Cole & Jamie

July 2016

"Jamie Anderson." 

Jason smiled down at me as rugged and handsome as he's ever been. His hair is shorter and full of greys but that doesn't take away from the heartwarming grin he still wore. The hair, the smile, and the tattoos had to be a lethal combination at bars. Luckily I'm spoken for so I can't fall prey to his charm. "Just as beautiful as I remember."

"Oh, I'm sure you say that to everyone." Jason is one of those people who is just a born flirt. He just has a knack for making anyone feel special, and his looks help.

He gave me a friendly hug. Jason laughed, "My fiance' says the same thing."

"You're engaged?" This was the first time I was hearing this. I was going to have to talk to Trish about keeping her gossip up to date.

"Shocking, I know." He laughed, "I had to move the sun and the moon to get her to agree to marry me. I think she expected me to give up. Of course, that only made me try harder." He sighed, a dreamy look coming over his face. "My Mischa, she'll be here later. She does piercings in the back of the studio."

I couldn't help but smile at the way he talked about her. "I can't wait to meet her."

Jason had to go finish Cole's stencil. I turned to find Cole staring at us with an unappreciative scowl.

"Don't be jealous," I whispered giving him a welcoming kiss on the lips.

"I'm not," he said against my lips.

"That stank look on your face tells me otherwise."

He quickly molded his face into a more pleasant expression. "Better?"

"Much." I handed him the grease-spotted bag. "I brought you lunch. I thought you might want to eat something before you guys get started."

He put his hands on either side of my face pulling me into another hard kiss before taking the sandwich and fries from my hands. "You are my angel."

"Don't get too excited it's just a sandwich," I said trying to hide the warmth that coursed through me at his sweet words. Who knew he was such a sweet talker? With the number of compliments, he gives me my confidence has been through the roof. Really, I'd be embarrassed if it also didn't make me so giddy.

I sat on the stool by the large tattoo chair. I marveled at how immaculate the parlor was. Everything was thoroughly cleaned; the sharp scent of disinfectant still hung in the air. The interior had been decorated in black and red accents, the polished cement floors shined with not so much as a single scuff. I expected to feel out of place in a place like this but I felt quite comfortable.

"I need to ask you something," Cole said unwrapping his sandwich.

I placed a hand on his knee before asking, "Do you need me to run to the pharmacy?"

Cole stopped the sandwich halfway to his lips."No. why? Did you poison the food?"

I shook my head. "Nope, just being proactive." After years of running to the pharmacy for Pepto Bismol and painkillers for Jackson, my mind couldn't help to jump to conclusions when people asked me for things now. 

He smiled down at me. "Aren't you considerate? My friends are hosting a charity gala in New York in a few weeks and I was hoping you could be my plus one."

"You do?" I asked shocked. "I mean, that sounds great, I'd love to join you."

"Good, because I already told him we were coming. And he is excited to meet you."

"Will a lot of your friends be there?" I asked suddenly nervous.

"A few. I don't have very many. You should know better than anyone that I'm not much of a people person."