“Sisco gave me a job in his shop. Under his guidance, I honed a skill, worked at it daily and legally”—I laugh, and so does everyone else in the studio, even the male cousins and Bella’s brother who look at me like they want to kick my ass most of the time. A little freaky, but whatever—“and I became the best artist I could be.
“I saw a girl standing outside Sisco’s studio back in May, the day before leaving to become a contestant on this show. It was lightning, and it was serene. Never felt that way before. Never will again. So, right now, as Neo and Ranger work on two couples who want their love to be forever etched on their bodies, the woman I love is in the back room of a studio where she grew up to know love, loyalty, art, and not to judge a book by its cover. She’s back there with the people she loves the most, possibly in shock, because we were supposed to get married on New Year’s Eve. When her father mentioned doing the final show here, I knew there was no other place that would mean as much to her as this one to start our lives together.”
Axel laughs. “No shit?”
“None, brother.”
“I’m hoping she can change quickly, or I’m going to have to stand here and talk a hell of a lot longer than I planned.”
‘Wild Love’ by James Bay begins playing, and my racing heart slows.
Looking down the hallway, I see her cousin walking down the hall. Then I see Kiki with my moon.
She’s doing really good, so fucking good. My chest tightens as I watch her dropping daisies with each step.
I look behind me and see Carly, Joe, and her aunts coming in the front door from the alley, as planned. Carly is smiling as tears fall down her face.
Jase
I feel my hands shake when she walks out of the bathroom. “You look beautiful, Little Bell.”
“He loves me, Daddy, and I love him more than I ever thought possible.”
“I know.” I swallow hard as my eyes start to tear up.
“Please don’t cry, Daddy. If you do, then I will, and … Oh my God, I’m getting married today. I’m getting married here. Here, Dad.” She hugs me so tightly that I’m sure she thinks I’m holding her together, but the reality is, she’s doing that for me.
When she steps back, I hold her little face in my hands. “I love you so much, Bell, and I know that man out there does, too.”
Her lip pouts out, just like it did … yesterday. It seems like yesterday.
I sniff and nod. “He does. The two of you are gonna have a beautiful life, so why don’t we go make that happen now?”
She hugs me again, kisses my cheek, and then whispers, “I love you, Daddy.”
Walking her down the hall, I focus on Carly. She’s crying and smiling, and she’s fucking beautiful.
He looks at my little girl just like I look at Carly. I knew it from the first time I saw him look at her. Pissed me off. Doesn’t anymore.
I kiss my baby girl then give him a hug. “I’m trusting you with a big part of my heart.”
“I’ll guard it with my own. Thank you.”
This is the time the audience will watch tape of all the art the two remaining contestants have created. Tags wanted it that way. He wanted their vows for him and her, for Luna, and for us.
With my arm around Carly, I hear the vows they exchange, traditional vows in a nontraditional setting with a very short ceremony.
When our priest pronounces them man and wife, Carly tightens her arms around my waist.
When he cups her beautiful face, he does it with reverence, just the way I want my little girl to feel for the rest of her life.
Carly whispers, “She did good, Jase.”
When the kiss deepens, I’m a little hot around the collar. I mean, what the fuck?
Carly laughs, and I raise an eyebrow at her.
“Oh please, don’t tell me you don’t hope that part of her life is as good as ours.”
“Baby, tell me you’re joking.”
“Not in the least.”
“And Kiki, you want her—”
“Yep. And don’t ask me about Max. You and I both know that boy is having sex at least ten times a day. It may be by himself, but—”
“Carly Steel, I’m gonna have to ask you to shut it down.”
She pushes up on her toes and kisses me. Against my lips, she whispers, “I want you to rub that Steel ball all over my tongue.”
“Who am I to deny the mother of the bride?” I give her a little Steel.
When Carly leans back and smiles up at me, I kiss her again. “Gotta close this thing down.”
“I’ll be here waiting.”
“You better be.”
I walk around the shop, or as the kids are now calling it, a studio and nod to the camera man focused on the men working on some pretty great tattoos.
“You ready?” The camera man mouths and I nod.
I move to the predetermined, spot, one that won’t catch them on camera and begin.
“While our happy couple finishes up a kiss that’s lasting a little longer than the father of the bride is comfortable with, let’s check out the finished product.”
The camera goes to Ranger, who’s rinsing and wiping down the female’s tattoo.
“Tell us about the piece.”
“Tom and Pam wanted their pieces to represent him being her king and her being his queen. Instead of doing the typical card or going with a crown, gave them the idea to use both and add something a little personal. They’re both of Irish descent, so Pam has the queen of clubs with a crown over one corner of it and his name above it. Tommy has the king of clubs, the crown, and Pam’s name above it.”
“Looks great, Ranger. How about you, Neo?”
“Ziggy and Slade wanted ‘till death do we part.’ After a short conversation, I found out they met at Mardi Gras and both dig skulls. Slade has ‘Till Death’ above his Mardi Gras inspired skull, and Ziggy has the words ‘Do We Part’ over hers.”
Bella
Unable to focus on anything but Tags, and he on me, Dad took over.
“We need to close this up.” I smile at my husband.
He is mine.
“Viewer votes are sixty percent Ranger,” Shelly, one of our interns, tells us.
I look at my uncles. “You guys have a favorite yet?”
“Always liked Ranger better, but Neo’s work is better today. More detailed and more thoughtful.”
I look at Tags. “I can’t make the decision.”
“Gotcha.”
“So, who is it?”
“Gotta be Neo, Bella.”
“But—”
He kisses me to crush my crazy. It happens every time I allow myself to get worked up.
“It’s going to be fine.”
I watch Tags stand in next to Dad.
“Today, we combined the scores of the in-studio judges and the online voters, and we have a winner. Today’s winner gets one hundred thousand, and our runner-up will receive fifty thousand.”
“With the judges scores and the viewer’s votes, the winner of the fifty Gs is … Ranger. That means Neo is Convicted Ink’s season one’s ultimate artist. Congratulations, man.”