Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 62737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“Honey, you don’t have to thank me. There’s no place I’d rather be.” I kiss the top of her head. She pulls back, sends me a slight nod, and returns to her schoolwork. I grab my tray and look around the bar, only to find I’m being summoned at the other end. There’s always someone who needs a drink, and that’s why they’re here at The Social.
I get lost in work, going from one patron to the other, hustling back and forth, along with a new wave of customers that walked in, so I nearly miss Jude when I wrap things up.
He’s sitting with Rory, and he’s not the only one. Zane is right there with them, and I can tell from a mile away that the two of them are scheming a plan, one I’m sure will be against me. Jude’s been battling leaving me at the bar while he takes Rory home. It means I’m walking out in the dark, and he does not like that. Never mind I’ve been doing it for ten plus years on my own before Jude entered my life. Plus, leaving Rory at the house by herself at two or three o’clock in the morning is absolutely out of the question. I don’t care that Jude has the most top-of-the-line security system, I’d hate for Rory to ever wake up alone and be scared.
“Rory, how do you feel about working at the tattoo shop a few days a week?” Zane sks when I walk up to the table. I look from her to Jude to Zane, worried how this is going to play out.
“Um, I’ve never had a job before, and I don’t know a lot about tattoos, except that Jude is covered with them,” Rory replies.
“Zane,” Jude goes to interject. I’m about to shut him down, too, not my brother but Rory’s. This could be a really good deal for her, and it’ll help gain some independence every teenager needs.
“What? She may as well work. She’s here almost as much as Veronica.” My brother only uses my full name when he’s pulling out the big guns in order to get his way.
“I’ll do it,” Rory pipes up, a look of excitement on her face.
“Are you sure?” Jude asks the table. His arm bands around my lower back, pulling me into the comfort of his body.
“Yes, but maybe only a couple of days a week. The classes I’m taking are trying to suck the life out of me.” The girl is school oriented, has high hopes for her future, and has talked about going to college to become a doctor.
“That works. You can study in between calls or whatever. It’d be nice not to be interrupted every hour about an appointment or a walk-in needing this or that.” Zane looks like he’s ready to pump his fists in excitement. Meanwhile, Jude has a nervous energy about him. I watch as he tosses back a handful of candy before placing the bag on the table, and Rory snatches it away to steal some. The drawer in the kitchen has become a basket in the pantry where it stays filled to the brim. "What do you know about tattoos?” comes from my bother.
“Not much. I know that Jude has a Fox on his heart he got at the rock festival he went to.” Then Rory proceeds to tell my brother a truth I’ve yet to tell Zane or Jude. She noticed my ink when we went swimming recently and asked all the things. I’m not one to lie, so I told her the truth. “Rory got one, too. It’s of the moon phase the night she and Jude started talking and has their birth month flowers, too.” Jude’s leg stops bouncing, and when I look over my shoulder, there’s a look on his face I’m all too familiar with.
“Motherfucker, you didn’t?” Zane tries to capture our attention, mine or Jude’s, but who really knows or cares. My gaze is locked on the man I love. While his ink is more of the obvious type, mine is understated.
“Shut up, Bungholio. It’s my body. I don’t have to always go to you or your artists,” I snap at him when I realize I need to diffuse the situation. “Plus, do you honestly think Jude would ever let anything happen to me?” Zane closes his mouth. In doing so, his eye starts twitching. Jesus, he’s such a pain in my ass. I swear I don’t know which guy in my life is worse when it comes to their protective instincts, Jude or Zane. Dad tries to act big and bad, but he’s really just a big ole teddy bear these days.
“Fine. I still don’t like it, but I’m sorry for being a jerk.” Oh, that really did hurt him to admit.