First snowfall...
Nico paused to look around the shop, at the men that worked hard to help him make this place a success. He had to admit that when he moved here he was a little hesitant about opening another shop. His parlor back in San Diego was running well and his other company could keep him more than afloat while Tessa was in school. It was the fact that his days seemed to stretch impossibly long ahead of him that had made his mind up for him. Since he was a child, Nico was not the type of person to stand still, and when his parents passed away, that need to keep moving was pushed into overdrive. That was the reason he had been able to get his GED and a bachelors before his eighteenth birthday, slowing down now wasnât really an option. The honest realist in him had always known it.
âNico, someone named⊠Tessymac is calling your phone?â Nicoâs attention turned to the shop manager, the thin man with a riot of pink hair was waving the lit up phone in his hand. Crossing the room, he took the phone, thanking Yash as he lifted it to his ear. âHey Tess, how are your classes going?â He smiled as his little sister reprimanded him for leading with that question instead of âI love youâ or âI miss youâ, or the best one yet, âHow is the greatest sister in the whole worldâ? He chuckled as he headed to the rear of the shop, stepping into his office and closing the door. âWhatâs going on?âHe listened as his sister talked about her woes of the day, hinting at the fact that today she was supposed to come for dinner. It took him a moment to realize that she wasnât trying to back out of it, instead she was trying to get him to remind her. With a shake of his head and a smile that stretched from ear to ear, he did just that.
Drawing always helped Nick work out the feelings and emotions he couldnât express otherwise. It had been why he thought a tattoo parlor would be a good business venture when he was only seventeen. It was what kept him moving through the turmoil of life. He spent the next half hour at his desk, working on a stencil for a commissioned back piece he was starting the following morning, and when he finally emerged from the backroom half of his guys had gone home but their clientele had doubled. Heading up to the counter, he called for the next walk-in with the hopes of getting a few people out the door before he followed suit.
The small group of women that walked up looked like they couldnât be much older than his sister. They were all here to get matching tattoos and he did everything in his power not to cringe. Five women were all here to get four leaf clovers, but in lieu of leaves, they wanted hearts. Each one was getting it done in a different color ranging from orange to purple, all wanting them on the inside of their ankles. Closing his eyes, he scratched his brow, âIâve got to know, what made you all decide to come do this today?â The woman that was practically leaning over the counter smiled, âI won the bet on the first snowfall, this is the payment.â His eyes immediately went to the large windows and sure enough, it was snowing. No wonder Tessa had called him. âAlright, I guess youâre up first.â Nico gestured for her to follow him back to his station as he turned to do the same.














