Too Close

Chapter 20

Olivia's P.O.V

"It's right there," I pointed in front of us at the tattoo parlor. I gripped Tyler's arm to stop myself from falling over. My shoes were killing my feet and now that my feet were wet it was impossible to walk in them. "Wait." We stopped and he held onto my waist as I slipped them off. Then we slipped inside.

"Hi, welcome to Inked, how may I help y'all?" A woman with a bright blue pixie cut greeted us, walking up to us.

"We'd like some tattoos," Tyler said, holding on to my hand like I was going to slip away.

"Are ya sure?" She asked, taking in our wet appearances. Though our clothes were dry, both of our hairs were soaked, it must have been obvious that we'd been drinking. When neither of us answered, she looked at me warily then gestured for us to follow her.

"Right this way." She walked us into a separate room that had a beaded curtain for a door. A group of men played cards on a crooked table and faint soft rock music came from some hidden speakers. On the other side of the room there were two chairs with tables of needles and an ink smeared rag.

"I'm surprised you guys are open, given the holiday," Tyler said to her back.

"Inked is always open, hun," she answered. "Chip! We have two people heya' askin' to get their ink done." The men in the room looked up. They had so many tattoos on their bodies and faces that it made my head spin.

"Ah, two drunk youngins," said one guy with multi-colored tattoos snaking up his neck. He looked older than the rest.

"Thanks, Cecilia," he said. The woman nodded then walked out of the room leaving me with Tyler and these men. I clenched Tyler's bicep and he squeezed my hand.

"So, what can I do for ya?" Chip asked as he set his cards down and got up from his seat.

"You heard her, we want tattoos," Tyler answered. Chip chuckled as he walked over to us. A man with dreads stood and followed him. Chip rubbed his hands together when he was directly in front of us and looked at me and smiled. "What kinda tattoos you want? Most popular right now are the butterflies, hearts, flowers..."

"She wants a tile," Tyler said. I burst out laughing. Did I hear him correctly?

"A tile?" I looked up at him. He tightened his lips and looked away. Aw, I've never seen him embarrassed before.

"I don't know...I thought since my name is Tyler you can get like an intricate tile or something?" he rubbed the back of his neck and avoided my gaze.

"I don't think so buddy. I may be drunk but I'm not that drunk," I tried to focus my eyes on Chip in front of me. "I want—"

"You lost the bet, so I'll decide what kind of tattoo you're getting."

"Well then what will it be?"

"I have to think about it." He let go of my hand and faced me. "What do I have the honor of getting drawn on my body forever?"

I smirked and turned back to Chip. I gestured for him to come closer and I leaned in and whispered what I wanted for Tyler into his ear.

"That can be arranged," Chip said and flashed me a smile.

We each sat down on a leather chair on the other side of the room.

Chip sat in front of me and the other man sat in front of Tyler preparing our needles as the rest of the men in the room resumed playing cards without them.

"Do you think you can ink such a vivid picture on the boy, Michael?" Chip asked, nodding at the one who would be doing Tyler's tattoo.

"Yeah I think I got it," He laughed. Tyler bolted upright in his chair, alarmed.