"Really?"
"Yeah, but I couldn't admit it. All that macho pride shit."
She laughs. "I can admit it. I'm... it's really going to hurt?"
Again, I nod.
"But I... I can handle it. I think." She motions to her bra pressed against her chest. "Can we do something about this?"
"Here." I take in the rest of the shop. Walker is still at the counter. He's making a point of not looking at us.
It's surprisingly sweet. But then he's been different lately. Ever since he switched from bringing home a different girl every night to a regular fuck buddy.
He insists I'm imagining things, but I'm not.
He's into that girl.
He wants a lot more than her body.
He'll figure it out eventually.
Until then, I'll taunt him about it.
"You two ready yet or what?" he calls out.
"Almost." I shoot him a give me a minute. "Avert your eyes."
He laughs. "You know I do rib tattoos all the time."
"Not on Kay, you don't." I turn back to Kaylee. Her soft green eyes are filled with an equal mix of nerves and excitement. "Here." I fasten a backless tube top out of gauze and tape it to her skin.
She laughs. "Fashionable."
I run my fingers through her hair. "You ready?"
"You're going to hold my hand the entire time?"
"Of course."
"Then I am."
I turn back to Walker. "You're needed."
"Story of my life." He laughs, goes to the sink, washes his hands, moves into the suite and motions to the bench. "Lay on your stomach for me."
"Okay." Kaylee moves onto the bench slowly. She folds her arms and rests her head on them.
I sit next to her and offer my hand.
She takes it.
My body gets light. Floaty.
Fuck. I'm as nervous as she is. More even.
Walker preps her skin then applies the stencil. It's really fucking cozy with both of us next to Kay, but there's no way in hell I'm moving.
He slides on his gloves and picks up his gun. His voice drops to a sincere tone. "You ready, Kaylee?"