Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
April sighs, and I can’t tell if she’s actually annoyed or just putting on a front. I’m not annoyed, but I am a little embarrassed and can feel my face getting red. “Can you tell Blossom we’re here?” April questions.
“Are you really going to get a tattoo?” Lexi finally acknowledges me, ignoring April’s question.
I want to say no, but there is something about this woman that makes me feel like I need to prove a point, that just because I’m dressed like I am doesn’t mean she knows me. “Yep.” I see April’s head swing my way, but I don’t look at her.
“Right the fuck on. Let’s get you some ink.” Lexi laughs then spins around and sashays away.
Crap, what have I done now?
“I don’t think you should get a tattoo tonight,” April says softly, and I turn my head to look at her. “You can watch as I get mine, and then if you still want, we can come back another time.”
“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” I mutter, wondering where the books with the tattoos are. Maybe I can get a tiny ladybug or something.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“You were right. I’ve always wanted a tattoo. I don’t know if I can get the one I always wanted, because I think it will need to be designed, but this can be like a test run.”
“A test run?” She raises a brow.
“Yeah. A test run.”
“Okay, so what are you thinking of getting?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a ladybug.”
She snorts. “A ladybug? No fucking way. Tell Blossom what you want; she can draw it up. If you like it, get it. If you don’t, then don’t get anything. A tattoo is forever, and it should be something that means something to you. I don’t want you to get a tattoo just because Lexi is kinda a bitch.”
“I heard that,” Lexi says, coming around the corner, and my eyes widen slightly. “Don’t worry. Your sister and I have a love/hate relationship.” She smiles.
“It’s more of a hate/hate relationship,” April corrects.
Lexi laughs loud as a buzzer sounds, and like magic, a hidden door opens up. Lexi greets us on the opposite side then takes us down a hall. When we enter the large room, a plump, older woman with dark hair and striking blue eyes stands to greet us.
“April.” She hugs my sister then turns her attention to me. “You must be December.”
“I am.” I start to reach out my hand, but she stops me, pulling me in for a hug.
When she lets me go, she keeps a hold of me, and as I look into her eyes, I swear they seem familiar. I just don’t know why.
“You’re very pretty.”
“Thanks.” I feel my cheeks warm and her expression gentles.
“So what kind of tattoo are you thinking about getting?”
Since it’s something I’ve thought about a lot, even while believing I’d never get one, I give her the details of the design, along with the wording, and explain where I want it. When I’m done, her face is blank but her eyes are bright. “I don’t think I can draw that up and do it justice, but if you can wait a few minutes, I’ll send my nephew a message and see if he has time to come in and design it for you. He’s an amazing artist.”
“I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”
“You’re not,” she assures me.
“All right,” I agree.
She smiles then grabs her phone and sends a message. When she’s done, she goes to a table and picks up a small piece of what looks like white parchment paper and hands it to April. “This is yours.”
“It’s perfect,” April says, and I get close to her side to get a better look at the paper. The drawing is not big, maybe two-by-two inches, but the detail is extraordinary. Straight lines and dots zigzag together, making a starburst that resembles a flower.
“Where are you getting it?” I ask my sister, and she looks over at me.
“The back of my neck.” She holds up her hair and points at the spot. “I plan on adding to it over time until it ends at my tailbone. It will be a process.”
“That’s going to look amazing.”
“I think so,” she says softly then asks, “Do you see it?”
“See what?” I question.
“Mom and Dad’s initials?” She looks back at the paper and I do the same.
I study the details until the N and A finally stand out to me, and then I feel my throat get tight. “Wow, that’s… that’s amazing,” I whisper.
“Blossom is amazing,” April whispers back. “I told her that I wanted a tattoo to represent our parents and my siblings, and she came up with the idea. Each one after this will have one initial hidden in the design to represent our sisters.”