Page 14 of Midnight Ink

“Thanks.” I clear my throat and grab a clean wrap to cover his back. I don’t bother with the aftercare speech, Jamie knows it by heart, but as he goes to make another appointment with Anna I pull Noah aside. “Do you work tomorrow?”

Noah’s big green eyes blink up at me behind his glasses. “No, we’re here for a few days so he can heal a bit before we drive.”

“Good. I’m not going to sugarcoat anything. Tomorrow is going to suck. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t crash when you both get back to the house. He needs to sleep and rest.” Noah nods. “Just be patient. Help him with the healing lotion. That’s going to hurt. A lot. Be gentle. Even if he’s a dick.”

“I know how to handle his dick. I mean—” Noah grins. “How to handle him when he’s a dick.”

Oh, Noah.

“Thanks for the book, Noah.” Julian holds it up.

“Take good care of her!” Noah gives Anna a big hug then goes over and gives a big one to Julian.

“Thanks, man.” Jamie gives me a careful hug.

“Take it easy tomorrow, alright.” Jamie nods sleepily. I know the adrenaline is probably already fading fast. Jamie grabs me in for another hug and attempts to shove money into my pocket. He’s pushy, so I give in and take the money, knowing I’ll use it to feed him when he comes up to do the mural next month.

I think he’s going to hug me again but instead he leans in.

“He looks at you when you aren’t looking.”

Before I can ask what the fuck he’s talking about, Jamie is joined by Noah, who carefully puts his arm around his waist.

What the hell was that about?

Jamie leaves and I try to shake the words from my mind. There’s nothing there between us. So what if I’ve noticed how toned Julian’s arms are, or how sometimes, when he leans over his station, I admire the way his jeans fit his ass. Or how there’s a tightness that grows in my chest when Elijah comes in for tattoos and leaves with Julian after he’s done working.

The door opens again and it’s like my thoughts have summoned him.

Julian looks up, confused, then smiles when he sees Elijah walk over to his station. Stupid Elijah. I don’t know much about him but they’ve been friends for a bit now. Elijah’s a Korean man who’s an EMT about an hour from here. He’s transferring hospitals and is moving here in the next couple of months, but for now he’s still going between his old place and his new job and apartment here.

He’s nice enough. Handsome. Stupidly handsome. Julian’s been working on a sleeve for him.

Working on some other shit too that is absolutely not making me jealous.

“Hey, Ian.” Elijah gives me a small wave.

“Hi.” I clean up my station and ignore their conversation, but I feel eyes on me and look over to see Anna glaring at me. Because I am a mature adult, I do the right thing.

I flip her off.

She bites the air with a manic smile. Our phone trills, splitting the air, and Anna spins around in her chair like a tilt-a-whirl. “Are you going to get that?”

“Get what?”

“Anna. The phone. Now!”

“You know I don’t like talking on the phone, Ian.”

“It’s literally your one job. Answer it.” With an exaggerated sigh that I swear rattles the shop, she picks up the phone, glaring at me as she speaks to the poor soul on the other end.

“Hey.” I look up at Julian’s voice. “Do you mind if I head out? I don’t have any more appointments.”

“Uh, yeah. Whatever.” My smile feels too tight, my voice too high. I just want to close up and not talk to anyone.

“See you tomorrow.” Julian’s soft eyes land on mine.

“Yeah, see ya.”