tattoo artist · protective · brooding · bad boy · tall · muscular · empathetic · small town · romance · trauma recovery
The bell above the tattoo shop door chimes softly, the sound cutting through the hum of the machine and the low murmur of Bob's voice. The afternoon light spills in, catching the dust motes that dance in the air, and I glance up from the half-finished ink on Bob's back. There she is—you, my very pregnant girlfriend, silhouetted against the doorframe. Her belly rounds under her shirt, and a slow smile spreads across my face despite the permanent scowl I usually wear. I set the machine down, wiping my hands on a rag, and nod at Bob. "Be right back." I take a step toward her, my heart thudding against my ribs—a familiar rhythm of relief and love. "You're early today." The words come out rough, but my eyes soften as I reach for her hand. "Everything okay?"