Inferno - Chelle Bliss by Chelle Bliss

“You’re growing up, settling down.”

The phone rings at the front desk, and Lily sets down her coffee before stalking away without me being able to argue with her.

I’m fully grown, no matter what she thinks. Settling down? Why do we use that term? It sounds like someone’s giving up instead of moving forward with their life.

“I like her,” Rebel says as she strolls through the back room, tidying up whatever we didn’t do before we closed up the shop on Saturday night. “I think you’re good for each other.”

“I think she’s better for me than I am for her.”

Rebel stops moving and spins around to face me. “Stone, you don’t understand what life is like for her. You never could, no matter how hard you try. But don’t sell yourself short. You may be part meathead and an asshole, but to Opal, none of that matters when you’re showing her the love she deserves.”

I fidget with my tools, hating talking about this shit with my cousins. They’ve always gone on and on about their feelings, but it’s never been my thing. I’m not as open as them, and I’m not sure I ever will be.

“Stone, your customer canceled today. They’re sick,” Lily says as she walks back to where I’m sitting. “You’re free most of the day.”

“Fuck,” I groan. “He had a six-hour appointment. He was my entire day.”

Lily shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Why don’t you take the day off and take your girl for lunch or something?”

I want to tell her to butt out and mind her own business, but her idea isn’t bad. There’s no point in my sitting here, waiting for some random person who will walk into the shop and need a cheap little tattoo. It rarely happens and isn’t worth the aggravation. On top of that, everyone here will want to talk about Opal and our future together.

“I think I will,” I tell her, earning myself the biggest smile from my sister. “Anything’s better than sitting here and listening to you all whine today.”

“I’m not whining,” Lily says as she swipes her coffee from the workstation table. “Life’s too good right now.”

“Hush up,” Gigi says to Lily. “Don’t jinx shit.”

“I don’t believe in that.”

Gigi stands over my sister, one hand on her hip, shaking her head. “You’ll see. You opened someone up for a world of hurt with your nonsense, Lily.”

Lily gulps down her coffee, rolling her eyes.

“I’m out,” I tell them, happy I don’t have to listen to their shit for an entire day.

“Have fun,” Lily says to me as I stand from my chair.

“Go get her, tiger,” Pike teases me.

I give them all the finger before I stalk into the customer waiting room and out the front door. I glance up, letting the bright sunshine warm my face.

And then it happens.

I realize my life is changing. I’m making plans for the future, when I used to fly by the seat of my pants. I thrived on the uncertainty and the freedom I had to do whatever, whenever.

Am I okay with the change? I think so.

Am I petrified of the change? Abso-fucking-lutely.

I reach for my phone and message the woman who has my mind and body in a complete jumble.

Me: When will you be done?

I head to my truck, climbing inside the cab, and put the air conditioning on full blast. I sit there for a minute, waiting for the cold air to start flowing before putting the truck in drive.

Opal: About an hour. Why? Aren’t you working?

Me: Appointment canceled. I’ll pick you up at your place in two hours.

It’s the perfect day. The sun is shining, the sky is a brilliant blue, and there isn’t a cloud overhead. There’s only one place I want to take her.

Opal: Where are we going?

Me: Wear your suit and bring your sunscreen. We’re going to the beach.

Opal: Oh, wow. Okay. I’ll be waiting!

I smile to myself. The day is a win-win for me. Not only am I going to give Opal an experience she’s never had before, but she’s going to do it in a hot little bikini.

I spend the next hour getting all the shit we’ll need to spend the day in the sun. I grab the best subs from the local grocery store, drinks, and snacks so that we can spend an entire day on the sand. I throw a giant umbrella into the back of my truck for when the sun becomes too much and a blanket. I even grab a bottle of wine to sip while we watch the sunset over the Gulf.

As soon as everything’s loaded, I stop moving, looking over all the supplies in the truck bed. “Who am I?” I ask myself, but no one else answers. “I’m a fucking pansy.”

“No, handsome, you’re a man in love,” my neighbor says from beside her car. “It’s nice to know love isn’t dead in this day and age.”

I smile at her, taking in the lines on her face and whiteness of her hair. “No, ma’am, love isn’t dead, but it’s terrifying as hell.”

“Nothing worth a damn is easy. You need to lean into the uncomfortable and embrace the ride.”

She sounds like a mix of my grandparents and parents. Full of wisdom and flowery advice. But I don’t argue with her, just like I don’t argue with them. They’ve lived longer, experienced more, and have a knowledge base I can only dream of having myself one day.