Every Second Counts

by Arya Grey

  "Triumph," he said, flipping another pancake. "Triumph over what's happened. To show that the beast does not control me; instead I spill its guts for all to see."

  "That's…" Tears filled Faye's eyes and she wiped them away before Brody could see. "I love when the work means so much more to the wearer than just another awesome tattoo. It's beautiful. Jackson's done a great job."

  "You hire great artists, I have to agree." He filled the empty plate next to her and sat down. "I've booked another session, after the case closes."

  "Good. Closure is a great thing." Faye turned to see that Brody was just staring at his food, not eating it. She placed her hand over his and squeezed. "Things are going to be okay, you know that, right? It will go great. That asshole will rot in the prison cells for the rest of his wasteful life, don't you worry. I've seen plenty of others go down for a lot less."

  "I wish they'd let me get my hands on him," he said. "Or even say my piece to him."

  "Then do that. At court, do just that. He'll be there, right?"

  Brody nodded. His jaw was clenched so tight that his heartbeat became visible in the veins that ran up his neck.

  "The Judge can't stop you from saying what you need to say. It's your right as a human being to voice your opinion."

  "You're right. What's there to stop me?" he asked.

  "Nothing," Faye said back. "Nothing at all."

  Chapter Five

  Two weeks had passed quicker than a flash. Faye couldn't recall the last time the working week didn't feel as though it were dragging on forever, or the last time she smiled at the mere thought of another person. She'd sort of assumed she would be alone forever, maybe even become the crazy cat lady down the street.

  "Today's the day, right?" Raven asked from behind.

  Faye jumped, and the blue sketch pencil flew from her hand. She'd been stooped over her drawing table but was well and truly lost in her own world. "Fucking hell, Raven. A little warning to let me know you're there next time, yeah? And yes, today's the day," she said.

  Raven had thrown her long black hair into a messy ponytail that bounced from her crown as she moved. She threw her thin frame into the client chair in Faye's station. "How's he holding up?" she asked.

  "Good, considering. I'm not sure how he does it—keeping it together. I would be a complete wreck."

  "What do you mean would? You are a complete wreck. You've been staring at that wall for hours. Do you need anything, Lux? Anything at all?"

  "No, I'm fine. Brody and his sister will be here soon, anyway."

  Raven's eyes rounded and her lips twisted beneath her teeth.

  Faye knew what she was dying to say, but obviously felt as if she couldn't, given the circumstances. "Yes, Brody has a sister. No, I don't know what team she bats for."

  "Who said I wanted to know?"

  "I know you too well. It's written all over your face."

  "Shut up, Lux," Raven said and presented her middle finger.

  "I'm just sayin'. Besides, anything's got to be better than pining over Asta."

  "I haven't pined. I never pine."

  "You pined a little." Faye smiled and watched Raven shift uncomfortably in her seat.

  "I fucking loved her," she said, finally. "I was willing to give her everything, but she didn't want that. I wasn't enough for her."

  "I know, honey. It can't be easy seeing her every day, either." Asta worked at Vintage Ink. Faye hired her on the recommendation from Jackson. Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, she was an incredible talent who attracted customers from all over. "You know I can't let her go and I did warn you."

  "Yeah, I know. Bitch is good at her job, I'll give her that." Raven smirked.

  "And there she is, the Raven we all know and love." Jackson appeared around the corner, twirling the ends of his moustache between his fingertips.

  "It's not Movember, you know." Raven wrinkled her nose at him. "That thing looks ridiculous."

  "Don't knock the 'tache. The girls love it," Jackson said. He stepped in front of the hanging mirror just above the water tank.

  "Hipster girls with hair resembling Robert Smith's. You can keep 'em, thanks."

  The bell attached to the door rang and Faye jumped out of her chair. She pushed past Jackson, leaving the two of them to continue their bickering.

  Brody was just sliding his sunglasses over his head when Faye turned into the main area. "Hey, babe. You ready?" he asked.

  "Yeah, let me just grab my purse." Faye walked behind the reception desk, dropped her pencil in the plastic holder, and swung her bag across her shoulder.

  The bell rang again and a short, blonde girl walked in. She wore giant sunglasses, reminiscent of something someone’s grandmother would wear, tight black jeans, and a gray tee that read Love Will Tear Us Apart in bold black letters. When she removed the glasses, Faye noticed that her eyes were the very same shade as Brody's.

  "Faye, this is Elisabeth. My sister," Brody said.

  Faye held her hand out.

  Elisabeth shook her head and pulled her in for a hug. "It's so nice to finally meet you. Brody doesn't shut up about how wonderful you are."

  "Thanks, Sissy."

  "You too," Faye said. She sighed in relief, thankful that his sister was nice and not some raging bitch who was ready to grill on behalf of her dear brother.

  "Who's that?" Elisabeth asked.

  Faye turned to see that she was looking in at her station. "Jackson?" Faye asked.

  "No. The girl."

  Well, I'll be damned! "That's Raven, our piercer."

  "She's so…" For a moment Elisabeth just stared, her head slightly cocked to the side.

  "Come on, Sissy. We don't have much time. You can drool over her later." Brody seemed agitated. His fists were clenched and the muscles in his neck were so tense you could see his veins straining.

  Faye took his hand in hers and squeezed tight. "It's okay, babe. I'm here."

  ****

  The courthouse was not far from the shop. With the strong summer sun blaring through the windows, Faye just wanted to be in the next strongly air conditioned building as soon as possible.

  When they got there, Faye was told she could not go inside, because she didn't know the deceased. Brody tried to fight the officers with a slur of words and quotes from the law, but they wouldn't listen.

  Faye took his hand and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek. "It's okay, baby. I'll be right here, that's all you need to know. That I'm just here."

  He grudgingly accepted and pulled her into his chest, pushing all the air from her lungs. She gripped him tightly, and without even a glance back he turned from her and went into the room, Elisabeth close behind. The two police officers at the door closed it behind them and ordered Faye to sit down, if she insisted on staying.

  "Insist…I mean really." Faye huffed her dissatisfaction at their general attitude. She assumed it had something to do with her multi-pierced face and body full of tattoos. It was something she'd grown accustomed to in good ol' Arizona, though.

  She couldn't be sure how long she sat for. An hour, maybe two? Thankfully she had a book in her purse that she'd only just started. She got to page two hundred and five when the door burst open. Brody stood on the other side, a face of no expression. Faye's heart sank, expecting the worst. Oh no. Oh shit…

  "Shit, baby…" She stepped up to him, and suddenly he smiled. A true, broad smile.

  He scooped Faye up in a bear hug and squeezed. "You were right," he whispered in her ear. "I told him exactly how I felt, just before they served him with two life sentences, without parole."

  "Really?" Faye asked. "Holy shit, that's great news!"

  "It's the best possible news." He dropped her and with his hand pressed at the back of her head, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

  "Shall we celebrate?" Elisabeth asked.

  "Yeah. Why not? There's plenty to celebrate."

  "I love you, you know that?" Brody took her hand.

  "What?" Faye's hear
t felt like it stopped beating altogether. "What did you just say?"

  "I said I fucking love you."

  "I love you, too," Faye said. She knew that any stranger looking in at them would think it too soon, but deep down Faye knew that her love for Brody would know no limits. Already she would do just about anything to see a smile on his face.

  "Always?" he asked.

  "Always..."

  Faye was excited about what her life had in store for her, and for the first time it didn't involve work. Brody had asked her to be involved in the most intimate part of his life, and although she couldn't be there in front of his very eyes, she knew she'd helped in some way. The warm trickle that slowly spread throughout her in that moment was what she'd longed for, all along. Love. Suddenly the ten years of waiting had seemed so very worth it.

  The End

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  Other Books by Arya Grey:

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