Eye of the Hurricane

Chapter 5 - Chase

My agent finally got back with me. He claimed a family emergency is what pulled him away from our meeting. It would have nice if he would have at least shot a text letting me know but he finally got back with me. We signed on our new place yesterday. We'll be in within the month. I can't wait to move. If it's not one thing, it's another with this place now. I had to come in early this morning because I got an alert that our AC was not working. It's hot as can be in here. 

I go and prop open the front and back doors to help get some air to circulate in here and then get some fans going. I call all the guys to let them know what's going on and tell them that someone will be out here this afternoon to work on it. No one is going to want to tattoo in this heat.

I do have one client that will not cancel. I called him this morning and he said he's still coming in if I'll be there. He's coming in for his second session on this piece that goes across his chest, around and down his shoulder and arm. It's been my favorite design recently. The main piece is a clock over his chest and then goes out to all of the interworking of the clock with gears. Honestly, it's something that I've really enjoyed. He wanted me to have complete design freedom on the piece and I even impressed myself. 

He's supposed to be here any minute. I asked if he could come in early so I would be available when the guy came to work on the AC. Luckily he was free today and was able to come in. 

Just as I'm getting the last fan set up, I hear some shouting from the front of the shop. It's my client. He's pumped for this session.

"I can't wait to get this finished man. I've been looking forward to it for weeks." He comes walking back toward my station already taking his shirt off.

"Yeah man, take a seat. Might as well get comfortable. It's going to be a long few hours between the needle and this heat." I'm gathering all of my gear as he sits on my table.

"Give it to me." he gets into the position I have set up for him and we get started. 

The piece is coming along nicely. We've been going for about two hours now and this heat is really started to get to me the later in the day it gets. It wasn't too bad this morning but this Florida heat isn't for the faint of heart. 

"You doing okay? Why don't we take a quick water break and try to cool off for a minute, Man?" 

"You got it. Got to stay hydrated right?" He's always the jokester. 

I grab as each a cold water out of the fridge and we head out front to get some air. My gaze catches on the bar, Lights Out, just down the block from me and the memories from the other night come flooding back.

I had to walk away. I couldn't stay there any longer. When Miss Hurricane came out of the bathroom, I could see she had tears in her eyes and I felt something tighten in my chest. I know I needed to get away fast. I can't do feelings. I can't get involved like that. I have no time for it in my life right now or ever really. 

I've been down that road once and I swore to myself that I would never go down it again. It only leads to pain.

I saw the look in her eye as I went to turn. It was the hurt that I don't want to feel. I have to block all of that out of my mind and leave it at the bar but those baby blues have been haunting my thoughts. 

"Ready to go back in?" I can't stand out here and keep thinking. At least while I'm tattooing, it keeps me mind busy and off her. 

"Yeah, let's go." He slaps me on the shoulder and we go back into the shop. 

It's been three weeks since I closed on our new shop now and I've been able to get in and get some things set up. We've been able to get all of the stalls set up and a nice front desk as well. I would love to be able to get someone to work just the front desk. We all have our own stalls now. It won't be as easy to keep on an eye on the desk like we used to be able to.