’t see you before.”

“Yeah, see you,” I say, and he opens the door and walks out.

I sit down in the chair again, feeling somewhat calmer than I did this morning. I can hear a party going on in the shop and I run a hand down my face. I don’t know why I agreed for people to come back here. There were a few guys at the show that wanted to film my shop for a YouTube channel and my agent said it would be good for me.

I’m going to fire him after everyone leaves. I’m sick and tired of this showboating shit. I just want everything to calm down for five seconds so I can figure out what to do. The only thing that’s ever settled me is being next to Gemma. But after last night I’m lost.

I built all of this for her, and it means nothing without her. I added on to the shop last year just as a surprise for her, not to mention what I’ve got hidden in the back. There’s so much I’ve been planning for and suddenly it feels like it’s slipping through my fingers.

There’s a knock on the door and I hear Mitch call out.

“Yeah, come in.” My voice sounds tired, but after last night I’m shocked I’m still awake.

“I saw Stacy left. You get some new ink?” Mitch looks over my arms and I shake my head.

My body art is on display enough, but the piece on my back is just for me. I don’t show that one off. Ever.

“Party still going?” I nod my chin to the door to try and change the subject.

“Um yeah, about that.” He looks behind him and I can see his expression change. “She came by to see you.”

“When?” I don’t have to ask who to know he’s talking about Gemma. “What did she say?”

“She wanted to talk to you but you said don’t let anyone in.”

“Fuck.” I’m on my feet and Mitch moves in my path.

“She heard you in here and I think she may have gotten the wrong idea.”

“What do you mean she may have? What the hell happened? How long ago was it?”

“It was about an hour ago, maybe more. I don’t know. You were grunting a lot.”

“Oh no.” I push past Mitch as he tries to grab my arm, but as soon as I’m out of my office I’m being ambushed by the filming crew and people everywhere.

I’m stressed out and panicked because I need to know where the fuck Gemma went, because this is not going to be good. I wanted to go to her last night but the cops arrested me and charged me with assault. I’m lucky as fuck the guy decided to drop the charges, but that probably had more to do with the chunk of cash I had Mitch get out of my safe last night and take to him. By the time I got home we had to go to the car show and Roxy said it would be better if she didn’t see me when she woke up. I’m beginning to think I should quit listening to everyone and just do what my gut tells me.