Repeat(56)

“Really, you think so?” I ask.

“It’s not like you used to confide in me about your bedroom activities previously so I guess I can’t cast judgment.”

“Though Ed’s reaction is telling, I guess.”

My sister just nods.

“Nothing wrong with a little slap and tickle so long as it’s consensual,” says Iris. She always knows what to say.

“Exactly. Ed would never hurt me. The whole idea is ridiculous, and it pisses me off that he thinks I’m so fragile.”

“Hmm. Maybe hold off on installing the sex swing until your doctor gives the okay for the really hardcore stuff, though.” Frances licks her little spoon. “Who do you think he used to have the wild monkey sex with?”

“The doctor said I was fine and no idea.” I re-shelve another book. Customers abandon stock all over the shop. Returning things to their proper places is a daily job. “So long as the only person Ed’s biting and banging these days is me, does it matter?”

“You’re not even curious?”

“Sure. I want to know everything about him. But I don’t dwell on it or anything,” I say. “That would be incredibly stupid considering my jealousy is what did us in last time.”

Iris smiles. “Sounds very sensible of you, Clementine. We all have a history, but it’s the here and now that’s important.”

Detective Chen called earlier to talk to me about the paint on the shop front. He agreed that this incident along with my car getting trashed was concerning. But apart from advising me to be security conscious and not go places alone, there’s little they can say. As for my car, the insurance assessor has agreed to it being written off. To fix the damage to the body, paintwork, and windows would be more than the worth of the vehicle. Now we’re just waiting for the paperwork and then eventually for the money to come through. Everything takes time.

“It’s quiet, this evening,” says Iris. “I should have told you not to worry about coming back after your appointment. Why don’t you finish up early and go do more dreadful things with that lovely man of yours?”

It hasn’t escaped my notice that Iris always refers to Ed as lovely. Pretty sure my boss has a crush on my boyfriend. Can’t say I blame her.

“He’ll still be at the parlor,” I say.

Frances raises her head, the gelato all gone. “I can drop you off there on my way home if you like?”

“Sure. Why not?” I head behind the counter to grab my bag. “I’ve never really seen him in his work environment, doing his thing. Well, apart from that one time when I first showed up and he wanted to throw me out.”

“A few weeks ago, you mean?”

“It’s been longer than that.” Just.

When I arrive at the parlor, Tessa is finishing up with a client, smiling and shaking hands. Not sure I’ve ever seen her actually happy before, since whenever I see her she is always in the presence of a major source of personal angst. Namely, me. Of course, her warm smile makes her even more beautiful than normal. Today, the green velvet chaise lounge is empty. Makes sense given they’re getting close to finishing time. An old grandfather clock stands in the corner keeping time. Very vintage cool. Various drawings and pictures of tattoos hang framed on the otherwise pristine gray walls.

Tessa’s smile dims slightly at the sight of me before she kind of reinforces it. It obviously doesn’t come easy, but at least she’s trying. “Clem. Hey, he’s out back.”

“Thanks.”

Leif is bent over one of the massage-table-type things they use, working on a woman’s calf muscle. She’s looking a bit green and has her eyes firmly averted, attention riveted on the posters on the far wall. Blood wells to the surface of her newly inked skin, and Leif wipes it away with an expert hand as he works. It’s easy to forget how much blood and pain must lie beneath the beauty and art in a place like this. Leif winks at me as I walk past. The sound of the tattoo gun is loud, but the music is louder. At the back of the shop, there’s a hallway with a bathroom on one side and an office/work space on the other. Here’s where I find Ed, seated at a table in front of a laptop. Shannon stands beside him, leaning in close, pointing at the screen. Any closer and her boobs will be touching him. In all honesty, I don’t see how standing quite so close is necessary.

Annoyance shoots through me. Sad but true. And the feeling is every bit as dirty and unwanted as expected. But perhaps I’m being unreasonable, seeing things that aren’t there. After all, there’s my history to consider. Maybe this is how it started last time, innocuous interactions that I built up in my head and blew out of all proportion.

I school my face into a pleasant smile. “Ed?”

Immediately, Shannon takes a step back. Maybe she’d deliberately gotten too close. Though it might also be care of my previous reputation as a jealous bitch. The woman is, after all, possibly dating Leif. I’m pretty sure I’m overreacting and it’s not pretty.

“Baby, hey. I didn’t know you were coming in.” He lights up at the sight of me. Fuck the green-eyed monster. This man is mine. I’m like ninety-nine percent sure of it. Nine-eight-point-five at worst. Still pretty good odds. The usual fluttery feeling in my belly and warmth in my loins kicks in at the sight of him. “Did Frances drop you over?”