We kissed.
We got hot.
We got horny.
We got hotter.
We got hornier.
And then I stopped it.
Ever the reluctant virgin, it just wasn't the right time. Not inthe shop.
Charley's memory was too strong but I wasn't going to bring THATinto the conversation.
I tried logic: "Kurt, maybe this isn't such a good idea. I'm tooindecisive. I'm just going to hurt you."
"I can take care of myself."
I tried wisdom: "Sex ruins friendships."
"So we should have just fucked first?"
"I'm not s-saying that!"
He folded his arms, satisfied that he'd won one for the Gipper."That's what you meant, though."
I tried sympathy: "I'm tired. I just want to go to bed and...that's all."
"Me, too!"
"Alone!"
He narrowed his eyes. "Scared?"
Leave it to the detective to find the secret.
The man in the tattoo shop was wearing a black tank top and thetattoos on his body covered every millimeter of flesh peeking outfrom under the thin cotton.
"What made you decide to get a tattoo?"
My eyes zigzagged from color to color and drawing to drawing. "Ishould ask you that question."
He lifted his palm up to show off the black widow and web that hadbeen etched inside. "We'd be here a long time if you got mestarted on that. Each one of these has a different story."
"I'm not here to get a tattoo-- yet. I just wanted to look at yourwork and see if we were right for each other."
"Good enough. Wish more people did their homework."
The whale on his bicep jerked and crunched down on a little Disneycartoon of Pinocchio.
"I want to mark an important transition in my life," I said,sounding awfully pompous.
"Are you looking for something ceremonial?" He pointed at somelovely Aztec symbols on the wall, thick dark lines that curved andcrossed each other like gang graffiti.
"Since our society doesn't have scarification rituals, anymore."
He lowered his voice. "I can hook you up with somebody if that'swhat you're interested in. I've been branded, too." He lifted upthe back of his shirt and I saw a happy face burned into the skin.
"Very nice, but...no."
He dropped his shirt back in place. "Fair enough. You`re a bitolder than most of the clients I get in here."
"I work with a lot of young people. In a way it's a chance for meto re-capture my youth. I shaved my head a couple of days ago."
He nodded, approvingly. "It suits you."
"Thank you," I beamed. "Now this. I'm not sure what to do next.I already have my nipple pierced..."
"Well, tattoos are like potato chips. You can't get just one."
