PULSE [H.S]

102

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." — John A. Shedd

I can't stop smiling today.

It was only yesterday that Harry asked me to be his girlfriend again, but the whole night makes me melt when I think about it. It was so sweet and thoughtful of him to plan something like that for me, and it's adorable that he officially asked me out.

I finally feel like my life is back on track. My mental stability seems relatively good right now, and I feel genuinely happy. I have the most incredible friends and the most amazing boyfriend.

If only we weren't in a drug cartel.

"Why don't you have any tattoos?" the guy I'm tattooing asks me, pulling my attention back to him. I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the question that I hear at least once every day I'm here.

Before I can respond, Pen says, "Oh, she has a tattoo, alright."

I glare at her, wishing she would mind her own business. The tone she used insinuated something inappropriate, and it's unprofessional. She's smiling cheekily at me, like she's proud of herself.

The guy says, "I won't ask."

"They've never really suited me," I answer him simply.

This client is getting a portrait of his daughter's face on the back of his calf, and it's really ugly. The daughter isn't ugly, and the tattoo is coming out nicely, but I don't know who would want this on their leg forever. If he wants to always be able to see his daughter, he can pull out his phone or something.

I finish up his tattoo, which marks the end of my shift. Pen finishes up her last client around the same time, and we both get the place ready to close for the night. I sweep the floor while she catches up on some online documents.

The bell rings, signaling that someone has opened the door. My head turns to see Harry walking inside, and I can't contain the smile that washes over my face when I see him. Just the sight of him makes my heart thump, and I wasn't expecting him to show up here tonight.

He looks good, like he always does. He wears his typical outfit, black jeans and a black t-shirt, with black shoes. He walks over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and planting a sweet kiss on my lips. My arms snake around his neck, and I stand on my tippy toes to reach him.

"Hey, baby," he says between kisses.

I smile up at him. "Hi."

I see Pen out of the corner of my eye, staring at the two of us. I glance at her, a laugh leaving my mouth when I see that she's standing with her hands on her hips, her gaze focused on Harry as she raises an eyebrow.

She says, "See that smile, Harry Styles? If you ever take that away from her again, remember what I said would happen."

Harry nods firmly, moving so that his arm drapes around my shoulders and he pulls me into his side. He says, "I'll do whatever it takes every day to see that smile."

Pen hits him with the 'I'm watching you' signal as she points two of her fingers at her eyes and then directs them at Harry's. She says to me as she leaves, "See you tomorrow, babes."

"Bye, Pen," I call out as she saunters out of the shop. I turn to Harry, leaning into him with a silly grin on my face. He makes me so giddy. I say, "I'm not complaining, but why are you here?"

He inquires, "Are you tired?"

"Not really," I shrug, "why?"

He reaches into the pocket of his skinny jeans, digging through it until he pulls out what he was looking for. He hands me a folded piece of paper, and I take it between my fingers. I look up at him, confused.