Messy Love(10)

Her head swiveled to me sharply. Her eyes narrowed as her delicate jaw worked. I expected her to reply something high and mighty, but instead it’s my mom’s voice that shut me up.

“Wyatt, don’t start please.’’

I stared at her and saw her pleading eyes so identical to her daughter’s it made me uneasy. This Marissa chick looked more like my mom than Ava. It’s uncanny. I nodded shortly at her and shrugged at if I was over all this shit. But all I wanted was Marissa on her way out of here.

“I’m an apprentice to answer your question,’’ Marissa said quietly, politely, as her eyes remained narrowed on me. “I know what I’m talking about.’’

“You’re a tattoo apprentice? No shit?’’ Ralph blurted out and then cringed. He offered my mother one of his bright smiles that had always made her laugh. This time wasn’t any different.

Marissa smiled at my best friend and nodded almost shyly. And fuck me. When she smiled, it brightened her eyes, making them shine in such a way it’s like she lit up everything around her. And her mouth…

Those lips stretched up and slightly parted to let her front teeth peek a tiny bit between them. That was damn sexy.

“Do you know InkSpired? It’s in Midtown, close to Georgia Tech’s campus.’’

“Kamren is your mentor?’’ I asked, unable to keep the disbelief out and keep quiet in my corner of the kitchen.

“I recognized his work when I saw you outside,’’ she said, pointing at my tatted arms. “You can’t find better in Atlanta or Georgia for that matter.’’

“See? She was enjoying your ink,’’ Ralph butted in with a damn smirk I had half a mind to wipe off with a punch.

I flipped him off and ignored my mom as she shook her head at me and probably at Ralph’s antics. Even with a hangover, he could be a little shit.

“I’m not sure I want to know what it’s about,’’ Marissa mumbled and sipped her glass of water until she’s finished. I let my eyes wander to her throat where it worked as she swallowed. But I couldn’t just stop my eyes there. Not when a hot chick had a low cut top, and I could see her tits, a handful or maybe more.

“It’s nothing, babe. This ass thought you were judging his ink or some other shit. It’s true that you don’t exactly look like you’re into tatts.’’

She frowned at me and then shook her head, focusing back on Ralph and making a point not to look my way again. That annoyed me more.

“If there’s something to judge it’s how welcoming he was.’’ Ralph chuckled and took a seat next to her, making sure to flex as he got the chair from under the table. The ass was laying it on thick. As if he had a chance with her.

“Ignore his surly ass.’’ Ralph waved off, and when I ground my teeth and glared at him, he flipped me off. “He likes to scare off people.’’

She arched an eyebrow at that and shrugged. “Maybe it works on others, but I was here for a reason.’’

Mom smiled at her, and I could see a weight off her shoulders. I felt like a jackass for being this harsh. Fuck, I knew how difficult it’d been for her. I should be glad for her that she’s able to get to know her daughter and to see with her own eyes that she’s fine. But I couldn’t help this festering shit inside me that wanted her away from us.

I looked down at my feet.

“Alright, I think it’s time for me to go,’’ she said when the silence got too long for comfort, and that surprised me. I looked up. She stood with her purse in one hand and her keys in the other. “It was good talking with you, Lydia. Thank you for answering my questions.’’ She smiled at her. Such a strange smile. It was as if she wasn’t sure if she should be smiling or doing something else. “I needed these answers.’’

I stared at her, trying to place myself in her shoes for a second. She was adopted as a baby, and she didn’t know anything about her birth parents. It wasn’t the same for me. I grew up with my parents until I was five and my mother bailed. Then I was left with only my father who was an abusive fuck up until I was eight and he left too. I knew where I was coming from; I knew who my birth parents were and why they abandoned me. So yeah, I didn’t have any questions.

“Anytime, Marissa. I’m… I can’t tell you how glad I am for meeting you at last,’’ Mom said, her voice shaking as she looked away, hiding tears I knew were in her soft eyes.

It made my heart squeeze in my chest. I ground my teeth and walked to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to offer her some comfort. I hated that she was sad. I hated that this chick dug up shit from the past. It’s her right to, but still.

My mom put her hand on my chest and gave me a watery smile.

“Thanks,’’ Marissa whispered. “It was nice to meet you Ralph, and seriously, you can’t let this awful ink there in the middle of other good pieces.’’

Ralph laughed. “I can’t say no when you say it like this, and now that I know where you work, I’m dying to get new ink, babe.’’ He winked at her.

She shook her head at him, an amused smile on her face. She glanced at me briefly, but she didn’t pause and turned around, not saying a word. I guessed it’s no surprise and I didn’t give a damn. However, the muscle in my jaw started ticking as I gritted my teeth harder.