Forbidden Ties.

13. birthday prep/ good terms

hey ya'll!💕
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Omniscient.

Cheyenne pulled the ponytail holder from her hair, letting her natural curls cascade over her shoulders. With her birthday just two days away, she decided it was time for some much-needed self-care, but she'd go out tomorrow since she took the day off.

She felt a wave of happiness knowing her brother was getting better with each passing day.

"Where are my keys?" she muttered, rummaging through her bedsheets until they fell onto the carpet.She picked them up, slipped on her no-show socks and checkered Vans, and decided to head to the tattoo shop early since she'd be working for the next few hours.

Sliding into the driver's seat, she got comfortable, adjusted her mirrors, and brought the engine to life. As she drove out of the neighborhood, she felt content knowing that Eli and Mateo had reconciled.

After pulling into the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru, she ordered breakfast for everyone. The drive to the tattoo shop was quick. As she approached the large building with its already crowded parking lot, Cheyenne parked, grabbed the food, and stepped out of the car. With the bag of food held between her teeth, she locked the car doors and slipped through the front door, smiling.

"Good morning, everyone!" she muttered, her voice muffled by the bag of food as she scurried to the back. Ryan followed her in, along with AJ, Melody, and Mateo. "I got you all breakfast! I hope you enjoy it."

"Aw, you didn't have to do that, lil' mama, but thank you," AJ said, his thick southern accent coming through as he gave her a friendly smile and opened his bag of food.

"It's still early, so I thought everyone should have something to eat. You're welcome!" she smiled, handing Mateo his bag. A blush crept onto her cheeks as he winked, grateful for the food because he was honestly starving.

"Nah it's appreciated Chey, thanks." Ryan spoke sitting on the couch next to AJ beginning to eat.

"Aww you're such a sweetheart Cheyenne!" Melody smiled giving her a side hug as she grabbed her bag from the desk and sat down. The sudden chime of the front door caused Ryan to make his way to the front with his food, noticing a customer he let him know to wait a few minutes to allow everyone to get set up.

"Give us about fifteen minutes bro." He said as he walked back into the office as the older man nodded and sat in one of the chairs.

Looking over at Mateo who stood with his back pressed against the door frame, he motioned for Cheyenne to follow him before it was time for her to clock in. Standing to her feet she made her way out of the back office as everyone else made small talk. Following behind Mateo to his tattooing room, she shut the door and rested her orange juice on the counter.

"If I had known you were buying everyone breakfast, I would've told you to stop at Krispie Kreme." He chuckled sitting in his rolling chair.

"I was actually going to stop there, but I was craving chicken minis."

"Craving?" He questioned lifting a brow, a sly smirk on his face as he motioned for her to sit on his lap. Letting her feet carry her she sat comfortably and smiled.

"Let me rephrase that, more like wanting.. I haven't eaten there in a while." She said putting her hair into a high-bun, before he could say anything else, Ryan knocked sticking his head in the door.

"Ya'll cute and all, but Chey, tell ya man you'll kiss on him later." Ryan joked as Mateo and Cheyenne both laughed out loud. Standing up Cheyenne kissed his cheek before making her way to the office to clock in, once she was don't she made her way to the front to assist customers until it was time for her first break.
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