Sweet Beginnings (Damien Haas)

Chapter Eighteen:

Sweat poured down my forehead, hands rested on my hips as I struggled to catch my breath. Making a mental note to start working out more than two nights a week, and to not ask Shayne to help coach me through a run... Or well any workout really. Glancing down at the fitbit on my wrist, my eyes widened as I took notice of the length of the run before quickly looking up at Shayne. My friend was also struggling to catch a breath, but was not breathing anywhere as heavy as I was.

"Dude... a little warning next time?" I finally managed to struggle out. Using the back of my hand to wipe off most of the sweat from my forehead before it managed to leak into my eyes.

"Hey, you should have known what you were in for when you asked me for help." Shayne teased, a grin spreading his lips.

I couldn't help but to roll my eyes before flashing my friend a smile. Knowing full well what I signed up for, yet a small part of me was hoping he'd take it easy on me. Clearly I was dreaming. It did feel nice to try to make more time to work on myself. I knew full well I had to start some sort of schedule for this, pushing it off only made it worse.

"What're you up to today?" Shayne asked, lifting his leg to stretch, using his arms to pull his knee towards his body.

"Uh... Damien's calling in a bit I think" I said with a glance down at my watch. "And i have an appointment later..."

Shayne raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, "An appointment? Everything ok?" He asked, a tone of concern to his voice.

"Yep, never better. It's for a new tattoo. I figure I mind as well get it while Damien's away and I have time to." Brushing my bangs back away from my face.

Shayne opened his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by his phone starting to ring. Holding a finger up for me to wait before he looked down at the id and grinned before accepting the call and putting the phone to his ear.

"Speak of the devil. We were just talking about you man." He said.

Realizing who he was talking to, a small smile grew on my lips. Not able to hear what Damien was saying, I took a step away to let the pair talk. Pulling my own phone from my pocket of my leggings. Checking through the notifications, replying to a couple of texts. Looking at the time on the top of the screen, eyes widen slightly. Looking up at Shayne who was talking animatedly with his friend. Waving my hand slightly to capture his attention. Once I finally managed to I pointed at my watch then towards my jeep while mouthing that I had to go.

He pulled the phone from his ear and nodded. "Same time tomorrow?"

Groaning internally before nodding. "Tell Damien if I don't answer I'm either driving or showering."

Nodding his head as he waved before turning around again. Somehow managing to get back to my apartment without getting lost since I was in a part of the city I had never been before. Rushing through a shower and changing into a pair of skinny jeans, a black sports bra and throwing a hoodie on. Checking my phone before walking out of my apartment, noticing a message from Damien telling me to call him when I got a chance. Quickly typing a reply as I walked towards my jeep.

Damien was nearing the end of his trip, and while I missed him, I was pretty happy for the time to myself. And of course with the free time I had between a lighter workload, boyfriend on vacation, figured it would be the perfect time for another tattoo. The last one I got, the wolf dream catcher on my thigh, was about halfway through college. Today's work wasn't the biggest, just a quote that got me through a lot of choices, especially the one where I upped and moved across the country.

A half hour later and I was seated in a reclining chair, my arm stretched out on an arm rest, an tattoo artist just starting to outline the quote onto the inner bicep of my left arm.Spending the first couple of minutes watching the man work before letting my head fall back against the headrest. Wincing a few times as the needles etched the ink into my skin. But soon the stinging sensation faded and my thoughts drifted off. Making a mental note that I still needed to book my plane ticket home for christmas, on top of all the shopping that I needed to do. Also reminding myself that I haven't even put in that I'd need the days around christmas off so I could go home to be with my family.