Cheap & Classy (Hide Your Crazy) (15 page)

Chapter 28

It’s a lot like taking a punch, to your genitals, with a needle.

“You took me to a tattoo shop? Are you getting a new piece?” I asked, giving him a puzzled look.

“Nope
; you are.” Reid shut off the Suburban, and opened the car door.

“Wait, I don’t think this is a go……….” I started to say before he shut the door and started walking over to the shop. Swiftly, I scrambled out the vehicle and ran to catch up with him.

“Thanks for opening my door, asshole. You’re so romantic,” I sneered, smacking the man in the shoulder.

“Well, I would have if you didn’t start to give me some lame excuse as to why you couldn’t do it.” Reid looked over and gave me a quick grin.

Damn it, that man had a point.

“Reid, I don’t know what I want. This was something that thought should be put into, not just because you thought we should do it.” Panic set in as Reid held
open the door for me to enter.

“Hey Chambers! Long time no see,” a bald headed man behind the counter greeted us.

My eyes darted around the small tattoo shop, mentally taking note on the cleanliness of the facility.

“Hey Brock.
How you been, Man?” Reid said as they did the typical male handshake thing over the front desk. How all men automatically knew the bro shake was a damn mystery that someone should find out.

“
You getting a new piece, Reid?”

“Na;
just brought my girlfriend in for her first tattoo. Do you have the time?” Reid wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer into him.

Yeah buddy;
go ahead and butter me up because you know this isn’t happening.

“
Cool man. The name’s Brock,” the tall, completely tattooed bald guy introduced himself to me.

“Molly,” I said back calmly. Sure, on the outside I might look super chill and calm, but on the inside my heart was ra
cing faster than a racehorse that had to pee.

“So w
hat are you thinking of getting?” Brock asked as he leaned over the glass counter. My smile wavered as the man looked me over head to toe.

“I don’t really have a clue, considering I’ve
never put much thought into it,” I stammered, quickly glancing up at Reid and giving him a hateful glare.

I don’t know why I was so chicken shit of getting a tattoo. It should have been a natural progression once I started dying my hair, get
ting piercings, gauging my ears then logically came tattoos. But, the last part never happened. Needles didn’t scare me, and I could handle a pretty high threshold of pain, but I never really put much thought into tattoos.

“Well, there are some books on the table of stuff I’ve done, or I can draw you up a custom piece pretty quick
, too. Just have a seat on the couches and start flipping. I’ll join you two once I move around my schedule a bit.” Brock motioned for the red couches against the far wall, and I nodded cautiously.

Sitting down, I grabbed a book and hauled it into my lap. I refused to look at Reid for the time being. I couldn’t decide if I was mad at the man for brin
ging me here, or secretly excited to get one done.

“We can leave if you really don’t want to,” Reid whispered in my ear.

“No; I’m going to do this. I just don’t know what yet,” I spit back, shocking myself at the decision my mind had just made. Reid grinned as he leaned back on the sofa.

After what felt like forever looking at tons of pictures, I had a good thought as to what I was going to ink on my body. Was I certain it was a smart thing to do? Not exactly, but I figured if I hated it down the road I could always get it removed or covered up.

“So
, Molly, what is your pleasure?” Brock asked as he stood on the other side of the coffee table.

“It’s really simple. C
an I show you when we go back?” Brock nodded his head and cocked his head to the back of the shop, signaling for me to follow. Placing the book back on the table, I grabbed my small purse and followed suit. Reid stood immediately and I shot him a glare. “Nope, you’re not coming with me.”

“What?
Seriously?”

“Yep.
Go ahead and sit your ass back down, Reid Chambers. I’ll come get you when it’s done,” I said with a smile.

I didn’t need his hand to hold while this
went down, nor did I need him asking if I was okay over and over again. All the worry he would bring with him would just make me want to punch him in the nads, and knowing eventually I would want more sex, I knew doing that would not be smart.

“Alright,” Reid stated, raising h
is hands slightly in the air in surrender.

“I’ll be back shortly.” Placing a soft kiss to his cheek, I give him a small wave and wandered back to the room Brock was setting up in.

“So what is this simple secret design?” Brock questioned as he motioned for me to take a seat on a large table looking thing.

“I want a simple BL on the side of my wrist.”

“Like the letters?”

“Yep, just the letters,” I said with confidence. Sure, it was a little
stalkerish to get your boyfriends band’s name tattooed on your body. But, technically it was just the initials, and it was my first job here in Seattle. Even if for some ungodly reason that Reid and I didn’t work out, I would still be proud to remember all the good times we had together on tour.

“Like a BL as in Black Laden?” Brock asked again, giving me a weird look.

“Yes.” I laughed, twisting my wrist around to show him the exact spot I wanted.

“Alright, if you’re sure.
” Brock shrugged. “Let me go make up a template real quick and we’ll get started.”

I nodded at Brock as he shook his head and walked out of the room. I had to laugh; knowing this man probably had done his fair share of name tattoos that ended up going south faster than the tattoo itself healed. But, something like that didn’t matter for me. For once
, I couldn’t see this relationship ending, and I would never regret the time I got to spend with Reid. Either way I looked at it, this tattoo was a safe idea. Way better than a unicorn or a sloth, like I had originally been thinking.

Brock positioned the template on my wrist and waited for me to okay the position. Once agreed upon, he had me place my arm on a small metal table draped in a blue cloth like fabric and fired up his machine. “Alright, let me know if this gets uncomfortable at all,” he stated.

“Okay,” I whispered as the first pass of his machine glided across my skin. I held my breath and awaited the terrible pain I thought was coming, but instead let out a small giggle as the needle pierced my skin.

“That’s it?” I laughed, trying hard to sit still for Brock.

“Yeah;
not bad huh?”

“Not at all.”
My body relaxed and I took the opportunity to glance around the room. Amazing artwork littered the walls, as colorful images seemed to jump off the pages. “Did you draw all of these?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you are insanely talented; my friend.” Taking a quick peek at the work he had going on, I was shocked to see him already done with the B in the tattoo. “Have you done any of Reid’s tattoos?”

“All of Re
id’s work has been done by me.” Brock smiled, looking up and giving me a quick wink. “I’m super proud Reid brought you to me today; means the man really trusts me.”

“What?
You mean Reid doesn’t bring by all his girlfriends for you to tattoo?”

“No, and stop fishing for compliments
, Miss Molly. You are the first woman Reid has ever brought by the shop, so enjoy that little knowledge, but don’t let it go to your head.” Brock turned off his gun and laid it on the back table. Grabbing a squirt bottle, he sprayed a clean towel and wiped the excess ink off my skin. “What do you think?”

“It’s perfect.”

I couldn’t help but let the stupid Cheshire cat grin spread across my face. I had just gotten a real tattoo. Fuck, I had gotten a real tattoo of my boyfriend’s band. Fuck, I was dating Reid Chambers, lead guitarist for Black Laden. Brock slathered some cream on my tattoo and carefully covered it with a piece of slick looking gauze. After going over the aftercare instructions with me, he then walked me out to the waiting room.

“You already done?”
Reid asked as he put down a copy of Spin magazine.

“Ye
p, and she took it like a champ.” Brock laughed, gently bumping into my shoulder.

“Yeah, I am basically a pro at tattoos now. Totally already planning my next,” I babbled, letting the cockiness of my tone ring through the small shop.

“Seriously?” Reid looked at me in question.

“Hell no!”
Both of the guys laughed as Reid stood up and reached for his wallet.

“You better not think about paying me,” Brock insisted, shaking his head at Reid actions.

“Can I pay you?” I quickly butted in, breaking the stare down moment between two friends.

“I’m not taking either of you guys
’ money. Now enjoy the rest of the afternoon and I’ll catch you later. Molly, it was a pleasure meeting you, but drag this scrawny white boy out of my tattoo shop.” Brock chuckled as he pointed to the door.

“Well, come on
, white boy; you heard what the man said.” I laughed, grabbing Reid by the hand and pulling him to the front door. “Thanks again,” I shouted as we pushed out into the drizzling Seattle afternoon.

“My pleasure
, Molly,” Brock replied.

Walking hand in hand back to the truck, I smiled as Reid glanced down on my arm.

“So when are you going to show me?”

“I don’t know; when I feel like it.
” I shrugged, pushing the man away and reaching for the car door.

“Such a tease,” Reid countered, gently shutting my car door and running around to the other side. Looking down at my covered tattoo, I couldn’t help but feel completely smitten with what I had just done. Sure, it was a risk tattooing something permanent like that on my body, but a risk that was very well worth it.

Chapter 29

Castration.

Reid and I stopped at the grocery store on the way back to his place to pick up some stuff for dinner. I guess it was just assumed I was staying to eat, because it never was really asked. We settled on making spaghetti, with French bread and a fresh cucumber salad. I knew boiling water to cook the noodles and dumping sauce into a pan to heat up wasn’t rock science. But, I was still nervous to be helping out in the kitchen.

“What do you want me to do?” I asked Reid as I was drying my hands off on a clean paper towel.

“Can you chop the cucumber?” h
e asked, painting some garlic butter on the bread and wrapping it up for the oven.

“I think I can manage,” I replied. Reid handed me the large vegetable while I grabbed a butcher knife from the block.
“This work?”  Waiting for him to acknowledge my knife selection, I carelessly started to wave the blade out in front of me.

“Please don’t stab
yourself,” Reid worried, gently grabbing my wrist to stop me from moving the blade.

“If you didn’t know, I’m an expert at sharp objects,” I tried to convince the man who looked at me like I was clinically insane.

“Sure you are, Sweetheart. Now you just need to chop it into pieces this size,” Reid commented, taking the knife from my hand and showing me the size of cut I needed to make. “Got it?”

“It’s not brain surgery
, Reid. I think I can handle massacring this cucumber.” Picking up the large knife from the counter, I held the vegetable in one hand and sliced with the other. “See? I have this perfectly under control,” I stammered, right before I chunked a piece out of my pointer finger. “Cock sucker!” I shouted, instantly dropping the cucumber to the floor and popping my finger into my mouth.

“Are you okay?” Reid panicked, rushing back over to my side of the kitchen. I knew the cut wasn’t that deep, and I had probably just taken the first layer of skin off the top. I refused for him to banish me from the kitchen. It was just a little slip, and I could help finish the damn dinner if I wanted.

“I swear to god, I will castrate your sorry ass if you take one step closer,” I threatened, holding the large butcher knife out in front of me.

“Oh Molly Anne.
You’re even cute when you threaten my manhood,” Reid laughed, letting a wicked smile spread across his face.

“Don’t think I won’t
, Reid. I have lost my compassion for your antics; there is only one side of me now, and I proudly parade my crazy out in public.”

“Molly Anne, you can be barefoot on
the front porch for all I care. Just please go sit down before you hurt yourself further.”

I shook my head and bent over to grab the cucumber off the floor. Picking it up, I pretended to blow the dust off and slapped it back down on the cutting board. “Now
, get back to the cooking. I’m getting hungry and that dinner won’t finish itself.” I smirked, this time being a little more cautious with my slicing of our dinner.

“So when are you going to show me that tattoo?” Reid asked as we cuddled up on a lawn chair out on the deck. The lake was once again spark
ling. However, the moon tonight was somewhat hidden between the clouds.

“I don’t know,” I stated, shifting my body underneath the blanket a little. Being outside on the deck was so relaxing. Sure, it was freezing balls, but with one of Reid’s sweatshirts on, sitting between his legs, and a warm fuzzy blanket draped over our bodies, the cold no longer seemed to both
er me.

“Well, you’re going to have to clean it tonight.”

“Yes, I remember that part of the lecture Brock gave me. Don’t think just because I’m cleaning the thing makes you eligible for viewing pleasures.” Reid’s arms reached up my body and wrapped themselves tightly around my chest. Kissing the top of my head, I heard a soft sigh escape from his lips.

“You realize you are driving me insane by keeping it from me.”

“I know. I think that’s why I’m doing it.”

“You are totally sadistic.
” Reid laughed, resting his lips back on the top of my head. Smirking, I wiggled down a little further on the lounger and stretched my legs. My vagina was still throbbing from last night’s escapades, and I had already turned down the horny teenager at least seven times this evening.

“Do you really want to see it?”

“I wouldn’t have asked again if I didn’t want to.”

Lifting my body up from his warm clutches, I pulled up the sweatshirt and stared pulling on the tape.

“Now, this wasn’t for you, so don’t go getting a big head or anything,” I warned while pulling the white gauze back. My skin was still a little puffy and red, but the big black letters stood out boldly. Reid was silent as he cradled my wrist in his hand. I didn’t know what to say as the silence continued to overtake our conversation. Glancing up at his face, I tried to find any sort of emotion he was feeling. I understood it was probably a shock seeing your band name tattooed on your girlfriend’s wrist, but I expected him to say something.

“So…………..um…………….yeah,” I said softly, breaking the hold he had on my arm. Pulling the sleeve of the sweatshirt back down, I tossed the blanket off our legs and started to get up.

“Don’t leave, Molly Anne,” Reid finally spoke, his eyes begging for me to stay.

“Well, it’s kind of awkward sitting here between your legs as you stare at the tattoo and say nothing. Nothing like making a girl
feel self-conscious about her decision or anything.” I paused next to the lawn chair, and started to chew on my lip.

“I just don’t understand why you would mark your body with our initials?” Reid questioned sincerely.

Sitting back down on the chair, now facing Reid, I let out a soft sigh. “I said it wasn’t for you, idiot. Your band symbolized a fresh start for me. I moved to Seattle and landed my dream job right off the bat. It was your band that gave me the opportunity to do something that I loved. I got to travel and listen to music. It also helped that I fell madly in love with an arrogant, stubborn, selfish rock star that fronted the band as well. The BL symbolized everything that finally worked out for me. For once, in my life I was truly happy with how my world had come together. I was happy, in love, and finally free.”

My
eyes began to tear as I told my feelings to Reid. Sure, he probably would never understand fully the significance behind the tattoo, but that was okay. Some things had special meaning to some and not others. This was one piece of art that would be with me until the day I died, and if I ever had to remind myself of when it all started, those two little letters on my wrist would tell the whole story.

“That was beautiful,” Reid whispered as he pulled me back into his arms. I melted into his st
rong frame as the tears started to fall down my cheeks. Sure, we may not always understand each other completely, but that didn’t matter. As long as we were there for each other, showed compassion, and cared about the other’s feelings, nothing else would matter in the end. “I love you, Molly Anne McGlenister.”

“I love you
, too, Reid Chambers.”

Reid had carried me up the stairs to his bedroom. Setting me on the bed, he gently instructed me to raise my arms as he slipped off the sweatshirt and tank top I had on underneath. Slowly, I leaned back on the bed and lifted my hips as he pulled on my jeans. Tossing the clothes in a pile on the floor, he slid my body up to the pillows and softly placed the covers over my body. I then watched as he stripped off his clothes and dropped them in the same heap on his bedroom floor.

Reid climbed into bed next to me and placed a kiss to my collar bone. “Goodnight, Molly Anne. I love you,” he whispered, gently pushing the hair back that had fallen in my face.

Smiling, I nodded my head and closed my eyes. There was no need for sex tonight, just a peaceful nigh
t’s sleep next to the person I loved. Searching for his hand underneath the covers, I wrapped my fingers in between his and drifted off into a deep slumber. Sometimes a girl needed a night of compassion. A moment where everything got put out on the table and nothing was picked up and put back.

The light had already been spilling its contents into the bedroom for quite some time, when I awoke and rubbed my eyes from the brightness. Reid didn’t have a clock in his bedroom, and I had left my phone downstairs last night after texting Megan, but I knew it had to be late morning. It had been forever since I got to sleep that late; normally only occurring when I was deathly ill. Stretching out my arms, I smiled at Reid, who still peacefully slept next to me. Brushing my fingers down the side of his face, I started to debate with myself if I really wanted to climb out of the warm little piece of heaven.

Suddenly
, a door slammed down stairs. Wondering who it could possibly be, I tossed the covers back and went to my bag to grab a clean pair of shorts. I figured it was just Tiny, probably coming back from one of his many scheduled work outs, but I wanted to be sure. Slipping on a short pair of yoga shorts, I grabbed Reid’s sweatshirt from the pile on the floor and slipped it over my head.

“What in the fuck is going on?” A tall blonde I recognized from the many tabloid magazines shrieked while standing in the doorway. “We had a deal, Reid. I gave you a little space to get over that infatuation with the tour girl, and then you would come back to me! You can’t fucking tell me everything we went through meant absolutely nothing!”

“Excuse me? Who in the fuck are you and what are you doing in our bedroom?” My tone was very clear that I wasn’t going to stand there and take her pathetic shit. I don’t know w
ho she thought she was, but that woman was about to have a ‘come to Jesus type meeting’.

Reid’s head popped up from the pillow as he glared at the blonde bimbo now storming into the bedroom. Swiftly, I stepped into Barbie’s path and intercepted her war path to Reid’s bed.

“Excuse me, but I asked who the hell are you,” I threatened again, this time clenching my fists at my side so I didn’t pop the girl right in the face. Sure, she probably had a few good inches on me, but I doubted that woman had ever been talked to like that in her pretty little life. I refused to back down to a woman who came storming into our bedroom like a god damn hooker tornado in the morning.

“What in the hell are you doing her
e Cassy?” Reid’s voice shook the large room.

I breathed
a little sigh of relief when I realized he wasn’t excited to see the tramp in his house either.

“You said we were just taking a little break, and then I see this little ugly skank on your arm at the music awards. I brushed it off as you were just stirring up some buzz for the management label, but then I heard you were photographed around town the last couple days
. I wanted to come over here and make sure it ended.”

“Bitch
, you have another thing coming if you really think coming up into this place barking orders and running your damn mouth is going to get you anywhere. Check yourself, because if you don’t I for sure will.”

Reid grabbed either side of my shoulders and quickly shuffled me behind his body.

“Please, you little snit. You can do nothing for this man. I, on the other hand enhance his career. So why don’t you just grab your shit and leave?” Cassy looked at me smugly and crossed her lanky arms across her chest.

“We were never together
, Cassy. It was simply a publicity stunt that carried on a little too long for my liking. So you are the one that needs to leave, like now.” Reid’s voice was now at a whole new level when Tiny appeared in the door way.

“You really want to ask me to leave
, Reid? Maybe I should just tell your little slut all about……..”

“That’s fucking enough
, Cassy! Get out of my house.”

“Funny thing about this little scene here
, Reid, is you have way more to lose than I do,” she said with an evil smile that spread across her ugly face.

“Tiny, get Molly out of here,” Reid demanded, his body tense and rigid.

“Yes, Tiny, please take the trash out for us. Thanks,” Cassy mocked as I stood there in shock.

“Reid, wait, what?” I babbled, reaching for his arm before he shrugged it away. Tears started to gush down my face as Tiny apologetically grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door. “I don’t get it,” I cried. Tiny led me carefully down the stairs and through the house for the garage.

“I’m so sorry, Molls,” Tiny sighed, opening the car door and instructing me to get inside.

“I don’t fucking understand,
Tiny,” I said between sobs. Not only two minutes ago Reid was yelling at Cassy to get the hell out of his house, and now I was in the fucking car with Tiny as he drove me out of there.

“Give me one second, and I’ll go grab your bag,” he said with a frown.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said softly, refusing to make eye contact with the man. My heart was once again breaking, slowly shattering as I still had no fucking clue as to what had just happened.

“I’m going to take you home now,” Tiny said softly as he backed the Suburban out of the garage. I nodded my head as the tears continued to fall. There was no fixing this kind of solution. Everything I thought I had was finally over and gone, and I had no clue how it all happened.