The greatest thing about my career is I work my own hours. I can work as much or as little as I like. Usually I work seven days a week. Spending four to five days at the tattoo parlor and the other two or three at the bike shop. I do designs for motorcycles and customized helmets. Some days I work at both places. Just depends on how hard I want to push myself. Most of my tats are done by appointment only, though sometimes I take a last minute. Mike, the owner of the motorcycle shop, is flexible with me. They can only make so many bikes at a time anyway. Some days I go by just to hang out or mess around with future projects.
The next day as I work on a bike all I can think about the is Kayla. Analyzing the year we have spent together. I can still remember the day we met. It was at the art supply store. She was there getting something for a college course. Pulling my helmet off I was greeted by her beautiful smile. Slightly shy but definitely curious. I couldn't keep my eyes off her as I went straight to the counter. Her clear blue eyes, blond hair cut above the shoulder. I have a good six inches on her. After talking with Betty, the owner, about my order I turned back to look for the beauty. She was standing right behind me.
"Hi." She said quietly.
"Hi." I answered back. Looking over her attire I figured she was way out of my league. "I'm Connor." Offering a hand as I took in the expensive make of her clothes.
"Kayla." Taking it. Clearly judging my appearance the same way. Dirty boots, faded jeans, leather jacket. Way below her dating pool. "Nice motorcycle."
"Thanks. Did the design myself."
"I'd love to get a better look." At that moment Betty had to interrupt, bringing out my order. I turned my attention away from Kayla and completed my purchase.
"Nice meeting you." I said as I turned to go.
"Maybe you could take me for a ride sometime." Pointing to my helmet.
"Sure."
That's how it happened. I got her number that day and called soon after. I learned on our first date I was going to have to work hard for her. I figured the reward would be worth it. I walked her to her door and leaned in for a kiss. She shut me down politely. Told me she is not that type of girl. I told her I couldn't wait to find out what kind of girl she really was.
I was patient and let her set the pace. We spent a lot of time together in the following months. Movies, museums, I even went to church with her. That is when I met her parents. I realized then that I was in her parents eyes 'a bad boy'. Tattoos, motorcycles, no college. The first meeting was a disaster but her parents warmed to me. Once they got to know me and saw that my appearance isn't necessarily my attitude. I think they were surprised to find out I had a brain underneath the ink. I'm sure my bank roll didn't hurt either.
Now it's a year later and I'm not sure I really want to work so hard for her anymore. To think of all the hoops I have jumped through for her. What has she really done in return? I worked hard to earn the respect of her family and friends. She never really attempted to get to know mine. She came to the first few concerts with me but soon started making excuses. School nights or choir practice. Every so often I managed to talk her into coming but we always ended up leaving early. Although whenever she asked me to accompany her out I was willing.
Do you know how many nights I was dragged out to those stupid dance clubs. Where was my sweet virginal girl those nights. Her and her friends dressed in short skirts and low cut tops. Tits and ass everywhere. Teasing me beyond belief. Kayla was the only one with a boyfriend for a while so they would all take turns dragging me on the dance floor. Kayla said she didn't mind. I didn't really mind either. Having young sexy girls writhing against me.
Her one friend Reece was a huge tease. She knew just what she was doing . Always rubbing her perfect ass into my excitement. Then giving me such a devious grin. The worst part is I got no relief when I dropped her off. Believe me I tried but those nights always ended in argument. I guess I have a lot of fuel for the fire tonight. I'm not longer going to be her puppy. Waiting by the table to be fed.
Kayla and I agreed to meet at a quiet restaurant on the far side of town. I get there a little early and have a drink at the bar to wait for her. When we first started going out she tried to say something about my drinking but I quickly shut that down. I can try to please her to some extent but I will not give up my alcohol. The drugs on the other hand, I don't do around her. I really on smoke herb now and then. I used to do a lot of coke but Mack put a stop to that. He told me if I wanted to keep my job at the tattoo shop I had to lay off. So aside from the occasional slip here and there I stick to booze. The bartender is pouring my second beer when she shows up fifteen minutes late. She gives me a nervous smile and then we are lead to our table. Neither one of us know where to start. We listen to the waiter tell us the specials and after taking Kayla's drink order, he disappears.
"So." She says fidgeting with her menu.
"So." I sit back and look at her.
"I just want to say I'm really sorry about, you know...."
"We covered all that on the phone the other day."
"Oh." She says quietly looking down at her menu. Which is pointless because I can tell you she is going to have the lemon roasted chicken with wild rice and a green vegetable. Asparagus or something.
"What we need to talk about is where we want to go from here."
"I don't see why we can't go back to the way things were." She continues even as I shake my head in the negative. "Things were going good."
"Good? We have been going nowhere for months. It's the same thing every week..." I am cut off when the waiter returns.
Placing Kayla's drink down he takes our orders. She orders exactly what I predicted. I order steak, rare and could care less what comes on the side. Steak and beer, I'm a happy man. With that thought I order another beer and keep them coming. I try to ignore the roll of the eyes I get from Kayla. Then just out of spite I tell him to bring me a double whiskey on the rocks. Her mouth becomes a tight line.
"Where was I? Oh yeah, repetition, repetition, repetition."
"That's not true."
"It's not? What did we do the last few times we went out?"
"We had dinner and watched a movie." She answers slowly. "Okay so maybe we have fallen into a rut but how does that justify you attacking me on Saturday?"
"Attacking?" I lean over the table toward her. "You were responding quite well until I put my mouth on your breast. I didn't know it was hands only because there is somewhere else I would have loved to put my hands." She suddenly turns bright red. The waiter comes up from behind me and places my whiskey and beer on the table, then quickly vanishes.
"This isn't the best conversation to have here."
"You suggested a public place. If it was up to you I don't think we'd ever have this conversation."
"Is that so wrong?" She says quietly.
"If that's what you want. We can just drop it and go our separate ways." Taking a gulp of the whiskey. The hurt is obvious on her face.
"It would be that easy for you?"
"No but I can't deny what I feel anymore. I have been patient, given you time but I can't keep giving without anything in return."
"So this is all about sex?"
"Sex? No. Do you know how many men out there would go this long....." I stop and take a drink off my beer.
"I dated Riley for four years and he never...." She quickly shuts up when she sees the look on my face.
"He never what? Tried to get down your pants? I know that to be a lie. No teenage boy is going to date a girl for that long and not try."
"Just shut up. You don't know."
"I think I know quite well. You didn't put out but you did something. Am I right?" Her blush tells me I am on the right track. "So what you jerked him off a couple times, maybe sucked his...."
"Shut up." She hisses.
