If Only Read Free Page B

need to take with me is packed and well organized. As I said,
things always get done. I’m glad mom came to help, though, it’s been a lot
easier, and I’m happy we got to talk. She left my room seeming reassured. My
relationship did become serious quite fast, there’s no denying that, but I’ve
felt good about each step Nick and I have taken so far.

Five: Joe
    I glance at my watch; I have one hour to go before my
next client. “Adam, I’m gonna go grab something to eat, do ya want anything?”
    “Nah, I’m good,” he replies,
without looking up from the tattoo he’s finishing on a young lady’s left ankle.
    After a quick cigarette
outside the studio, I head into the coffee shop next door. It’s mid-week and
just before the lunchtime rush, meaning service is quick. With my espresso and
a chicken sub, I go back to work and sit in the office going over one of my
designs for tomorrow.
    I almost jump out of my seat
when my brother comes bursting through the door, quickly closing it behind him.
“Joe, dude, you will not believe who your next appointment is.” The excitement
about his face right now makes no sense at all. I’m trying to remember the
client’s name, but all I can recall is that it’s a female. It wasn’t anyone
famous, as far as I knew, so I’m beyond intrigued.
    “Okay,” I say, as I stand up
from my chair, sipping the last tiny drop of my espresso. “Hit me with it, who
is she?” I ditch my empty cup in the trash and meet his gaze.
    “No, man, you have to go out
there. You’re not going to believe this.”
    This is weird. His actions
remind me of the time when he was eleven years old and he had his first kiss
with some girl he’d been crushing on. Out of the blue, she planted one on him.
He burst into my bedroom, with the biggest smile on his face, eager to tell
all. This is almost like that, but why would he be so excited about my next booking? It wouldn’t be Aimee, the girl I first locked lips with. And
there’s no woman on God’s good earth that’s likely to justify this level of
enthusiasm, at least, not one that exists outside of my head. To make matters
worse, I really, really can’t evoke her name.
    Instead of strutting out
there, not knowing what to expect, I figure a peek from behind the door is
probably a good idea. Yeah, that’s a little strange at twenty-two years of age,
but there is no way in hell I’m going to just walk out there. Not with Adam
acting the way he is right now.
    I pull on the knob, creating
the smallest of gaps to look through. At the front of the shop is a pretty
Asian girl with shoulder length jet-black hair, streaked with red highlights. I
don’t know her, but she’s talking to someone who’s still out of sight. Before I
have the chance to do anything else, my brother yanks the door open. He barely
misses my face with it as I jump out of the way and back up against the wall.
    This is beyond ridiculous.
    What I’m hiding from, I have
no idea, but my reaction was instinctive. Who the hell has got my brother
acting like an eleven year old, and me acting like a fucking idiot?
    “Asshole,” I whisper across
to him, standing on the other side. “Tell me who it is.” I’m getting pissed now
and my heartbeat is still heavy from his unexpected act, you’d think I just
sprinted across the finish line of a damn race or something.
    “Just go out there. Trust
me, this is good, it’s very good.”
    A deep breath, followed by a
brief pause, and I head out to the studio floor. Again, the Asian girl is who I
see. I follow her gaze. In this instance, I do not move, I don’t even fucking
breathe.
    She’s standing with her back
to me, the strands of pink silk pulled up into a ponytail.
    My angel.  
    As I stand taking her in,
she turns around. Instant recognition. Her brows rise
briefly and the small curve of her lips swiftly becomes a wide smile, which
touches her eyes. My heart beats rapidly and hard to the point I hear nothing
but my pulse, heavy in