“That works. I’m gonna work a little extra today to organize the baking racks.”
“Okay. See ya, man.”
“Bye.”
We walk in separate directions, him to his bakery job across the street and me to my tattoo shop, Black Heart Ink. I love that we work so close together, and even though our schedules can be way off, we can usually find time for lunch.
When I enter the shop, my next client is already waiting for me, a huge burly man in a black tank top and tight jeans. His head is shaved but his face is covered in a thick salt and pepper beard.
“Chad?”
He nods. “Yeah. You Jude?”
“I am. Come on back.”
We head to my chair as I wave at the other artists. “Glad I could get in with you. It took three months.”
As I wipe down my chair with disinfecting wipes, I nod, glancing up at him. “Yeah, man, sorry. I’ve been booked like crazy lately.”
He chuckles. “That’s what happens when a major sports star posts ink you did on his social media.”
“Yeah, that was cool.” I pat the back of the chair. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” Chad sits, adjusting to be comfortable. “How did you meet him?”
“Dante?” I ask while setting up my station.
“Yeah.”
“Luck. He was down here hanging with some friends. Popped in and I was here. He asked if I had time, and of course I did.”
“Very cool,” Chad says.
I open my folder and pull out the surprising art he wanted. This tough looking biker guy wants a vine of flowers twisting up his forearm. “Do you like the colors?”
Chad looks at the paper and a smile pulls at his lips. “Yeah, that blue on the petals is nice.” He leans back handing me the paper. “It’s cool. My daughter will love it.”
“Oh, it’s for your daughter?”
He nods. “Yeah, she’s five and she loves flowers and the color blue. She asked me if she could have a blue flower tattoo.” He chuckles as I smile. “I told her when she’s eighteen she can do what she wants, but for now I would get the tattoo for her.”
“That’s awesome.”
“I wanted her to be able to see it, and if anyone gives me shit, I’ll show them a picture of Lily and tell them to fuck off.”
I laugh. “That’s right. Lily will love it.”
“I’m excited.”
“Alright. Let me get to work.”
Three hours later, I sit back, studying my work. He didn’t want big flowers but vines with tiny blue flowers and buds sprouting throughout. It starts at his wrist and trails up his forearm, finishing at the crease of his elbow just below some other ink he has. I’m not the fastest artist, but I’m known for my intricate work, capturing details, and creating realism. It literally looks like he has a bunch of flowers wrapped around his arm. I smile, pleased with the art, but it’s ultimately up to him.
“What do you think?”
Opening his eyes, he gazes down, twisting his arm around to catch different views. “Wow. This is awesome. Damn. They look real.”
“I’m happy with how it turned out as long as you are.”
“Fuck yeah, man. This is more than I expected. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Let me get you wrapped up, then I have some aftercare instructions for you.”
After Chad leaves, I shuffle up to the front to check in with reception to see if there are any walk-ins. Elizabeth, my cousin’s girlfriend, looks up from the books.
“Hey, Jude.” She giggles, as she does at least once a day after greeting me like the famous song. “Sorry. That never gets old.”
“At least not for you.” I wink. “How we doing?”
“You, my friend, are booked for the month.”
“The month?”
She smiles. “And the next month. And the next month.”
“Phone won’t stop ringing,” Casper, another artist in the shop, says, coming around the corner. Casper got his nickname because of his ghost-white dye job, but he wears it well. “It’s the Dante Higgins effect. After he posted his ink, you’re blowing up, man.”
I nod, biting my bottom lip, realizing the influx of business isn’t going to be as short lived as I thought. “Okay, um, that’s great. I need to block out some time in three months. I’m taking a weekend off.”
Both of them look at me like I just turned green as Casper motions for the other artists, Luca, Sam, and Micah, to join us. When they all stand there staring at me, I open my hands.
“What?”
“Oh nothing,” Luca starts, with his Southern drawl exaggerated as he draws out the word nothing. “We were just wondering what you did with the real Jude.”
I roll my eyes. “I know I don’t take much time off.”
Casper scoffs, while the rest eye me with amused grins.
“I get it, guys. I’m doing a favor for Briar. His ex is gonna be at this wedding on the beach, so I agreed to go as his date. Well, as his fiancé.”
I’m met with more incredulous stares.
“Come again?” Micah asks.
“His fiancé,” I repeat, letting the idea settle with me. I haven’t really had time to think since lunch. “He thinks he’ll feel better this way.”
Luca tilts his head. “He knows you’re a guy, right?”
I chuckle. “Briar is gay.”
They exchange glances and then return their confused gazes to me.
“Oh. I guess I never really mentioned it.”
“No, you didn’t,” Elizabeth says. “Not that there’s a problem with that. We love a gay bestie. It’s just something we didn’t know, so it was a little confusing to hear you say you’re going to be his fake fiancé.”
“I see that now.”
“How are you gonna do that?” Sam asks. “Not to label, because we all know I hate that, but you don’t come across as even a little gay.”
“They’re right,” Casper says. “And I would know.”
“You’re not gay,” I note.
“Right.” He smiles. “But I am bi.”
“Oh.” I look at everyone grinning at me. “Am I the only one who didn’t know this?”
Sam laughs, throwing their electric blue hair back. “You missed happy hour last week. It’s new to all of us.”
Casper grins. “We’ve got ourselves a little rainbow fam here,” he says, wrapping an arm around Sam. “Not sure you knew what you were creating here.”
It’s at that moment it dawns on me how accurate Casper is. I knew Sam was gender-fluid, something they shared during the interview, and now I know Casper is bi. I think Luca falls in there too.
“Well, we are in one of the hottest gay neighborhoods in Miami,” I explain. “And I hire the best artists regardless of sexuality or gender expression. That said, I’m proud to have an inclusive environment.”
Casper smiles. “You’re awesome.” He releases Sam. “And a fake gay fiancé.”
I laugh. “At this rate, this is probably the closest I’ll ever get to walking down an aisle.”