by Piper Frost
"Hell yes I am," he boasts. "Turned twenty-one last month."
"Look at you. Ready to party." I clap my hand at the back of his head while we walk down the stairs. "Let me get a shirt. You meet Tommy yet?"
"Yeah. We just got back from running to town." He laughs. "Is that small town all you guys have here, really?"
"Yeah." I chuckle. "Need a good imagination living in a town like this. City's only an hour away, but you're from the city. We're going to kick it country style. Hang tight." As I head down the hall toward the room I stay in, Affton steps into my path and I almost drop to the ground because she's launching grenades from her gaze.
"Grant," she says my name like it's disgusting.
"Affton." I smile happily.
"What are you doing?"
"Stealing your husband to take Carter's little brother sightseeing."
Her arms cross over her chest. "Sightseeing? You don't even sightsee in cities you've never been. What the hell are you doing?"
"What I want." I shrug with no care. "What I need to. Until I come up with a better idea."
"What idea? What are you trying to pull?" She walks toward me and I dodge around her because she looks like she wants to strangle me.
"I'm not trying to pull anything except Tommy's dick. Can he come with us?" I pout out my lip.
"You're a head case," she mumbles.
"That's the truth." I plant a kiss on the side of her head.
"I don't think you should be doing this, Grant. Whatever you're doing. Don't."
"I'm not doing anything." I chuckle and text Tommy that I have an emergency. All that really is is for him to calm his wife down so I can get Carter's little brother out of here. He comes to save the day not even a minute later and before he walks away, I grab his arm. "You're comin' with us." Making a beeline for the front door, I snap. "Parker, let's go fuck some shit up!"
"Yeah! I figured I'd be listening to my sister whine and cry all night. This is so much better!" He hops into the backseat.
"I feel like this is a bad idea, but I'm going along with it anyway," Tommy says, laughing.
"You're almost as dumb as me," I mutter and look out the side window but what Parker said keeps eating at me. Turning back to look at him I ask, "What do you mean? What's she whining and crying about?"
"Just life in general. Some guy, I don't know. I love my sister but I don't get girl emotions." He shakes his head, his hair falling down to his eyes and he swipes it back. That's some fucking boy band shit right there.
"Me either." I sit forward then slap Tommy in the chest. "This guy does. He's in tune with his emotions. I'm fucking clueless." My eyes drift out the window again.
"You could say that again," he mumbles.
"But we're not saying it again. We're going to take Parker to the shop. You got any tattoos?" I turn to look at him again.
"Nope, but I feel like I'm getting one tonight!" He laughs.
"Grant," Tommy warns. "You sure about this?"
"Have I ever been unsure about anything?" I chuckle.
He side-eyes me and shakes his head, cursing. "Is that a joke?" He glances back at Parker. "All you have to do is tell him no, kid."
"Hey, I'm down for whatever tonight. It's been a while since I let loose. Granted, it's a bit weird letting loose with two very cowboy...ish guys like you. But I think I like y'all. Did I say it right? Yawl. Yallll."
"Dude." I chuckle and look back at him. "Stick to the valley talk, okay? Start thinking what you're getting tattooed. Nothing that'll piss your sister off too bad." I smirk, thinking about my tattoo Tommy very likely won't put on my body so hopefully Chase will. I hope he doesn't act like a bitch.
"I thought we were getting drinks?" Parker asks, pulling out his phone. "Who does these tattoos anyway? The guy any good?" He grimaces. "I mean, that town was pretty small."
"Just Tommy's Uncle Buck, twice removed. No teeth and missing a few fingers, but he's good. Don't stare at his eye patch. He gets offended."
Tommy barks out a laugh and shoves me. "Fuck you, Grant. We both work there. I did most the shit this guy's got. I've been tattooing and piercing for longer than you've been out of elementary school. Probably longer than that." He laughs. "We got you covered."
Chatty Cathy's got a lot to say. He's an excited kid exploring the backwoods and he loves it. I, on the other hand, am starting to get nervous as we pull into the parking lot. This is the first time I regret talking a big game, even if I'm the only one that knows what I plan on getting tattooed, but I talked it up to myself so much I'd be a real loser not to do it. Or I could change my mind 'cause they don't even know, but I'm not a pussy. Mental pep talk.
When we walk through the door, Chase looks up from a magazine and his eyes lock on Parker.
"Dude, this is Carter's little brother. Parker." I smirk while Chase looks him over.
The kid's got on flip flops and board shorts.
Chase's eyebrows raise and a small chuckle comes out of him. "Chase Haring. Owner and friend to these two losers." He shakes Parker's hand. "Nice to meet you. Your sister's got an appointment here tomorrow actually."
"She does?" I spin around to face him. "For a tattoo?"
"A cover up." He shrugs. "What're you guys here for?"
The only thing she'd cover up is that plane...right over my name. I rub the back of my neck a minute, really fucking pissed at how that makes me feel.
"Parker here doesn't have any tattoos. Let's devirginize him. What'd you come up with?" I ask the kid.
"Uh," he stammers, then pulls his phone out. "That?"
A surfboard. The kid picked a surfboard.
I look from the picture to him a few times then nod. "Good enough for me if you like it." I clap him on the back. "Tommy, you want to take him?"
"Yep." Tommy nods toward his station. They start discussing where Parker's tattoo is going, right on the back of his calf, and from the look on Parker's face he's scared shitless.
"How bad's it hurt?" he asks Tommy with a nervous chuckle.
"Can't even feel it." Tommy says with a laugh and Parker nods with wide eyes.
Poor kid. I probably shouldn't be subjecting Carter's kid brother to this shit, but it's not every day you can say you drove to the south to move your sister back to Cali and ended up spending a wild night with two of this county's coolest people. Which, the whole moving her back part, he's not doing. Over my dead fucking body.
I look at Chase and he's staring at me, knowing I've got something stupid in my head. I figured he'd be more likely to shut his mouth and give me the tattoo I want over Tommy. Walking him into his station, I close the curtain then grab his sketchpad and draw it up.
"This size. Don't change a fucking thing about it."
"Seriously?" He chuckles then drops the pad and looks at me. "Grant—" he starts but I cut him off.
"Give me the fucking tattoo." I wipe the sweat beads from my forehead.
He glances down at the paper, studying the very simple line design of it all, and eventually shakes his head, letting out a curse. "Where you want it?" For Chase to sound like he knows he's aiding in someone's funeral is big, but the fact that he's still doing it is bigger. Tommy wouldn't have done this shit, I know it for a fact now after seeing Chase's reaction to it.
I think for a minute. I get the stupidest ideas spur of the moment and this is one of them. Placement will be tricky 'cause I'm not working with much room. I wince thinking about the first open spot that came to mind. Clearing my throat as I start to get nervous of his response, I slowly pull my shirt off. Staring him in the eyes, I watch as he looks all around my chest.
"There's only one open spot," I huff while he tries to find anywhere but over my heart to place this tattoo. "Just fucking do it," I grumble and plop into his chair.
He stands here dumbfounded, clutching the drawing in his hand for what feels like a damn lifetime. After letting out a small chuckle and a brief shake of his head, he finishes getting everything ready, making me sweat in th
e chair.
"And you're absolutely sure about this?" His tone is more the tone I expect from Chase when we're out together and he's not in work mode.
No.
"Yes, I'm fucking sure." I snicker at him. "Let's get a move on." I twist, trying to see into Tommy's space but the curtain's closed. I don't want them to see this. Especially not Parker.
"Alright, man, here we go." Chase's machine turns on and he gets to work, not bothering to make small talk with me. Chase knows more than I probably think he does. The man sees and hears everything in this damn town, so I respect his silence tonight. The tattoo itself doesn't take very long, and when he's done he cleans it off and pulls back from my chair. "Done," he says, staring at it. "Don't match much of anything else you've got on you, Grant." He laughs.
I jump from the chair and quickly lube then cover it. "Don't fuckin' worry about it." I don't know why I'm pissed at him. He only did what I fucking asked him to do.
Jesus, what's wrong with me?
I grab his hand and bump my shoulder with his before handing over a hundred dollar bill. "That's for your silence. I'm not paying for the tattoo."
He pockets the money with a shake of his head. "I'm not about to say shit to anyone, you know me asshole. I will tell you, however, that right there may not go over as good as you think it will. She's filling in the plane tomorrow."
"If you do that cover-up I'll burn this shop to the ground," I promise before walking out and into Tommy's room. "How's it going?" I whip out my phone and aim it at Parker.
"He keeps telling me he's almost done," Parker says then winces. "But he just keeps going!"
"Sit still and I'd be done faster," Tommy grumbles.
"It hurts!" Parker whines and Tommy laughs as he gets back to work.
"Stop crying." I lean forward to see the tattoo on his calf. "He's adding the pussy lips to the beaver. He's almost done." I stop filming and hit send, shooting the video to Carter.
"What? Beaver what?" Parker blurts, shifting to turn and look, causing Tommy to momentarily lose his shit.
"Sit! Still!" he yells, scaring Parker back down to his spot. "Fuck, Grant," Tommy huffs then does the few final swipes he needs to finish.
I laugh and leave the room, sitting on the chair and waiting for a response from Carter. I don't get one until we head to Willies. Somehow I've managed to get by without either of them asking me what I got tattooed and I hope it stays that way.
Handing Parker another beer, I glance down at my phone when it dings.
CARTER: I. Can. Not. Fucking. Believe. You. GET HIM THE FUCK BACK HERE GRANT!
I smirk, thinking over my response. I shouldn't respond, but I can't resist.
GRANT: Your brother's okay. Send me a pic of your tits.
"Hey, dude, I gotta tell you something." I start counting how many beers Parker's polished off, then the shot glasses. He holds his alcohol well. He's taken down at least four shots and three beers.
"That you're happy you're my new best friend?" He nods slowly. "Me too, bro. Me too." The music starts playing something twangy and he cringes. "Dude! No! Fucking country, boots and shit," he starts murmuring and Tommy snickers next to him then glances at me.
"You about done ruining her little brother?"
"I'm not sure how this is ruining him." I look at my phone but there's no response from Carter. I don't actually expect a tit pic but I'd just like an uptight response from her. "Parker, who's your sister dating?" I probably could have asked Tommy.
"Some guy," he huffs. "She's hung up on some other guy and keeps telling me..." He clears his throat and the noise that comes out when he starts talking is about three octaves higher than it should be. "I need out of this place so I can move on with my life." He scoffs and shakes his head. "She's too serious if you ask me. Let loose, you know?" He brings his empty beer bottle to his lips.
I smirk and glance at my phone again before looking at Tommy. "You know who she's dating?"
"Eric's the guy's name." Parker blurts finally. "I don't see it lasting. She's moving in with him but they've only seen each other a couple times."
"Grant," Tommy warns. "Maybe we should head home. He's pretty far gone."
"The kid's fine," I shut Tommy up. "Can't believe she settled on that douche. And of course it won't fucking last. She's in love with me." I lift my warm beer.
"You?" Parker laughs. "She's in love with you?" He looks me over. "Oh shit..." He laughs harder this time. "You're the....oh god, what'd she call you?" He pinches his eyebrows together. "Cunt waffle! You're the cunt waffle!" He cackles and Tommy follows suit.
"That he is, isn't he?" Tommy says, laughing.
My phone beeps and I ignore them for a minute.
CARTER: Grant please don't fuck with him tonight. He's young and naive. Just get him back here, we have lots of shit to do before he leaves with all my belongings in two days.
I snicker at her response and blacken my screen, pushing my phone forward.
"Yeah, I'm a cunt waffle," I mumble staring at my phone. "But you're gonna help me with that." I sit forward and finish my one and only beer.
I am such a cunt waffle.
***
When we got back to Tommy's I pulled out the tequila and Parker was knocked out on the living room floor before the bottle was even gone. The fact he'll be hungover today means Carter will need someone else's help.
I'm fully capable of helping.
Heading up the steps, I knock on the side of the stairs and wait until Parker's disheveled appearance greets me at the top before I walk the rest of the way up.
"Dude," he moans. "Don't make so much noise." He shoves his boy band hair out of his face and groans, shuffling back to the couch and falling face first to it with a thud.
"Dude, I told you not to drink so much," I scold him, glancing around for Carter. Luckily his response is muffled by the couch. Seeing movement around the corner, I jump over a few boxes. "Kids," I huff shaking my head. "I told him not to drink so much 'cause he had to help you out." I glance around the corner toward Parker. "I guess I can help out a little." I look at her as she wipes the bare countertop down, not looking at me. I want to pull those tight shorts out of her tight ass then shove something else up it.
"I have a hard time believing you, Grant." She huffs, throwing the towel down to the counter and turning her glare on me. That sexy as fuck mix that twirled in her eyes back when she first met me is back with a vengeance. "I don't need your help, I think you've done enough damage."
"Don't be so uptight, Carter Dawn." I move toward her and she moves away. With a chuckle I back off. "Just take all the boxes to the moving truck?" I lift one.
She glares at me a moment before sighing and rolling her eyes and tossing me the keys. "Yeah. Thanks." She turns to continue packing and cleaning and trying her best to ignore me.
I couldn't decide if I wanted to sit around Tommy's all day to make sure she didn't leave or if I wanted to sit at the shop for when she showed up. I figured sitting here was the best bet so I could stop her from leaving. If she actually made it to the shop, there's a good chance she could go through with covering me up. Don't get me wrong, I hated the fucking tattoo when I first saw it. Getting anyone's name tattooed on you is fucking stupid. But it grew on me.
We move in sync and I try to stay out of her way. She eventually puts on music and when she sways her hips to the music, I stop to watch. When she notices me I grin.
"Don't stop," I encourage.
"Sorry," she murmurs, letting out a heavy sigh. "Parker!" she barks and he groans something unintelligible from the couch. Her eyes pin me. "You did this." She points at him.
I gasp and look at the kid. I feel guilty but I had to make sure he was down for the count today. "You can't blame me for everything, baby." I smirk and pick up one of the last few boxes.
"You're right about that," she whispers. "But for that, I definitely can. My brother isn't a big drinker."
"Maybe he ate something bad. Country food ain't s
ittin' right with his city stomach." I shrug and head down the stairs. Whistling, I head back into the house and Carter's talking to Tommy with her purse in her hand. Rushing to her side, I almost trip on my boots. "Where you going?" I blurt so loud she jumps.
"Out," she says with a slight tremble in her voice. "I was just asking Tommy to check in on Parker."
"Ready?" Affton asks her, coming down the hall.
"I'm ready." I grab Carter's purse. "Where we going?" I head for the door.
Affton looks from me to Carter.
"Grant, I need some help out back. Affton can take her," Tommy says, arms crossed in front of him.
"I can take both of them. Where we going? Town for groceries? For dinner? I'm hungry."
"Grant, please, this is kind of a girls trip." Carter tries to shake off the nerves I can see fucking rolling off her.
"Just let them go, man." Tommy shakes his head at me.
"You've got a lot to finish packing into the moving truck," I tell Carter, but there's not much left. I packed that entire fucking truck.
"It'll be fine waiting a couple hours." She reaches out and pats my cheek, letting her fingers linger as her eyes lock on mine. "I have to go." She blinks a few times then turns away and starts walking toward the door without her purse.
"Carter," I follow her out the door and hold up her purse. She moves slowly back up the stairs and when she reaches for it, I grab her arm and yank her toward me. I almost kiss her but don't want to be that douchey so I just wrap my arms around her. "See you when you get back." I kiss the top of her head.
She nods silently and turns, taking each step slowly on the way to Affton's car.
"They'll be back in no time," Tommy says from behind me.
"Ya, you dick. With another piece of me deleted," I growl, pushing around him.