Less than two weeks go by before Lee gets another call from Chris. “Swing by the parlor tonight, could you?” his friend asks.
As if he’d say no. “What’s up? You got another design in mind so soon?”
When Chris laughs, the sound warms Lee up inside. “Just come on over around closing time. I’ll see you then?”
Of course. If Chris wanted him there now, Lee would drop everything to comply. But he waits until quarter to eight, his whole body humming with nervous energy that chases him around his small townhouse, up and down the stairs, nipping at the edges of his thoughts. Chris and he alone in the parlor after hours, the room dark around them, the only light coming from the small, hot lamp shining down on Chris as he inks another design into Lee’s skin. The insane pressure that builds in L
