Ink (being edited)

Chapter 1: Happy Monday

Tattoos are what I'm meant to do with my life.

Walking into the tattoo parlor I've been working at for over a year just reaffirmed that belief. It smelled like rubbing alcohol and happiness. It sounds really fucking weird, I know, but it's true. The parlor's maroon walls and deep hardwood floors held a load of sentimental value for me. 

It was my second home.

"Hey, Sage. You have a consultation in 20 minutes. Get your sketch pad ready!"

I smiled at Jazz, our secretary, and my best friend, "Thanks. Are we still on for drinks with Seinfeld?"

"Yep. I'll walk with you at the end of the day. We can lock up together."

Giving her a wave, I slipped into my office and slumped into my spinny chair. Kicking off using my desk, I spun around like a little kid in her dad's office.

Not that I would know what that's like.

My family left me as a child. I don't know anything about them and I never bothered to find out. I had to learn at a very young age not to give time to people who won't give that time to you. It's a rule that I had learned to live by.

"Sage! Your consultation is here!" My boss, called from the doorway.  Startled, I slipped off my chair, sending it spiraling into the wall and me on a crumpled heap on the floor with a thump.

What a way to start a week. 

I dragged my half-injured body to the meeting room and plopped myself into the chair. Opening the side drawer, I pulled out the old leather-bound book that stayed there every day. My pride and joy. This sketchbook had been there for me since the very beginning. 

Jazz had already told me that my client was a male and wanted a torso/chest/arm tattoo, so I started sketching some mannequins to test what the tattoos would look like. 

I was sketching for so long that I didn't hear the door open and close, or the guy that comes in and sits down in front of me.

"Hey, Strawberry Shortcake. What are you drawing so intently?" A deep voice said, scaring the shit out of me.

Of course, like an awkward deerling, I shot up out of my seat, banging my knee on the top of the desk and tripping over the chair leg. Before I could fall and hurt myself even more, a strong pair of arms reached out to grab me, cushioning the impact.

"Damn, candy floss, you aren't a very graceful creature, are you?" the voice continued. I could hear the smile in it.

"Well, fuck me then," I muttered, brushing myself off and wobbling to my feet. I looked up, staring into his eyes.

"That is something I would not mind doing," he smirked.

"You have sex with cartoon characters? Wow, I wouldn't have pegged you for that much of a freak." I countered, rolling my eyes.

His curly dark brown hair bounced as he laughed, and his eyes somehow glinted in the light, even though there was only one window in the room.

What the fuck was this sorcery?

He was hot.

I took a step back to get a good look at him. He had a pretty good build, much taller than me, with even caramel skin, hazel eyes, and gorgeous curly hair. I wanted to touch it so badly.

I scratched at my own hand in nervousness. I had never been in the presence of such a fine man before. Refer to my last statement.

He was HOT.

"Are you done checking me out, Licorice?" He asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Can you quit calling me candy names? It's annoying." I huffed crossing my arms over my chest.

"Well with hair like that you look like a stick of cotton candy."

I rolled my eyes and tugged at a curl, one of many angry habits.

"Calm down, babe" He chuckled and I gave him a deadpan stare, "I'm just kidding. You must be Sage, the girl I'm supposed to meet to discuss my tattoo? If I have the wrong office I can go."

Oh, God.

"You're the one I'm supposed to consult?" I gaped in disbelief, mostly to myself.

"If you're Sage, then yeah, that's what I was told."

I cursed inwardly, rubbing my hands over my face. What did I even do to deserve this torture?

While I was debating whether I should run and hide, or put in my two weeks' notice, the guy seemed to be nervous. His eyes roamed the room as he played with a pen on my desk.

I took a deep breath and decided to start again, "Yeah, I'm Sage."

He smiled and finally sat down across from me.

 "I think we might have gotten off on the wrong foot, can we start over?" I asked tentatively. 

"Sure, Strawberry Pop-Tart." He grabbed my hand and shook it with a lopsided grin. The shiver that went down my spine almost knocked me off my feet.

"You aren't gonna quit doing that are you?"

"Nope. Not in the slightest."

I sighed and rubbed my temples. Today was going to be a long day. 

He was still hot though.