One More Day Read Free

life had resulted in a failure already.  She just had a job.  Key word: had.
    A strong hand grabbed her arm, halting her, and gently turned her.  "Mackenzie?"  Ryan's voice.  "What's wrong?"
    "I need to go home," she managed to get out, wiping the sleeve of her sweater across her eyes and nose.
    He guided her closer to the building, looking at her the whole time, genuine concern clear on his damned near perfect face.  Why did he have to decide that now was the time to talk to her?  Now, when she looked like she'd just lost a round with PMS.  Mack sucked in a breath and tried to control her stupid eyes.
    "Yeah, you look like you need a hell of a lot more than that.  What's wrong?"
    She shook her head.  "Nothing."
    "Liar."
    Super Hot Guy refused to let her go.  He stood there, against the side of a building, waiting for her answer.  Mackenzie didn't know what to do, so she shrugged again.
    "You ok, Mack?  Babe, I've seen you walk this way for a year now, and you've never been crying.  What the hell?"
    "I got fired," she said softly.
    "And it's that bad?" he asked, lifting her chin, and smiling at her timidly.
    She just nodded.  "Yeah.  My life's kinda going to crap right now."
    She felt the tears battering at her eyes again, but damn it, she would not cry in front of Super Hot Guy.  Not any more than she already had, at least.  Her eyes had to be red and puffy, and she was sure her nose was running.  Nice fucking impression, Mack.
    Not that she was a stellar beauty normally, but like this, she had to look like the Loch Ness monster!  A pudgy girl with average brown hair, average brown eyes, of average height, with flaming red eyes and a streaming, snot yellow nose.  Lovely.  Just the impression she always wanted to give.
    "Wanna talk about it?"  He tilted his head to the building behind him.  "I'm not booked for a couple of hours, and I can brew a pretty good cup of coffee."
    "Not really."
    "Ok.  You wanna have a cup of coffee and a table big enough to spread your paper across?"
    She thought about it.  That's exactly what she had planned to go home and do, and it could be worse, right?  At least the one person in the world who decided to talk to her was the cute guy.  Not that he'd remember her tomorrow, but still.  With a shrug, Mack gave in.
    Ryan pulled open the door and held it, gesturing for her to come inside.  With a glance through the large windows, she realized it was the tattoo parlor.  She looked up and saw a very professional sign proclaiming the name, Sterling Ink.
    "You do tats?" she asked, realizing how stupid the question was as soon as it was out.
    "Yeah," he said.  "Tuesdays are slow."
    She stepped inside the building, into a well lit, clean, and modern looking room.  The counters were polished wood and the floor was pristine tile.  Not that Mackenzie could tell if any of it was fake or top end, but it was clean and even pretty.  On the walls hung countless images, each in a glass covered frame.  Most were meant to be inked, but a few were simple drawings, done for nothing but the sake of art, proudly placed between the rest.
    She stopped at one.  It was amazing.  An acrobat hung by one leg suspended in a pale ribbon, painted in what looked like acrylics.  Every nuance of muscle was accounted for, the shading was nearly perfect.  Without thinking, she reached up and touched the glass gently.
    "This is amazing," she said.
    Ryan chuckled.  "Thanks."
    "You did this?"
    He pressed his lips together and nodded.  "Yeah.  I get bored when it's slow.  Sometimes a few things come out together, and end up working.  Other times, not so much."
    Mack just looked at him, stunned.  "You're really good.  Why'd you want the chameleon, if you can do this?"
    "Yeah, um," he glanced away.  "Because it's good.  Look, I don't get inspired like you do.  Either I have an idea, or I don't.  Usually I don't.  Most of these were drawn for clients, using their ideas."
    "You drew all of