Breaking the Limits

by Nichole, Stephanie

  “Of course, it’ll be good to have him back,” I tell them while getting up and heading toward the fridge.

  “That’s for damn sure. Lord knows we could use the extra set of hands,” Bowie comments. Axell shoots him a look of warning but not before I catch it.

  I reach in and grab the yellow box for Kynlee. I knew they were shorthanded at the shop, but I didn’t realize they needed help that badly. Turning around I told them, “I didn’t realize you guys still needed help. I’ll start coming by when I’m off to help out.”

  Axell stands up and grips my shoulder. “No, you will not. You have more than enough on your plate with Inkredible. We will manage at the shop, you work more than enough as is.”

  About eight months ago I had opened my own tattoo and piercing shop. Axell was right, it kept me busy but not too busy to help them out. I knew better than to have this debate now so I just nod and say good night. It was close enough to midnight and I wanted to be at home with Kynlee by that time.

  I head out the door and make the drive back to my apartment. Once I’m back inside, I grab some yellow candles from where I stashed them in the junk drawer in the kitchen last week. Placing them on top of a croissant I make my way back to our bedroom. A lot has changed over the last year. Kenndrix and Jaxx moved in together, Kynlee had gotten her own little studio, but it wasn’t in the best part of town. She more or less lives with me at this point. More of her belongings are here than at her place anyways. I climb into bed with the plate of croissants and wait for midnight.

  As I sit there I watch her as she sleeps. I never would have thought I could fall in love, but I had. Kynlee has tested me and pushed me. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She saw something in me that no one else did. If I had any doubt about her feelings for me in the past I was proven wrong when my dad passed away.

  Dad had suffered from a smoker’s cough for years, thanks to his years of smoking at least a pack a day. After losing mom that pack sometimes became two. However, the cough got worse over the last couple of years as well as his health. Dad would spend more time sleeping than working, an odd thing for him. By the time we finally convinced him to get his ass to the doctor, he had stage four lung cancer. He had bypassed the chemo treatments considering they couldn’t save his life. I think his was ready to join my mom but losing him had sent me into a tail spin. I said and did horrible things to Kynlee but she fought for me. She fought hard enough for the both of us and we were stronger now because of it. I loved her so much even if we never said the words we knew we loved one another.

  Looking down I saw that it was midnight, officially Kynlee’s birthday. I light the candles and lean forward, pressing a kiss to her cheek. I watch her stir then I whisper in her ear. “Happy birthday Angel.” I watch as one of her brown eyes becomes visible. I sit the plate between us on the bed. “You better make your wish before the candle burns out.” Kynlee sits up looking confused for a moment but then she bends forward and blows out the candles.

  “Are those chocolate filled croissants?”

  “Of course, they are, they’re your favorite. Happy birthday,” I tell her again.

  She grabs a croissant and takes a huge bite, making a sexy little noise with it. “I can’t believe you went to Sweet Tooth. I would have paid to see that.”

  “Anything for you, but I’m pretty sure the girl behind the counter thought I was going to rob her. I’ve never seen anyone’s eyes get so large.”

  Sweet Tooth was a fancy little place with a bunch of French desserts on their menu. When I had went running inside minutes before closing with all of my tattoos and the few piercings I had added over the last year, I’m sure I scared the worker. I wasn’t their normal customer.

  Kynlee smiles at me before crawling over to my side of the bed and straddling my lap. She grabs a croissant and holds it in front of my mouth. I take a bite. “See why they’re my favorites?”

  I shake my head then lean forward and kiss her neck, “No, but I know you’re my favorite.”

  ****

  Kynlee

  The next morning, I wake up in my favorite position, curled up next to Ace. My head rising and falling with his chest, his soft snores filling the room, one of his hands tangled into my hair, the other holding my hand thrown across his abs, this was my favorite. Last night had been a great way to start my birthday, waking up like this was just icing on the cake.

  I study Ace while he sleeps. It was the only time I can stare at him without it leading to some heated make out session or sex. He looks so much younger when he was asleep. His strong jaw relaxed instead of clenched, his hair in disarray, his cheeks flushed from the warmth inside the apartment. This Ace wasn’t guarded. Over the course of our relationship, I had grown used to seeing Ace like this but at first, I remember feeling overwhelmed.

  Ace had suffered from nightmares of his mother’s death for years. It wasn’t a nightly occurrence but, on the nights, when they those memories came back to haunt him they were rough. Every time he woke up I could see the look in his eyes, the one that expected me to pack up and run. I won’t lie there were a few times when I was so sleep deprived I considered it, but then I’d remember how much I loved him. After a few months the haunting images of Ace’s childhood visited less often and now we had made it three months without a single appearance from them.

  Ace and I had become so attuned to one another that it didn’t shock me when he stirred slightly after I woke up. I watch as he slowly opens his eyes. “Good morning sleepy head,” I tell him in a teasing tone, before I reach up to kiss his cheek, but he moves too fast and captures my face between his hands. His mouth comes over mine in an almost desperate need.

  ****

  Afterward, we lie in bed for a little while, tangled up in one another, catching our breaths. Ace clears his throat before he leans over and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Well birthday girl, why don’t you take a shower and I’ll fix us some breakfast.”

  I laugh but only because I know that Ace isn’t much of a cook. Ace cooking breakfast usually consists of pouring the cereal in a bowl and adding the milk. I watch while he pulls on a pair of PJ pants. He looks back at me and winks before leaving the bedroom. I shower quickly but find a shocking discovery once I step out of the bedroom. There is an entire plate of bacon (the only breakfast food I really like) and a large glass of chocolate milk (yes, I still drink chocolate milk and actually it’s the only beverage I drink this early) sitting on our small table. I stop and stare at him.

  He cocks his head to the side, a piece of stray hair falling across his forehead. “What?”

  “You actually cooked.”

  Ace laughs, “Baby doll I don’t know if cooking some bacon qualifies as cooking.”

  I take a seat, grabbing the glass and taking a sip of the chocolate milk before answering. “It qualifies in my book.” I look at his empty section of the table, void of all food, just a mug full of black coffee, “Aren’t you eating?”

  “Nope, you know I’m not much of a breakfast eater.”

  He stands up and stretches and I take a moment to appreciate his body. Then he reaches over and grabs a piece of bacon from my plate. “I’m going to go take a shower,” he says with a wink.

  Chapter 11

  Kynlee

  Ace went ahead and headed over to his family’s car shop, Carl’s, before heading to Inkredible. I knew he didn’t want to leave me on my birthday but his family needed his set of hands. He left reluctantly about ten minutes before a knock on the front door had me puzzled. Opening it I saw Kenndrix standing there with a box the size of Texas in her hands. “Happy birthday Kyn!” she exclaims, while walking into the apartment. She sits the box down on the couch then turns around and pulls me into a tight bear hug. “I’m so excited it’s your birthday!”

  “Well that makes one of us,” I tell her solemnly. I have to try and act happy about my birthday when Ace is around but there was no use in pretending in f
ront of Kenndrix. I didn’t have the heart to break Ace’s with my unenthusiastic reaction to my birthday, but it was hard to be excited. I’m just getting older which is nothing to be excited about and of course there is the matter of my family.

  Kenndrix releases me from the hug with a heavy sigh before turning her eyes on me. “Is it the fact that you’re getting older or the fact that your family has failed to reach out to you on this special day?”

  I stand there stunned for a minute. How the hell did she do that? I swear sometimes she’s a mind reader or witch or something! “Both. Unless that box contains Botox injections and hair dye it was a waste of money.”

  Kenndrix laughs. “Botox and hair dye? Really Kynlee? We’re not that old.”

  “You want to tell that to my sprouting gray hairs and appearing crow’s feet wrinkles,” I say, falling back onto the couch with a huff.

  Kenndrix follows me and reaches for my hand. “Look, I think I know what the problem is. You’re happy Kyn and it terrifies you. A part of you feels like you don’t deserve it and you’re waiting for it to explode-- but it’s not.”

  “Are you sure that you aren’t majoring in therapy?”

  “I’m sure,” Kenndrix replies. “I just know you. I also know that if anyone deserves some happiness without any strings attached it’s you. Look, open your present, get all dolled up and let’s go out to eat and do a little shopping before your short shift at work.”

  I lean forward and open the yellow and white polka dot wrapped present. Inside I see a ton of makeup, a pair of super blingy heels and one of the sexiest yellow dresses I have ever seen. “You like it!” Kenndrix exclaims, after studying my face, “Oh good! It’s for tonight!”

  I’m rendered speechless which is an odd occurrence for me. Kenndrix stands up, pulls me to my feet and ushers me toward the bedroom. I stand in front of the closet for a moment contemplating what to wear and where my life is headed. I’ve been in Los Angeles for almost a year and a half. In all of the time I’ve never really had much success when it comes to my modeling career. I’m still working as a waitress at Wild Wild Wes’, I really thought I’d be farther ahead by now. I share this tiny apartment with Ace, who I love more than I should, but I can’t help feeling like I am missing something.

  Finally, I decide that I need to get out of whatever funk this is. I grab a pair of skin tight black leggings and a thin white long sleeve shirt that has buttons until reaches your bellybutton. I slip on a black lace tank underneath my top. Letting my hair fall in its natural waves, I add a lot of eyeliner and mascara before grabbing my black pumps.

  When I step out of the bedroom Kenndrix attempts to let out a low whistle but fails miserably. She’s always trying to whistle but she can never get it to work. We both start laughing. “You look hot!” she tells me, as she loops her arm through mine and we head to car.

  “That makes two of us,” I tell her with a wink.

  ****

  Kenndrix and I ended up grabbing some lunch at one of my favorite restaurants before sneaking in a movie. I pull into the parking lot of work just on time for my shift. I hurry inside and clock in. As soon as I step behind the bar I notice the hard to miss bouquet of red roses and my favorites, yellow chrysanthemums. I don’t even have to look at the card to know they’re from Ace.

  Making my way over to them I pull out the card. “To my angel, happy birthday! I hope the day is as beautiful as you are. –Ace”. I lean forward and smell the flowers before slipping the card in my back pocket. I’m half way through my shift when the work crew all gathers around the end of the bar. Sasha brings out a brownie with a sparkling candle on it and they all sing happy birthday, very off key. I laugh and make a wish. When I return to the floor I’m shocked to see Enzo and some friends sitting in my section. Last, I had heard he was off becoming a big rock star. I hadn’t seen him since he quit his job here.

  I make my way over and to my surprise he jumps up from his seat and pulls me into his arms. “Kynlee it’s so good to see you and apparently I should say happy birthday. Although, I think they should have let me sing for you,” he says making a horrified face at the memory of the crew’s tone-deaf singing.

  Laughing, I slap his arm lightly. “It’s so good to see rock star. How’s life?”

  Enzo holds out his arms as if taking in a view “I’m king of the world as it seems you’ve heard? I’m the lead singer of Royal Eternity, we got signed to a major record label and we just got our shooting schedule for our first video.”

  A pang of jealous gnaws at my gut, but I plaster on my smile. “Congratulations! That’s awesome.”

  He shrugs. “Yeah, what about you? How’s the modeling?”

  “Oh, you know it’s there. I haven’t had a lot of time for it,” I say nonchalantly. After that he and the rest of the band place their orders. I’m gathering my flowers, getting ready to leave when I feel a hand on my shoulder, turning around I see Enzo standing there. “Oh, if you need anything else Jessica will get it for you. I’m about to leave, I have plans tonight.”

  Enzo plays with a petal of one of the roses. “With Ace?” I give him an eye roll because I already know how he feels about Ace, he made sure to tell me before he left to become the big rock star he thinks he is now. He shakes his head as if he was shaking a thought away. “Anyway, I wanted to give you this,” he extends his hand out with a business card in it “That’s our manger and he’s great. Plus, we could really use a hot girl for our new video and you know who I think would be perfect for it?”

  “Enzo…” I say in a warning tone.

  He holds his hands up, “It’s a job offer Kynlee, nothing else. Besides I’m very happy in my relationship right now, but I would like to help out a friend. Just think about it and if you decide you interested call Marc.”

  I nod and watch Enzo rejoin his band at the table. As I make my way to the car I can’t but feel like maybe this was the piece that I’ve been missing. Maybe this is how I can finally get my break. Maybe this is the answer I’ve been looking for. Then I remember that Ace and Enzo aren’t exactly fans of one another, how am I supposed to convince Ace this isn’t a big deal?

  ****

  Ace

  I had spent the good part of the day running around. First thing this morning I had went by Axell’s house and picked up Jovi and dropped him off at school. I couldn’t stand the idea of him riding the bus. Anytime, anyone said, “just let him ride the bus,” I’d instantly get the flashbacks of my bus trips from hell. My bus rides were never too good unless one of my brothers were on the same bus, but I didn’t usually get too lucky with that considering our age difference. So, anytime I could pick up Jovi and drop him off at school…in style might I add, I did.

  From there I went to the body shop to help out until my tattoo appointment at eleven. The body shop had been swamped and it was time to head over to Inkredible before I know it. There were no vehicles in the parking lot so I had managed to beat my client. As I unlock the door and walk in I stop to admire the shop. This shop wouldn’t have been possible without Kynlee. She had pushed me into this because she knew it was my dream. Kynlee had stayed up for hours researching the best kind of business loans to apply for then she went on to help with the applications. Once we got the building she and I spent hours fixing and decorating the building.

  Looking around now, I still felt the need to pinch myself. Admiring all our hard work as I take in my surroundings. Everything is very dark and gothic looking. We painted one of the walls with the black chalkboard paint and added a few framed black and white sketches to “show off my talent” then took chalk and added other designs. We hung some lights and added a black leather couch with a black and crimson colored rug in front. I managed to make some tables out of discarded hubcaps and Kynlee found some gothic looking candelabras that she painted black and spattered with crimson paint.

  On the other side of the shop we had split the wall, the top half was covered in black and gray designed wall
paper that met gray molding, the bottom half of the wall was painted solid black. We had found an older couch at a garage sale and reupholstered it with a crimson colored leather (well pleather actually). We had also found a couple of black chairs that looked like they had come from an old movie set and a black coffee table with a glass top. Kynlee had decided to raid the Halloween décor sales and ended up buying some black and bloody skull heads to sit around as well as a skull and cross bones that she hung above the couch then framed with some old beaten up pieces of wood that she had painted gray. The last thing we had done was hang the lights on that side.

  Overall, it was more than I could have ever imagined and it was all because of Kynlee and her confidence in me and my talent, as she liked to call it. I still can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to have someone as amazing as she is. I know that my guardian angel had to pull over time to work that miracle in. Heading down the hallway to the main room I used for tattooing I get set up for Connor Hart. Connor was a guy we had grown up with, he had lived a few blocks over from us. He had become like part of our family; his own family didn’t have much, so my mom always made sure to send extra food home with him.

  Now, Connor had managed to get a small rundown apartment in a pretty sketchy neighborhood, but he worked his ass off. He helped out at the shop in his free time in exchange for discounted or free parts for his car. Connor always raced with us but his wins aren’t guaranteed and I hate that for him. He had been talking about getting sleeve tattoos for years so I had come up with the excuse that I needed practice and asked him to be my guinea pig. Connor was reluctant at first, but eventually, he agreed. He had been seeing Farrah Parrish for a while now, who came from one of the wealthiest families in town. She was a full of life, vivacious blonde who was hell bent on living her life on her own terms and not her parents. She was great for Connor.